Fear of Change

The title of this post is broad, so I'll narrow down the focus. Writers at every stage in their career deal with change. I think every new change will fill some writers with terror due to their inherent personality, while the same changes will be easily shrugged off by people with a different temperament.

One thing I understand about myself is that I am who I am. I don't fight my feelings, but neither do I let them overpower me. It's okay to feel fear; it's not okay to let it stop you from living the fullest life of your dreams.

Writers who are just starting out may fear how their life will change. How will I fit writing into an already tight schedule? How will my friends or family adjust to my new commitment? And what if my book is an instant success--how will I deal with the changes that will bring to my life?

Writers who have already tackled those fears may face other scary monsters. What if this book gets rejected? What if I can't finish the next book? What if I run out of ideas? I've told a lot of people that I'm trying to get published; what if they all begin to think I'm a loser? What if the rejections keep coming? Will I have to decide if I want to continue writing? Maybe I was wrong--maybe I'm not really a writer?

Writers who've gotten "the call" and who've published a book or two may find themselves with a whole new set of fears. What if I was a one hit wonder? What if I sell my next book, but I get less sales? Will my editor still want me? What if my agent hates the proposals I come up with? Can I match my earlier success? What if I can't squeeze in the line-edits my editor needs in two days? How will I ever get all the promotional work done for my last book and still write my new book?

Writers who have been multi-published may have a different level of fears. Have I already written this premise before? What if my writing is getting stale? What if I run out of ideas? What if my editor decides she wants newer, younger, fresher writers? The enthusiasm and energy I had five years ago is wearing thin--how do I cut back on the number of books I put out without alienating my readers? Without my editor dropping me? When am I going to have time to enjoy my success?

There's a common illusion among unpublished writers who are trying to get published that once they get "the call" and their books are on shelves, their problems disappear. Fear? No way! What could they possibly be afraid of after their dream comes true?

Maybe some of the fears and problems will disappear, but new ones take their place. That's why it's vital to come up with strategies to deal with them. Fears will change, but we can use the same strategies to knock them down. Next week we'll look at ways to say "adios" to our fears.

Join me on Friday and...

Write Already! It's Wednesday!

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