Writer's Block - Getting Past Fear

Writer's Block: According to Webster's Dictionary.

The problem of not being able to think of something to write about, or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc. A psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.

Yeah, I think writer's block is about fear. Plain and simple. The fear of failure - my work will not be good enough to: publish, win a contest, excite fans, or please my parents. Or it's a fear of success - what would happen if I became famous and everyone was reading my work? How would that change my life? (Many of you might be thinking that would be an awesome problem to have, but almost the same number of people are afraid of success as there are people afraid of failure.) Both fears stop you from writing - they are the cause of writer's block. 

How do you get around the fear?

1. Recognize that fear might be the thing that is preventing you from writing. Sometimes the process of identifying the cause can allow the breakthrough. "I'm afraid, and I don't want to be caught in fear, so I'm going to sit down right now and get to work."

2. If recognition isn't enough - sit with the fear. Recognize that fear is the problem, then determine where your fear comes from and allow yourself to release that fear. Today you do not have to be a best selling author, or show your parents your novel, or do anything else, but put words down on paper for yourself. Push that inner critic who is always striving for perfection away - far, far, far away. You don't need him today. 

3. Change from focusing on the fear to focusing on the love. Why do you write? Love of words? Love of story? Love of the time sitting in contemplation with your journal? Whatever excites you about your writing process, make that what you focus on. When you exchange love for fear your writing mind will automatically open and allow the process to begin. 

Good luck and happy writing!

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D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction and co-author of a Young Adult Science Fiction Series. Her latest book, Solem was released February 2016.

D. Jean loves to tell stories of personal growth – where success has nothing to do with money or fame, but of living life to the fullest. She is also the author of the novels: Rocky's Mountains, Fire in the Hole, and Perception, and the co-author of The Exodus Series: The Water Planet: Book 1 and House of Glass: Book 2. The Mermaid, an award winning short story was published in the anthology, Tales from a Sweltering City.                                                                                             

She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website at www.djeanquarles.com                                      

You can also follower her on Facebook.

I'm too . . .

This last week I spent some time with a group of want-to-be-writers. And why were they want-to-be-writers and not writers? Good question!

The reasons were many. Some had felt a desire when they were younger, but somehow they had felt they hadn't lived long enough at that time to have something to say.

That didn't stop the six-year old from the UK, Christopher Beale, who had his 1,500-word, five chapter novel published. And he's not alone in being a young writer. There is Christopher Paolini, a bestselling novelist of a fantasy series who started the series when he was 15. And Flavia Bujor who wrote her first book at age 12, The Prophecy of the Stones. All three thought they had plenty to say and that age shouldn't be a factor.

In this group there were also, surprisingly enough, the people who felt they should have done it when they were younger, but now they were too old. Too old! Laura Ingalls Wilder author of Little House on the Prairie didn't start writing until she retired at age 65. Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes was 66. But the oldest first-time published author award goes to Bertha Wood who had her first book, Fresh Air and Fun: The Story of a Blackpool Holiday Camp published when she was 100 years old.

So it's really not age that keeps one from writing. It's fear. I don't want to downplay the fear, because it is a challenge to put yourself out there in written form for others to read, but everyone faces fear. Yep, each and everyone of us has a fear or had has a fear to overcome. And you know what, the best way to overcome that fear is by facing it head on and moving forward. So if you are someone who is too young or too old or just too afraid to write your story, now is the time to begin.

According to Julia Cameron: "The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner's humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step."

Writers on the Move will be there, holding your hand for each step. We've got you.

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D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction and a co-author of a Young Adult Science Fiction Series. Her latest book, House of Glass, Book 2 of The Exodus Series was written with coauthor, Austine Etcheverry.

D. Jean loves to tell stories of personal growth – where success has nothing to do with money or fame, but of living life to the fullest. She is also the author of the novels: Rocky's Mountains, Fire in the Hole, and Perception. The Mermaid, an award winning short story was published in the anthology, Tales from a Sweltering City.                                                                                            

She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website at www.djeanquarles.com                                      

You can also follower her at www.djeanquarles.blogspot.com or on Facebook.