Today's #TenTweets are by request from @HopeWhitmore, and deal with the paralysis many of us feel when faced with starting writing, submitting work, or just keeping going in the face of fear. Follow #TenThingsAboutTheFear to collect them all!
@HopeWhitmore 1. First, know that feeling afraid is absolutely normal. Every writer you know feels afraid - and the feeling seldom goes away. Thus, every word you write is an act of courage. The objective is not to banish the fear, but to understand it for what it is. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 2. Next, decide what the fear represents. Is it a fear of rejection? Well, rejection is always a possibility. But remember, every writer you admire has been rejected many times. If it happens, you'll be in good company. And you'll learn from the experience. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 3. Are you afraid of being laughed at? No-one who writes books, or who works in the book industry will do that. They know how much courage it takes to put yourself out there. The writing community is very supportive. We all want you to succeed. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 4. Are you afraid of not being good enough? Welcome to the club. Writers seldom ever feel entirely satisfied with their work. That's because we're all on the same learning curve. And the moment you feel you have nothing to learn, you've stopped growing. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 5. Are you afraid of being judged? That's going to happen the moment you send your work out into the wild. Whoever you are, whatever your talent, there will be people who don't like your work. But there will also be people who do. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 6. Are you afraid of being hurt? That too can happen. But writing is like love - you have to accept the possibility of being hurt in order to reap the benefits of being loved. You can't escape that - so embrace it. Be honest and true. That's all you can do. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 7. Are you afraid of never being a "proper writer"? Impostor syndrome is incredibly common among authors. Remember that behind the glossy photograph on the dust-jacket, there's someone who once was where you are now, and who may feel just as you do. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 8. Are you afraid of the blank page? Then put some words down on it. They don't necessarily have to be good words. But keep writing, and the good words will come in their own time. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 9. Are you afraid you'll let yourself down? Maybe stop setting yourself such high standards. Don't set goals you can't easily achieve. Be kinder to yourself. Approach your project line by line, minute by minute, and eventually, you'll get there. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
@HopeWhitmore 10. Are you afraid that everyone else knows a secret shortcut that you don't know about? Don't be. There are no shortcuts. The journey may be a long one, but every word you write is a step forward. Even the ones you cut have already taught you something. #TenThingsAboutTheFear
