Hi there, I’m Alicia, a book coach and developmental editor helping aspiring authors write their first book. In The Story Clinic, I share writing tips, book recommendations, prompts, productivity advice, and tough love to help you get your book to the finish line.
Q: I’m terrified to write. I love to tell stories, and I really want to write, but I’m just terribly afraid of putting words on paper. What if my writing sucks? How do you overcome the fear of writing sh*t?
Is there a writer who’s never been afraid of their own words?
Writer’s block, procrastination, lack of inspiration…
It all comes down to fear.
Fear that the story you put on paper won’t match your expectations.
Fear that re-reading your first draft will reveal a lack of talent.
Fear that terrible reviews will crush your dreams.
Fear that you have nothing to say.
Let me get this straight: fear is here to stay. It will always be present to some degree, and it’s natural to doubt yourself sometimes. But you can’t let fear prevent you from being the writer you’re meant to be, from writing the books you’re meant to write. Fortunately, there’s a way to circumvent it.
Let go of the outcome.
When we were 13, my best friend and I started a blog about wildlife. We were passionate and wrote because we loved writing about animals—nothing more. We kept up this blog for years and eventually found some success. But if we had started with the goal of becoming Internet celebrities, the lack of results in the early days would have killed our motivation—and we would have quit after a month or so.
See where I’m going with this?
Set aside the dream of becoming the next Stephen King or Sally Rooney. Stop wanting to make millions selling novels. You’re putting too much pressure on yourself when what you need is to reconnect with the writer inside you. You know, the outsider who just really loves to write.
Instead of “writing a bestseller,” why not aim for “writing my novel?”
Let go of the outcome, and focus on the process. The idea of writing a mediocre first draft will be much easier to accept.
Start somewhere. Anywhere.
Once in a blue moon, I think of an awesome story that could skyrocket my writing career and turn me into the next Stephen King (yep).
But then I sit at my desk to write it down… and nothing comes out. Every opening sentence I can think of is cringe as hell, and I can’t write a single word—I’m stuck.
Here’s a tip to get unstuck when facing a similar situation:
Pick a writing prompt and answer it. Trust me, the only cure for writer’s block is simply writing. Anything at all. Because then, you won’t be blocked anymore.
Where to find writing prompts?
Reddit has a whole collection.
Written Word Media suggests 500 prompts that span all genres.
- from The Lit Lab sends her Prompt-O-Matic to paid subscribers.
Don’t sweat it, though. The goal is to get you writing, not to lose an hour of your precious time scrolling the Internet for the perfect prompt. Just pick one and get started.
In addition, let me share some effective prompts I use with my clients when they face writer’s block:
Prompts for fiction writers
Founding Memory: Our experiences shape who we are as individuals, but some life events give our lives a drastic turn, impacting our whole personalities, especially if they happened during childhood.
Take one of your characters and make them remember an event that significantly changed who they are. Write from a first-person POV, using their voice and style. This will give you tremendous insights into your protagonist’s personality. Repeat every time you’re facing a roadblock with character development.
This Is What Happens: Summarize your story idea. Don’t try to make it sound good. Write what happens in the dullest, driest, most matter-of-fact way possible. This will help you distill the core of your story. Here’s an example:
Charlene is 19 and obsessed with a cold case: the disappearance of her best friend Mary-Anne, which happened when they were in high school, two years ago.
In senior year, Mary-Anne and Charlene went to a party where they witnessed something they weren’t supposed to see (define what later). The next day, Mary-Anne is gone—and Charlene is convinced that whatever they saw has something to do with her disappearance.
The police investigate and find hints that Mary-Anne committed suicide, but her body is never found.
Two years later, Charlene is in college, and she tries to put the case behind her. But one day on campus, she sees a girl who looks just like Mary-Anne—and it changes everything.
Prompts for nonfiction writers
Apply the Founding Memory prompt to yourself or someone you know.
Find Your Why: Why do you want to write this story? How are you hoping to impact readers’ lives? Why does it matter to you?
Make a List of 15 things you want to say in your book. They can be anecdotes, tips, stats, anything.
Don’t put obstacles in your own way.
Recently, I came across a video from Shaman Durek. Although skeptical about this whole ‘shaman-for-the-rich’ deal, one thing Shaman Durek said stuck with me: “Stop putting obstacles in your own way.”
You’re the only person standing between you and your writing dreams. So listen to the richest Shaman on Earth and stop sabotaging your own life.
Just start writing—it’s better to write a bunch of crappy paragraphs you can edit later than to write nothing at all.