Fear and Writing

I am in a workshop on Plotting. With each new area we cover, I freeze initially when it comes to completing assignments. Before the assignment, the story is clear in my mind and I know how it should be written. When it’s time to write, my mind goes blank and I can’t think of a single thing to say. I realize now, that it’s fear. Fear that I have no idea how to plot (since I’m a pantser). Fear that I will get it wrong and my story will be rejected. Fear that I am exposing myself as a wannabe and not a writer. Fear that I just don’t know what I’m doing. Roseann Cash said, “The Key to change…is to let go of fear.” That’s it. That’s me. I realize I have to stand up to my fears and reaffirm my convictions. I am learning how to plot. I may be wrong, but it can be corrected. I need to affirm that I am a writer and am following the steps necessary to learn my craft. Now fear, take that! You don’t scare me…much. What fears do you have in your writing?

Writing Courses II

The exercises for my writing workshop are so good. I'm extremely surprised that I have come up with the things I am writing about. Some of the exercises have inspired some really good story ideas. I just might use them as short stories in an anthology, free reads on my upcoming website or as full novels. I plan to take a few more workshops and writing courses through the end of the year and reassess my goals.

Writing Courses

Since beginning this journey, I have contemplated taking some refresher writing courses just to make sure that I'm on the right track. I started with Beginning Writers Workshop just this week and I'm happy to report that so far what I thought I remembered, I actually do remember! I'll still take a few more just to be on the safe side because I'm currently working on my first novel. I want everything to be in order...as much as possible. My "folks" are definitely talking to me again. This time I'm listening and writing it all down.