Comments on: Battling Yourself: The Fear of Writing http://twentyorsomething.com/2009/03/25/battling-yourself-the-fear-of-writing/ tonight we drink to youth. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:14:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susan Pogorzelski - admin http://twentyorsomething.com/2009/03/25/battling-yourself-the-fear-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Susan Pogorzelski - admin Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:39:09 +0000 http://twentyorsomething.com/?p=1194#comment-211 Kim: I'm glad to hear that you're still blogging -- I think it's so important to keep up with something you love, even though you second-guess yourself. I really like what you have to say: it definitely is something that all writers go through, but I never considered that maybe it's a good thing. Maybe when you push through it, fight against it, you realize that you really are a writer, that it really is something you love. Thanks for your comment and your insight! Kim: I’m glad to hear that you’re still blogging — I think it’s so important to keep up with something you love, even though you second-guess yourself. I really like what you have to say: it definitely is something that all writers go through, but I never considered that maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe when you push through it, fight against it, you realize that you really are a writer, that it really is something you love.

Thanks for your comment and your insight!

]]> By: Kim http://twentyorsomething.com/2009/03/25/battling-yourself-the-fear-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Kim Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:08:27 +0000 http://twentyorsomething.com/?p=1194#comment-201 I've been totally feeling this lately. I've kind of dropped everything but the blogging because I feel fraudish. It's just something writers go through. I think the minute you stop having those doubts you become a bad writer. It's those doubts that help us realize that it's a choice, I think (hope). I’ve been totally feeling this lately. I’ve kind of dropped everything but the blogging because I feel fraudish. It’s just something writers go through. I think the minute you stop having those doubts you become a bad writer. It’s those doubts that help us realize that it’s a choice, I think (hope).

]]> By: Susan Pogorzelski - admin http://twentyorsomething.com/2009/03/25/battling-yourself-the-fear-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Susan Pogorzelski - admin Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:23:26 +0000 http://twentyorsomething.com/?p=1194#comment-192 Benjamin: It’s funny you say that, as there’s a Bill Cosby quote that says “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” I’m not sure why that has always stuck with me, possibly because I didn’t expected something so profound, but I’ve found this to be true, especially with writing. These insecurities come in cycles and, like I said with Crystal, I think that every artist has those feelings of self-doubt at one point or another. I think that comes with the trade, which can be so personal. I think the key is to learn how to push through that, and learning to follow your heart and write for yourself first might be vital to the process. Thanks for mentioning the 6 Golden Rules; I’d never heard of that before, and I would love to use it in a follow-up post. Thanks again! Benjamin: It’s funny you say that, as there’s a Bill Cosby quote that says “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” I’m not sure why that has always stuck with me, possibly because I didn’t expected something so profound, but I’ve found this to be true, especially with writing. These insecurities come in cycles and, like I said with Crystal, I think that every artist has those feelings of self-doubt at one point or another. I think that comes with the trade, which can be so personal. I think the key is to learn how to push through that, and learning to follow your heart and write for yourself first might be vital to the process. Thanks for mentioning the 6 Golden Rules; I’d never heard of that before, and I would love to use it in a follow-up post. Thanks again!

]]> By: Benjamin http://twentyorsomething.com/2009/03/25/battling-yourself-the-fear-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Benjamin Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:11:36 +0000 http://twentyorsomething.com/?p=1194#comment-191 What you are describing sounds like performance anxiety, something that can plague anyone, but can be especially prevalent in anyone who works before or with an "audience" -- teachers and musicians, artists, actors, performers and writers. For someone like you who is already prone to free-form anxiety disorders, the performance aspect can be especially troublesome. Beta blockers can help quell some of the more bothersome physical symptoms and can help to break some of the circular thinking that makes the problem worse. As a musician, I have found that the 6 Golden Rules of David Leisner, an esteemed musician and composer, are helpful, not just within the context of music making, but also in any creative endeavor where performance anxiety (no matter what it is called: stage fright or writer's block) can impede one's progress. I humbly offer this to you and gently suggest that you consider allowing yourself to be in the experience of writing (see rule number 4) rather than in the audience ... David's rules mention music and playing - you can substitute any endeavor for those, I've found. THE 6 GOLDEN RULES 1. You have practiced to the best of your ability. Trust your automatic pilot to do most of your work for you. 2. Do not judge what just happened or will happen. Only motivate and observe. 3. Do not second-guess anyone’s reaction to your work, as your perception will probably be inaccurate. Please yourself only. 4. Be in the music, in the moment. Be on stage, not in the audience. Be in the giving mode, not the receiving one. 5. Single out one aspect of your playing that is the top priority among things you need to be reminded of at this time. 6. Enjoy! Let your emotions for the music be present. Let your excitement for the music be present. What you are describing sounds like performance anxiety, something that can plague anyone, but can be especially prevalent in anyone who works before or with an “audience” — teachers and musicians, artists, actors, performers and writers. For someone like you who is already prone to free-form anxiety disorders, the performance aspect can be especially troublesome. Beta blockers can help quell some of the more bothersome physical symptoms and can help to break some of the circular thinking that makes the problem worse.

As a musician, I have found that the 6 Golden Rules of David Leisner, an esteemed musician and composer, are helpful, not just within the context of music making, but also in any creative endeavor where performance anxiety (no matter what it is called: stage fright or writer’s block) can impede one’s progress.

I humbly offer this to you and gently suggest that you consider allowing yourself to be in the experience of writing (see rule number 4) rather than in the audience …

David’s rules mention music and playing – you can substitute any endeavor for those, I’ve found.

THE 6 GOLDEN RULES

1. You have practiced to the best of your ability. Trust your automatic pilot to do most of your work for you.

2. Do not judge what just happened or will happen. Only motivate and observe.

3. Do not second-guess anyone’s reaction to your work, as
your perception will probably be inaccurate. Please yourself only.

4. Be in the music, in the moment. Be on stage, not in the audience. Be in the giving mode, not the receiving one.

5. Single out one aspect of your playing that is the top priority among things you need to be reminded of at this time.

6. Enjoy! Let your emotions for the music be present. Let your excitement for the music be present.

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