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Writing Anxiety

There are many aspects to the writing process that aren’t immediately thought of when an idea first pops into a writer’s head for the first time. A few include the outline, editing, rewrites, writer’s block, and writer’s anxiety. Despite how it sounds, writer’s block and writer’s anxiety aren’t the same. Writer’s block is when a writer gets stuck and doesn’t know how to proceed in the story, feeling mental blockage from which they can’t seem to get rid of. Writer’s anxiety is more an anxiety about the kind of writing you’re doing or a feeling that your story may feel, and therefore end up procrastinating on their work.

I have about six novels myself that I find constant writing anxiety about, and have still had yet to complete. There are many things that can feed into writing anxiety, the world is a complex place with new challenges every day. So, how does one deal with this anxiety without letting it affect them?

The easiest way to handle writing anxiety is similar to how someone would handle any other kind of anxiety, standing back and taking a moment to evaluate and resolve the source of the anxiety in the first place. Healthy coping mechanisms, and perhaps writing something shorter and less serious to get into the flow of things.

My best works of poetry have come from taking a step back from the long-term stories I’ve attempted to write, and have helped me better understand the range of emotions that are needed for proper character development.

Do not feel bad for having writing anxiety, because anxiety is an emotion that everyone deals with in many different ways, and you should not feel ashamed. All of us write at different speeds, and our goals are different. We’ll all get to the end of our respective novels eventually.

Outlining the Importance of Outlines

The idea when writing anything is that there will be a flow of a beginning, a middle, and an end. Before a writer can even go that far, though, they much first write an outline for a story. I will list a few reasons why writing an outline is incredibly important to assist a writer in their work.

The outline of a work of writing is an organization of the most important events that will make up the story. This is especially helpful for writers to stay on the proper track to know the order in which to write the story, to keep the voice and message coherent throughout their work. This can apply to nearly every kind of writing, although it is much more commonly used when someone plans on writing a chapter story since there will be multiple plot points to keep track of.

While writing the outline is the first major step in writing a story, that doesn’t mean that writing an outline is easy. In fact, at times, it can seem more difficult than writing the story itself because not everyone always starts out knowing how their story will end. It is also difficult to keep following due to the fact many writers want to write plot points not in chronological order, which can become an issue on keeping a proper and well-flowing story.

The way to write an outline is to understand the major events you plan to include in the story. Then, you organize the story in the way you see the plot points unfolding. There are a few basics such as:
*Introduction
*Chapter 1/Plot Point 1
*Chapter 2/Plot Point 2
*Chapter 3/Plot Point 3
*Chapter 4/Plot Point 4
*Chapter 5/Plot Point 5
(and so on)
*Conclusion

This isn’t an uncommon formula for other writings, such as thesis papers or even short stories. (Obviously, those chapters in those case would rather be paragraphs than full-blown chapters.)

The truth is writers are incredibly creative people whose minds tend to wander a lot, constantly having their brain going a mile a minute. This is great for brainstorming, but not for staying focused. The best way to accomplish staying on task is to organize a proper outline before beginning their writing, giving a solidly set plan into how the writer will succeed in presenting their story to the rest of the world.

Silence Isn’t Golden

There seems to be an issue lately where writers are unable to take valid criticism, and would prefer fans to remain silent on any concerns and not offer any helpful tools to help people improve their work. This can be particularly annoying for editors, readers, and anyone with a general sense of respect for literature as a whole. There are a few social media presences, such as a few YouTube Influencers for example, who would write without any editing help about very personal experiences and then throw fits about how their work was fairly and accurately critiqued. Such issues brings up and important thought I’d explore today: Is it possible for someone’s writing to be too personal? If so, does that mean it shouldn’t and can’t be criticized?

Personally, I’d say no, there is no such thing as too personal. Within legal means and reason, people are allowed to share their personal experiences or ideas, but everyone must understand in advance that just because they can write about something doesn’t mean everyone will like it. If we refuse to be open to adjusting certain plot points, or be okay with negative feedback, then we will never be pushed outside our comfort zone into creating writing that is truly unique. If someone is offended at the idea of their personal stories or beliefs being called into question, then the writer may need to reexamine whether or not they want that story to be told or not.

I believe everyone, including myself, can improve on my writing and we all should. There is always a problem to be solved, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try at all! Accepting criticism is an important skill to have, no matter what area of life may be directly linked to it. Criticism isn’t meant to hurt or deter the receiver, but to honestly let them know where they may need improvement.

It is a reader and fellow writer’s responsibility to be honest and forthcoming when sought out for help or improvement, so while critiques should be offered in a positive and supportive manner, it should absolutely be brought up. In the case of supporting one another, silence will never be golden.  

A Golden Opportunity for Writers. Nice to meet you!

Hello, my name is Ashtyn Britt! I am a twenty-one year old woman who is a writer hoping to inspire many through writing quotes, creative images, and other means of expressing themselves through writing. There have been a few times in my personal life when writing was the only outlet that I had to express myself when I had been facing very dark times. During such times, I felt like I had no voice or ability to figure out how to work through what I was thinking. The ability to even write in privately all the complicated emotions I felt as well as read of other’s pain helped me find a new light at the end of the tunnel. Words are everyone’s most powerful tool in anything and everything we do, so I want to use my powers for good. I want to inspire others the way that others have inspired me, through specifically quotes and writing prompts. It can be difficult to try to find inspiration on one’s own, which is why spreading such influence will be helpful. Another important part of The Golden Pen shall be the ability for writers to share their work if they choose so to help inspire others as well as receive constructive criticism. There will never be a perfect writer, but hopefully we can all help each other improve. The main purpose of this blog will be to primarily provide an open and safe space for writers to come together and inspire one another. I want to help others grow and manage through tough times to reach a better version of themselves. This can both apply to them as a writer, and as a person in general. It is my deepest hope that through this blog I am able to reach as many writers as possible.

What is The Golden Pen About?

Don’t worry, it’s not to sell your soul! Although, any writer would tell you that sometimes it can feel as though we have no choice but to express ourselves through words. The Golden Pen was created to help inspire and support fellow writers through quotes, prompts, and images. The Golden Pen is also a place for everyone to share their work, or work they appreciate, in order to both inspire others and to receive constructive criticism. So don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and feelings! Don’t forget writers, you’re all golden!