Ideally, writing should be an exciting and carefree process. Anyone who puts a pen to paper has the chance to create a story, sell a product, argue a point or educate a reader. For many, however, composition is a process that causes great anxiety. Unfortunately, stress over writing can limit the quantity – and quality – of one’s literary output.
This article is not a cure for such anxiety, but it does seek to identify its source and provide ideas for decreasing it. With time, writers can make their composition sessions as fun and enriching as they used to be.
How Does One Become Anxious About Writing?
Most parents can remember when their toddlers would scribble on pieces of paper - or the wall. The child’s work would not appear in a literary magazine, but the act of writing for the youngster was carefree and fun. There was no pressure to perform.
Adult writers can certainly produce better work than they could as toddlers. But many fear that, unless their first draft is excellent, others will view their piece (or them) negatively. This is the source of a large amount of literary anxiety.
Anxiety also occurs when one cannot think of a story idea. This article can help with that issue.
The Detriments of Literary Anxiety
Some might say that any anxiety one has about writing is beneficial in the long run, as it forces the writer to think closely about his or her piece during the first draft and make more revisions. In truth, anxiety can limit authors’ potential and ruin the writing experience.
Writing is a time for experimentation and exploration, especially with fiction pieces. Writers should not feel pressured to create an excellent first rendition of a piece, given that any issues can be corrected in the editing process. Rather, they should enjoy themselves and save editing for later.
When one lets their performance anxiety interfere with the creative process, he or she could be limiting the overall quality of the piece. If the first draft is composed with a sense of fear and nervousness, the writer may be less able to produce creative, insightful, flowing work - given his or her preoccupation with making every sentence and paragraph sound “right.” Writers may find that their best composition occurs when they have little worry over how first drafts will turn out.
Performance anxiety can also ruin the composition experience for stressed-out writers. It is difficult to be excited and happy about working on a first draft when one is worried about how it will turn out; as a result, writing can seem like a chore for anxious writers who once enjoyed their craft.
Decreasing Anxiety Over Writing
Writers need not be stressed about their work, even if deadlines or proposals are involved. It is possible for any writer to rediscover the enjoyment they once had for writing – along with the creative flow that their pieces exhibited.
The key to reducing literary performance anxiety is courage. Stressed-out writers must be brave enough to keep writing a first draft when a paragraph feels awkward or when a sentence does not fit right. Those composing a piece must have the courage to dismiss fears about writing poorly; if it helps, they can remind themselves that any mistakes or errors can be resolved in the editing process.
Once one is able to compose a first draft without stopping every second to make edits, they will find themselves writing in a more natural and enjoyable manner. Their initial draft may have multiple issues, but that is why the editing process exists. More important than the quality of the draft, however, is the quality of the writing experience. Any writing session is successful as long as the writer had fun doing it, given that he or she can go back and make edits later.
Other Tips for Alleviating Stress
Writers may also try to shrug off concerns about what others will think of their writing. Just as public speakers should be focused on their speech instead of the audience, writers should try to develop their story without fearing how others will react to it.
Stress-reducing activities can also be employed before or after a writing session. A jogger may try writing 500 words of a story, then running around the block before finishing the other 500. Music can also help calm writers down, though it may pose a distraction as well.
If one tries writing from experience, he or she may find that the writing process is a bit easier (as much of the content already exists in the writer's mind), and thus more relaxed. This should not stop writers from writing stories that go beyond their experiences, however.
Rediscovering the Fun in Writing
Writing does not have to be a stress-ridden endeavor. If authors can amass the strength to write out their first draft without giving in to their performance anxiety, they will likely find themselves with a better story – and, more importantly, a more enjoyable writing process.
For information on writing solid first drafts, try this article.
