What is one of the things that I have noticed in my writing career (as both a writer and coach), is this fear that writers have about (1) what they have to say, and (2) being brave enough to say it.

This fear leads to writer’s block, and what I affectionately call ‘The Yipps.’ This is the fear that you have when you know that you have to write, know what you have to write is important–but can’t! This normally happens when you have a project you want to start, but don’t believe that you have the ability to do it.

The fear of being judged, fear of not having your work read–or quite simply? Just believing that you can’t. It is this fear that snowballing into everything else related to your writing and to any future projects!

There is no way around this. There is only a way through it.

The fear is unreasonable, so you, too, must become unreasonable.

Subdue the fear–by writing anyway. Don’t be afraid of what it will say, get it out first. Then we can do back and fix everything else. This is what drafts are for.

So what will you choose to do: are you going to believe the fear or …believe your talent?

Note: An excerpt of the essay, Writing Through the Wall, will be ready on 11/6, and ready for download on 11/9.