Up In Consulting

Elevate your writing and move up in your career

Up In Consulting
  • About
  • Elevate
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • FAQs

Conquering Fear in Writing

  • By Jane
  • August 7, 2015
  • Impostor SyndromeOvercoming Barriers
  • 0 Comments

 

For academics, writing is the public face you show to the world. It’s the basis on which you are judged by your peers, for both jobs and promotions. There is a lot riding on the written word, so its no wonder that writing can be a source of anxiety and fear.The apprehension that writers feel generally takes a recognizable form. In my work with clients, I have noticed three types of fear that prevent them from writing confidently.

Fear you have nothing to say.

We can all think of a time where we sat in front of a blank document, whether on our screen or our desk. You feel as if you literally have nothing to write down – you can’t think of any ideas, arguments, or anything. This feeling of paralysis is common for writers, and it stems from a lack of confidence in your own ideas.

Fear that what you say isn’t smart.

You can already hear the counterarguments as you start writing. You just know your argument makes no sense, that you’ll be embarrassed to share it with anyone else. Everyone has felt a sense of impostor syndrome, and this feeling is even more intense when we are faced with the prospect of distributing our work.

Fear that you’ll have to revise it.

You dread the fact that what you put on paper will not be the final product. You don’t know where to start the revision process, and you are worried that you can’t possibly produce anything better on the second or third try.

Ways to conquer your fears:

Prepare for writing: Make sure you ready to write, and keep in mind that “ready” can have different meanings. Take notes on your readings, be sure your data is organized, and have any writing guides handy. You’ll feel more prepared, which in turn can alleviate some anxiety.

Acknowledge that the first draft will be bad: There is absolutely no shame in writing a first draft that is bad. It’s called a “rough” draft for a reason. Your fear in part comes from unrealistic expectations. If you are thinking that your writing won’t be as good as a book or article you read, it’s because that book or article is a finished product, a result of multiple drafts and revisions. Think of your drafts as a form of practice, akin to the practice of athletes or musicians. All of these professionals consistently work on their craft, tweaking their strategies or approach, exploring new ways to get the best results, and so forth. You should approach your writing in a similar manner.  Embrace the fact that you will revise, and with each revision you will see the quality of your manuscript improve.

Join a writing group: Seeing other people’s writing evolve will serve as a useful reminder that every writer works through various stages of completion in their writing. It can be reassuring to know that you are not the only person who writes rough drafts! A writing group also creates a sense of accountability that can motivate you to write even when you’re feeling nervous.

Work with an editor or writing coach: This isn’t just a plug for my own services. Working with a disinterested third party can be useful, especially if you are nervous about sharing your work with others. An editor will be objective, but will never hold your writing against you. You’ll never have to worry about seeing your editor in the hallways or at a conference, knowing they read work that you’re not proud of. You might feel more confident sending your manuscript out for review by peers or mentors after you’ve been assured that it “makes sense” and that there are no glaring inconsistencies or mistakes.

Do you experience anxiety about writing? How do you work through it?

Share

Related Posts

Stop Worrying About Your Colleague’s Productivity

January 17, 2018

Thinking Time Is Important Time

September 12, 2017

Fear and Procrastination: Are You Afraid to Write?

May 18, 2017

Conquering Overwhelm in Writing: Start Small

March 1, 2017

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Archives

  • October 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • January 2021
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014

Categories

  • Academic Writing
  • Asking For Help
  • Book Reviews
  • Book Writing
  • Editing
  • From Course Paper To Article
  • general-testimonial
  • Goal setting
  • Impostor Syndrome
  • Journal Articles
  • Monday Motivation
  • Overcoming Barriers
  • Planning
  • Productivity
  • productivity-testimonial
  • Quick Tips
  • Revising
  • Saying No
  • Services
  • Stress
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing Tips

Meta

  • Entries RSS
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Impostor Syndrome
  • Conquering Fear in Writing

Let’s get writing.

Subscribe to get the latest writing and productivity tips. Like happy mail for your planner.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

© 2023 Up In Consulting

  • Home
  • About
  • Elevate
  • Testimonials
  • Blog