New writers, as well as experienced writers, may experience some degree of writer’s anxiety as writing includes or is associated with the whole gamut of human emotions including love, hate, joy, sorrow, fear, etc.
You are a freelance writer. Perhaps this is a brand new occupation for you. You want to succeed. Suddenly, you try to take the first step, but you have a panic attack and begin to doubt your own ability to write.
“Why am I trying to do this?”
“Help, I can’t do this!”
Perhaps you are a more experienced writer and suddenly, for no apparent reason, you experience writer’s block.
“My mind has drawn a blank!”
Dealing with writer’s block or anxiety related to writing is not always easy, as there is always a degree of personal vulnerability associated with writing.
“People will know what I am thinking!”
Panic disorders often magnify these kinds of a negative thought patterns. Be aware that fear and paranoia can be part of a writer’s experience, at any level. Both new and more experienced freelancers experience feelings of paranoia.
“I am afraid to write, because what I write may be used against me.”
Be aware that you can always write about something else. Do not expose your personal thoughts and feelings, if you are concerned about what others think. Distance yourself from what you write by writing in the third person. Using a dictionary and thesaurus will help you to expand your writing horizon beyond yourself and your personal fear or paranoia.
Consider the following ten tips for dealing with writer’s anxiety.
Write about what you know.
A good rule of thumb for any writer, particularly new freelancers, is to focus on what you know. The reason for this is that you will be less anxious and more comfortable writing in a genre that you are familiar with and can relate to from your own life, experience and occupation. Trying to write on topics that you are not familiar with may stifle your creativity, ability to write and increase your anxiety.
“I cannot write about something I do not know or understand!”
Every writer experiences that feeling to some extent. Sometimes, seeking a higher level of understanding in some area, allows one to surpass these kinds of feelings of fear and anxiety.
Write on a daily basis.
The more that you write, the more comfortable you will be with writing. It will gradually become second nature to you. You may find a time during the day or evening that is best for you. Use that time to write. It does not matter what you write, just write, so that you get in the habit of writing. Save what you have written, as you may want to refer to it later.
“I can barely write half a page!”
Gradually, as you relax with respect to your writing, you will find that your words begin to flow more freely and that they are no longer stifled. Your anxiety will be resolved, but it may take some time. Write, write,
write!
Write when inspired to do so.
Writing on inspiration allows your mind to function more freely. You may find you wind up struggling when you are not writing on inspiration. Your writing may be stilted and awkward to read.
“I cannot write when I am not inspired.”
Many writers feel that way. Look for things that inspire you to write and develop them further. Perhaps your inspiration comes as you walk in your garden or on the beach. Others may find inspiration in a sunset or sunrise. Nature is often a wonderful source of inspiration, although people and pets can inspire you, as well.
Write in a clean, comfortable environment.
If you write in a happy, clean and comfortable environment, you will find that you are more inclined to be able to write. Make certain that you are sitting in an ergonomic-appropriate position, as your muscles will relax better and your thoughts will flow more freely. Avoid interruptions when you are writing, so that you are able to maintain your train of thought. Take frequent breaks when you are writing.
“I cannot write in this mess.”
It may be time to take your writing more seriously. Set up a writing area that works for you. Removing the clutter can help you to feel less anxious when you are writing.
Avoid writing on topics that may be upsetting to you.
Topics that upset you may cause you to become tense and anxious when you write. At the same time, there may be times when you can face your fear, by writing about it. You will begin to understand yourself better, as you write. Be aware that the opposite can happen, too. You may cause new fears to surface and you may have to deal with them, at some point in time.
“I hate that topic and don’t want to write on it.”
“That topic brings back horrible memories.”
There are millions of possible topics to choose from, if you want to be a serious freelance writer. Even a negative topic can become something that is positive, if you use your ingenuity.
Write about what you love instead of something you hate.
Write for a large audience.
If you write for a large, global audience, rather than just a few people, you will find that your horizons will gradually expand further. Writing a diary or blog may be a good place to start, but be aware that at some point in time, others may read what you have written, so be careful what you disclose, particularly on the Internet.
Even when you write in such a way that others can read it, you may still wonder how it affects them, or how they feel about it.
“What will my family think about this?”
“Will my peers or community accept it?”
“What will people in
Because they are your family, whether in the immediate sense of the word, part of a community or from a global perspective, write for them in the way that you want them to receive it. You will be glad you did, as you see them respond to it.
You may have to deal with rejection too, because it happens. Not everyone will accept or like what you write; nor do they have to. Do you like what you write? If not, write on something else.
Use appropriate language.
Always use appropriate language when you are writing because you do not know who will be reading your work or how they will react to it. You can prevent a lot of criticism by avoiding the use of slang, as well as racially or politically unacceptable language. The majority of people do not really want to read something that is offensive to them or others. While some may consider it funny, there may be those who take it personally and feel hurt by it.
Are you being kind to your reader or assaulting him or her with what you write? Who if anyone, are you hitting out at? Are you trying to change the world? Do you need to do that? Can you go about it in a different, more socially acceptable manner?
Write for pleasure not just profit.
Why you write is important. If you are writing purely for profit and you do not succeed, you probably will not continue very long. If you are writing because you love to write, as a natural born writer, you are highly likely to succeed. Having succeeded even once, will inspire you to keep on writing and your profits will begin to add up.
“I write because I love to write.”
If you love to write, others will sense it. When people love what you write, they will want more, even if they have to pay for it. Once you receive remuneration for what you write, you become a professional, freelance writer, (as long as you are writing on a professional level).
Always be your own best critic and best friend.
Write in a positive, constructive manner and then, examine your work thoroughly.
“Is what I wrote appropriate?”
“Will others accept it?”
“Will a publisher think it is suitable for publication?”
Subject your work to you own criticism first, but do so in the same manner that your best friend would. Be honest with yourself. Seek professional guidance when necessary. Take professional writing courses. Read the work of other writers and compare your writing to theirs, but remember that you are you and what you are writing is unique. You do not have to write as they do or write on the topics that they choose. Learn my mentoring others.
Do your research thoroughly.
Academic research is the secret to good writing. You do have some basic knowledge, but there are always going to be those who have taken or will take almost any topic that you can possibly write about, further. Research will inspire you and help you to break free of any writer’s block that you may be experiencing.
Document your sources well, so that there is no question that what you have written is your own work. Avoid plagiarism by quoting your sources accurately. Inspire your reader to research further by using appropriate references and linking your key words.
Following these ten tips will help you to get over writer’s anxiety, whether as a new writer or one who is more experienced.
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