Note: These are real psychological conditions and they need to be treated with respect. With that said, fear is a source of self-rejection. So, let us examine this. -JBHarris

Scriptophobia: fear of writing in public

Graphophobia: fear of writing (or even thinking of writing)

Fear is the root of self-rejection as it relates to writing! Fear is a liar, a gossip, a mocking bird, and a hole in the bottom of any ship! It is the enemy of imagination. Let me say it again:

FEAR IS THE ENEMY OF IMAGINATION!

When confronting these serious circumstances, let me say these four things—

Fear is natural, not normal. There are some things about writing that are frightening. But most of this fear comes from what other people may think about your work! The red pens, the Omnipotent No and the rejection of manuscripts. Fear of rejection comes with the territory of writing. Yet, you must bear in mind this one thing, “I have the ability to write whatever I want, and I have the freedom to write whatever I want.”

Make this your mantra. It will save your sanity!

See what scares you. The thing that keeps your from writing, has to be seen in order to be confronted. The most important question you must ask yourself is, “What is scaring me about this work?” I cannot emphasize this enough! Aside from asking yourself, “What am I going to write about?” You have to ask yourself if there is something relating to this work–or a future work–that could cause you to be scared to write it. Here, right here, is where writers get and become stuck. If you cannot confront what is scaring you, if you will not confront what is stopping you, you will ever write.

Think about this! Do you want to be in such a blockage that you cannot create anything else…because you don’t believe you can!

See the problem, dear ones. Stop running from it.

*Note: Trauma is a real thing, and anxiety is real. Know that help is available, and you are entitled to ask for what you need. Artists sometimes are the people whom need to confront what bothers them, what hurts them in order to write as they need. Don’t release the gift without a fight!

Schedule, prep time and relaxing. When confronting this level of fear and apprehension, getting a routine together to write/create is comforting. Even if that is 5 minutes to think about what you want to write. In that time, take 5 deep breaths–thinking on what you want to write about. Focus your energy on being relaxed enough to imagine. From that, try and write for five minutes. Consider this akin to learning to walk again. You have to give yourself time. Be gentle with yourself. Take it one step at a time.

Slay the dragons. Write. You have to write through the fear! You MUST write through the fear. Remember, the first person you write for is yourself! The first person who is your first fan of your work is YOU! The rest of the world will come–if you want.

Tip: Try keeping a journal. Don’t commit to a word count or page count. Just write. Whatever it is, whatever you feel. Just write it down.

This is a start, my Oracles. Take this tricks. Take these tools and slay your dragons. I know you can.