Overcome Fears - Establishing the Courage Once Again
To overcome fears as a writer, you must acknowledge why. Fear shows up way too often when you’re a writer. Sometimes it whispers that your story doesn’t matter. Other times, it screams that you’ll offend someone or mess everything up. Whether it’s the fear of starting, publishing, or failing entirely, that voice of doubt can get loud.
But here’s the thing: you’re not alone. Fear is part of the writing process. Every writer, no matter how seasoned, faces it at some point. The key isn’t to erase fear but to write with it.
In this post, I’ll walk you through five of the most common writing fears I’ve faced myself and how I learned to keep going. You’ll also find personal stories, hard lessons, and the mindset shifts that helped me move forward when I almost gave up.
To explore further on the definition of fear, take a look at this article by Psychology Today.
Let’s dig in and take that fear down a notch.
Contents
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1. Fear That Your Subject Isn’t Worth Writing About
We’ve all had that thought: Is this even worth writing?
Maybe your idea feels too personal, too weird, too small, or maybe it just doesn’t seem “important enough.” That kind of doubt can stop you before you even get started. But here’s the truth: if it matters to you, it matters.
You don’t need permission to write your story. Some of the most powerful pieces come from the most unexpected places. Even something that feels insignificant can strike a deep chord in someone else.
When I started writing Toxic Eden, I was unsure. It explored a toxic relationship dynamic, and I worried I’d exaggerated the characters, especially Evelyn, the female lead. I didn’t want her to come across as one-dimensional or that I was unfairly portraying women. On the flip side, the male character was based on some of my own experiences, and honestly, he came off way worse than I intended. I almost scrapped the whole thing.
But a friend, who happened to be a woman, read it. And not only did she get it, but she appreciated the nuance. She told me the story felt real and necessary, and even pushed me to go deeper.
That was the moment I realized something: we’re not always the best judges of our own work. You don’t have to write something “perfect.” You just have to write something true.
So stop asking if it’s worth it. Start writing and let the story show you why it is.
2. Fear of Writing Something Offensive
This one hits hard, especially today. You have a story to tell, but what if it’s too much? What if it upsets someone? What if people take it the wrong way?
It’s a valid concern and it’s a sign that you care. You care about the impact your words might have. That’s a good thing. But caring doesn’t mean silencing yourself. It means doing your homework, writing with intention, and understanding the difference between being provocative and being disrespectful.
When I wrote Better Safe Than Sorry, I was pulling from something personal, my own obsessive habits, like checking the locks at night over and over. I wasn’t diagnosed with OCD, but I was exploring a “what if” scenario in a thriller context. Still, I hesitated. I didn’t want to misrepresent OCD or offend people who actually live with it.
So I paused. I read real accounts. I watched interviews. I learned that OCD is far more complex than what I experienced. That made me more thoughtful with how I portrayed the character. I went forward with the story, not to claim authority, but to open a door to conversation. And I was clear: this is fiction, not a diagnosis.
If you’re writing about something sensitive, ask yourself:
- Why am I writing this?
- Who am I speaking to?
- What do I want readers to take away from it?
When you approach your work with empathy and honesty, you’re not writing to offend, you’re writing to connect, challenge, and maybe even heal. That’s worth the risk.
3. Fear of Starting the Writing Process
There’s something intimidating about a blank page. It stares back at you like it’s daring you to mess up. You’ve got ideas swirling in your head, but when it’s time to write… nothing happens.
This fear is sneaky. It shows up as procrastination, perfectionism, or even imposter syndrome. You think: Who am I to write this? or What if I’m not good enough?
Trust me, I’ve been there a lot. When I started working on the concept for 8-Bit, I sat in front of my screen, full of ideas… and then I picked up my phone and doom scrolled on Instagram for an hour. I couldn’t even write the first sentence.
Eventually, I had to force myself to put the phone down and just type something. Anything! That first word was all it took. One word became one sentence. One sentence became a paragraph. And just like that, I was in it.
The truth is, writing doesn’t begin when you have it all figured out. It begins when you start typing, even if you don’t know where it’s going. You can’t edit a blank page, but you can shape messy thoughts into something real.
