Thursday, January 19, 2012

Don't Be A Prisoner To Fear


When it comes to their work, I believe some writers have one of two fears.  The fear of failure or the fear of success.  Both can prevent writers from reaching their full potential and deprives the world of their greatest efforts.


Fear of failure comes in many forms.  Fear of not meeting a deadline.  Fear of not finishing that "great" novel.  Fear of not getting published.  Fear of not being good enough.  The list can be endless and each fear is another link in the chain that holds a writer back from achieving their goals.  Just the thought of being afraid can become a river so deep, no writer could ever cross.


Some writers struggle with the fear of potential success.  I'm one of those people.  It's so hard to describe how one can be afraid of reaching their goals.  Maybe I wonder if it will change me in some way that I do not want.  Maybe I think it will encroach on my personal life when I am a more private person.  While I have visions of becoming a published author in the future, I sometimes still have difficulty in actually comprehending the possibility.  It's not that I doubt my ability to write but maybe I doubt other people's ability to believe in me as much as I believe in myself?


Maybe what I need to do is simply erase the idea of fear itself.  Remove it from my vocabulary.  Turn my back on it whenever it decides to rear its fearful head.  I believe my learning curve to become a published author is hard enough without letting the fear of failure or success add to my burden.

To those writers who struggle with the fear of failing, this message is for you.  Realize that the journey is almost always more important than the destination itself.  And if you let the possibility of failing rule your writing, then you will always remain a prisoner to what COULD have been.



To those writers who struggle with the fear of success, this message is for you.  Whether published or not, if a writer loves what they do and strives to improve their writing skills, then they are already successful in life so what is there to be afraid of?  Writers should have the freedom to envision what WILL be instead of what MIGHT happen.


Be loud, be proud, be free to be the writer everyone knows you to be!  In the end the world may be a better place because of your gifts to it and look at all the fun you can have when you are not dealing with fear...





14 comments:

  1. Great post, and so true. I think I'm pretty squarely in the fear of failure camp and it would be nice to leave that behind! But I just have to say I totally love that Elvis squirrel and I'm thinking there's a story in it :)

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    1. Thanks, Susanna, for stopping by! I hadn't realized you had visited here when I sent you the email reply about today's post...sorry. I find it interesting that an established author such as yourself still feels a sense of potential failing...but that only makes you human. I, for one, think you area a fabulous writer and will always appreciate the wonderful contributions you make to the writing community for newbies like myself! ;0)

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  2. So true. From the moment I joined the writer's community, I felt pressure to do this and not do that. "Careful, or you'll look unprofessional to the publishers. Careful, or you may not get the agent you want. (What? I have to work at getting an agent? Aren't they supposed to be working for me?) Such a stressful environment. I decided to take the stress out and epublish it myself. Now, I feel that I have given God control over my future.

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    1. Brenda, I truly understand what you meant about the inherit stress with attempting to have a writing career. But I also think in the world today, both agents and publishers have tremendous pressure on them to "perform" as well. I'm sure if they took a poll we would find that many of them have the same fears of failing or succeeding as writers do...especially since a lot of them write as well. While I am still up in the air about whether epublishing is the route for me, I am so happy that you were able to choose a publishing path that is right for you. Here's to your success!

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  3. Great post and so very true! I struggle with fear from time to time to, but I have decided that I will never get anywhere if I let fear stand in my way.

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    1. Hi, moonduster and welcome back! That is exactly how I am treating my writing these days...clear skies ahead and nothing to fear! Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. Great post. Fear can be paralyzing, no matter what the fear is about at its root. In "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway", the author makes an acronym of the word fear -- False Evidence Appearing Real. It's helpful to think that. Your words, and those excellent quotes, are very helpful as well.

    Thank you!

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    1. I love the acronym False Evidence Appearing Real...how very true! Glad as always that you took the time out of your busy schedule to stop by...come back any time!

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  5. I have major issues with failing as a writer. This post helped me a lot today. Thanks for the new favorite quote, "Don't let your fear of failing, triumph over the joy of participating."

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer, for stopping by! I know, I love that quote as well! I might have to print it out and tape it to my computer. I wonder if we fear what we fear because we want the title "author" so much? It's nice to be reminded to enjoy the journey as well. Come back any time!

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  6. Oddly enought Hilde's two posts on Pen and Ink this week deak with fear and it's effects on us. Thank you for an excellent post.

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    1. Well, thank you! I just wish I knew who I was addressing so I could maybe match a name to a face on your blog...lol...

      I just sit around and think of things that affect me as a new "serious" writer and think to myself that if I feel this way, then there are probably others out there who might feel the same way.

      Thanks for stopping by...come back any time!

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  7. Well I guess I fall smack bang in the middle- fear of failure and fear of being sucessful. But probably not a much as when I first started my blog early last year. Have to admit with the challenges and blogs like yours, one feels they can overcome, feels not alone, is encouraged and nurtured, and therefore the fear not so strong.
    Thankyou for such a caring post Donna.

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    1. Awww, Diane, it touches my heart to know that my posts might help people like yourself stay motivated in some way. It's in my nature to nurture and I'm too old to stop now...lol

      I believe that most dreams are possible through perseverance, hard work, belief in oneself, and a helpful nudge every now and then as a reminder that we are not alone in our pursuits of recognition regarding our writing efforts.

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