Fear… it is a subject that most of us avoid daily. With October hot on our heels, what better time to talk about fear than now? Fear is something we have all had to face at some point in our lives. As children, we feared the monster under the bed, a skeleton lurking in our closet, a bully at school or as an adult, making a speech at work or school. It is unavoidable to face fear as we grow older. Since the pandemic began last year, I think it is safe to say we have all had our share of fear.
Years ago, I was told the word fear was an acronym for false evidence appearing real. As I grew older, I adopted that saying, even if it wasn’t accurate. It felt true, and that is all that mattered to me. It helped me to keep scary moments I faced in the right perspective. Fear is natural, raw and a powerful human emotion. Fear alerts us to danger, whether it is physical or emotional, such as threats made by others or situations. A lot of times it is our minds playing tricks on us when we are unsure of a situation’s outcome or if we will attract unwanted attention.
Fear can also be the symptom of mental health issues such as panic disorders, phobias, ptsd and many more. But what about the fear many of us creatives face? It is easy for us, so to speak, to sit in a private setting at home or coffee shop and write a novel. We are far away from the harsh criticism of the book critics that love to tear apart indie authors. Nothing could be more vulnerable to a writer than to release our work out into the world. Once we do, the wolves descend. We have our fans of our work, and those people are true lights in our paths, but let’s face it, putting our work out there is equivalent to placing your head inside of a guillotine and hoping no one releases the blade. The people who sit in the shadows waiting to hurt others as a pastime hold that blade. Our vulnerability shapes us into who we are, but it also has opened doors to the trolls that have nothing better to do with their time.
I have touched on the subject of trolls in previous blogs, hoping to encourage others. We call them trolls, but let us call them by their accurate names, bullies. Internet bullies have become an accepted part of this new age of computers. I remember thinking when I left school, I would never have to face anything like that again. Then, I released a book I had self-published, and I found out the bullies never went away. They just found a new outlet to continue their mission to be the town villain. What I thought would be an exciting experience quickly turned into an anxiety/fear fueled emotional rollercoaster ride. It didn’t take long for a troll to attack me. I am an intelligent woman, so why did I let a bully get to me? Because I exposed my creative side.
Since I was young, I was made fun of for my creative side. They viewed me as the oddball because my stories were different, and I dressed and spoke differently from my peers. My nose was always stuck in a book. I could tune out just about anyone if I had a book in my hand. It was my shield against the bullies and the fear of making mistakes. Sound familiar? Fear always has an origin of birth. It stays with us long after we think it has left us.
Now, we are trying to write a book and present it to the world. Fear makes us question ourselves. Are we any good at this? What if I work hard, but no one reads it? What if someone reads it? What if I don’t have any sales? Does that mean I am a failure? Do I need a publisher to be considered an actual writer? Do I have the same talent as the other authors I have read? Am I good enough? Should I give up if success doesn’t happen to me like it has for others?
Before you know it, we have fallen into a deep, dark pit of doubt and fear. Too many times I see writers on social medias doubting themselves and their abilities. The fear seeps through their post and my heart aches for them. I have been there. I may not have posted it, but I have been there many times. I hate to see authors losing sight of the magic that once attracted them to the author world.
How do I combat fear?
First, I keep writing even if I think the story stinks. I keep writing even when I am afraid of judgement and bullies. Giving up can never be an option if you want to make it as an author.
Second, I keep learning from other writers to perfect my craft. I know I will learn something new about writing until I am too old to write. I learn from podcasts for writers; I read blogs or watch vlogs on YouTube for inspiration. It would surprise you at what you can learn online. Just take all the advice with a grain of salt because there is no such thing as an expert on writing and there is no set law to writing. Just find what works for you and then let yourself go! Being yourself is the true magic of being an author.
Third, I stopped reading reviews. This is an area that you will have to be your own best judge on, but for me, it made an enormous difference. I no longer focused on the reviews, and I focused on my stories. It set my mind free to just be creative and to write without the fear of judgment.
Lastly, I sought support. I looked for support from other writers and I found a person who encourages me. You can do the same or find a mentor that can guide you in the right direction with your book. Remember to be open to advice. I know it can be hard, but a true mentor will give you advice you can learn from. But beware of people who say they are giving you constructive criticism. There is nothing constructive about someone criticizing you or your work. Some people use that phrase to put you down or to hurt you. It is a tactic used to put an author down. But if they offer constructive advice, minus the insults, you have a great friend indeed.
Never let fear hold you back from achieving your dreams and never allow others to make you feel afraid to be vulnerable. Your work is important and there are readers who are out there waiting for your original story.
Remember, you have support. I believe in you and many other writers are also out there cheering you on.
Don’t give up.
Disclosure: This blog is not intended as medical advice or a means to diagnose any mental or physical conditions. This blog is written from the point of view of the author to provide inspiration to the readers. If you or someone you know is having a crisis, please contact your medical physician or mental health provider.