Try this:
- Set a timer for 10 minutes. No pressure. Just write.
- Use a writing prompt to kick things off.
- Lower the bar. Your first draft is supposed to be rough.
Starting is the hardest part. But once you do, you’re already miles ahead of where you were before.
4. Fear of Publishing Your Work
Finishing a piece feels amazing… until you think about sharing it. Then suddenly, all those doubts creep in: What if no one likes it? What if they tear it apart? What if I’m just not good enough?
Putting your work out there can feel like handing someone your diary. It’s vulnerable. But publishing, whether it’s a blog post, a short story, or a full book, is how your words reach people. And yes, some people might not vibe with it. That’s okay.
When I was preparing to release Deadly Sins, I nearly pulled the plug several times. I kept asking myself:
- Will people buy this?
- Will they get it?
- Will I offend someone?
- Should I delay it again?
I had already delayed it four times. I was looking for any excuse to push the deadline just one more time. But deep down, I knew it was fear talking. So I took a breath, hit publish, and waited.
And you know what? The world didn’t end. People messaged me with support. Some had thoughtful feedback. Some didn’t like certain parts. But the point is, I did it. I got it out there.
Before publishing, edit your work, ask for feedback, polish it up. But don’t aim for perfection. Aim for connection. Publishing isn’t about proving you’re flawless, it’s about putting your voice in the world and letting it find the people who need it.
5. Fear of Failing as a Writer
Let’s talk about the big one. Failure. That creeping thought that you’ll put in all this time and energy, and it still won’t work out. That nobody will care. That you’ll be exposed as a fraud.
Yeah, I’ve felt that too.
When I first started writing, I constantly questioned myself. I thought: This isn’t me. I’m not a real writer. But the more I wrote, the more it became a part of me. People started calling me a writer, and that’s when a new fear kicked in: What if I’m just talk? What if I can’t back it up?
It got worse when I delayed my first book. I promised to release Deadly Sins in 2022, but had to push it a whole year. I was terrified people would think I wasn’t serious, or that I was just using writing as a front.
But something unexpected happened, people were understanding. Friends reached out to say it was okay to take my time. That meant everything. It reminded me that failure isn’t always the end. Sometimes it’s just a pause. A redirection. A lesson.
What helped me most was creating structure:
- I gave myself a flexible schedule.
- I stopped punishing myself for taking breaks.
- I kept writing, without judging what came out.
We all stumble. We all have moments where we wonder if this is worth it. But every “failure” teaches you something. And the more you learn, the stronger your voice becomes.
I like this article, How to Overcome Your Fear of Failure, that was published on December 10th, 2018. It was written by Susan Peppercorn for the Harvard Business Review. She talks into much further detail about this that I think will be helpful to many of you.
You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to keep showing up.
Recommended Books on Overcoming Fear
The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest: This book offers a transformative approach to self-sabotage, exploring the reasons we stand in our own way and providing insights and strategies to overcome internal barriers and climb the metaphorical mountains in our lives.
Feel the Fear… and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, PhD: A pioneering self-help book that teaches readers how to confront and transform the fear that impedes personal growth and happiness, advocating for a life of courage, action, and empowerment.
The Art of Letting Go by Nick Trenton: A reflective and practical guide on how to release emotional burdens, this book provides techniques to help readers move beyond past hurts and negative thoughts, enabling personal growth and a healthier mindset.
Final Thoughts
Fear doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you care. It means you’re doing something that matters to you. Writing is personal. It asks us to be vulnerable, to speak truths, to share parts of ourselves. So of course it’s scary.
But fear doesn’t get the final word.
Whether you’re afraid your subject won’t land, that you’ll offend someone, that you won’t finish, or that you’ll fail, know this: you’re not alone. Every writer has stood exactly where you’re standing. And the ones who made it? They just kept going.
So write the messy draft. Publish the thing you’ve been hiding. Talk about the uncomfortable stuff. Share your story. Your voice matters, even if it shakes a little at first.
You’ve got this.
And when fear shows up again (because it will), meet it with a pen in your hand.
For more writing tips, be sure to check out my page Tips for Writers.
