Three Key Fears Writers Face and Their Antidotes

The Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) recently announced that starting today, September 1, they’ll allow member agents to offer paid non-editorial services. This gives agents a lot more leeway in what they can offer writers and still call themselves agents, and bill writers at the same time. Since traditional publishers are creating imprints that follow a similar model, it’s no surprise that writers face fears related to false assumptions, losing the muse, and what we and others will think of our work. Here are ways to work through these concerns.

We don’t always realize our assumptions until we’re disappointed.
If you’re thinking that a lot more effort goes into bringing a project from conception to conclusion than a year ago, kudos. You’re right. To maintain a realistic and balanced writing life, it’s best to know what’s happening in publishing, budget sufficient resources for the entire process of project creation to completion, and create and maintain a strong support network. Though these efforts take time and energy, they’ll help keep us engaged and resilient.

We often fear losing what we feel keeps us writing.
No matter our muse or how dependable it is, sooner or later it becomes more ritual than inspiration. Like other aspects of life, writing is work and work isn’t always satisfying. The paradox here is a return to basics: returning regularly to our writing space and putting words on a page. What we write won’t be perfect, but it wasn’t before the lull either. (Taking a break can help, too.)

Even more than failure, we fear disappointment.
One of the most insidious traps for writers is the fear that we’ll fall short of our expectations and those of others. While these seem like two different problems, they’re intertwined. What others expect of us informs what we expect of ourselves. Knowing this, knowing that sooner or later we will fall short of expectations, and knowing that this fear usually persists throughout the writing life is half the battle.

What, then, is the whole battle?
The first thing to do with fears is admit they exist. The second is to question them. Where did the fear originate and why? What do I want that I fear I won’t get? What are my writing goals, and what obstacles could deter them? How can I address these? How can I learn more about overcoming these obstacles? The very act of asking questions presupposes that there are answers. Here’s an example of where using AI to get information—responses we must vet—is a helpful tool.

The writing and publishing landscape is shifting daily; yet, there’s nothing new under the sun.
When we go beyond what’s happening and why it’s disconcerting, we find that we face the same fears as the writers who came before us. To work through these, we must be realistic in our expectations and seek wisdom and support from trusted sources, including other writers and creatives in other disciplines. Like building a house, building a writing project, portfolio and platform will take more resources than we expect. But building is the only way to create something lasting.

For more on this topic, see Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

Happy writing!