It’s the last of the anxiety posts and … um… I might be feeling anxious about that.
Last Monday, I posted part one of this two-part (now three-part) post which is all because one of my writing students asked:
“Seems like a lot of us writers struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem. All I can do, apparently, is grind out a page here and there during my more lucid moments. I don’t suppose you’ve got the magic key to overcoming emotional struggles so that the writing gets done?”
Writer who I’m not going to out here because that would be horrible
I have my own way of dealing with this, but my way? It’s not everyone’s way and it’s not that writer’s way so I looked to my Facebook friends for help.
A lot of people were super kind and gave recommendations. I’m going to share some of more of them.
Start With A Word
What I do is I take a single word, whether it’s an emotion, a description, or anything else, just the first word that comes to mind. Then I build on it. I describe the word. Find synonyms, antonyms, I write what I think that word looks like as an image. Sometimes, I might even attempt to draw it (but I don’t draw well so I usually just laugh at myself for that one). Then I’ll write associations to that word. What does it remind me of? Who does it make me think of? When did I experience it last?
Allyna Rae Storms
Then, if I’m still feeling blocked or stuck after this, I’ll do it with another word. And another word. There have been days where I literally only write about words like this.
Make It Work for you
I put my anxiety into my work. Writing or creating (painting or making jewelry) I use my extra emotions in my work. I write my fears into my characters, or I let it out into my art work. Some of my best pieces have been created when I have been frustrated, angry, or upset. Music also helps some times.
Jenn Duffield
Look Beyond
It’s not about you, the writer. Look beyond yourself and just tell the story.
John Scherber
The Five Minute Rule
I give my students and myself smaller assignments. Write for Five minutes. Revise one page. Then we celebrate these small accomplishments.
Ann Angel
Don’t Let Your Head Kick Your Ass
I got this way a few times when I wrote the first draft of a short novel not too long ago. When the head kicked my ass a bit too much and my focus went to zero, that’s when I did an outline and wrote up a big picture idea of what would be happening next in my story. Then when I felt more focused, I was able to see the trees in the forest and was able to go back and flesh out my outline. This took all the pressure off me of having to think of the details and just have fun with the overall story ideas. I’m pretty certain that without this approach, that novel would never have gotten finished and I’d still be staring at blank pages.
Rick Hipson
Acceptance
I think acceptance helps a lot with all of this. “I’m feeling anxious today. I’m going to try to write for half an hour anyway.” “I think everything I write is crap. It probably is, but I’m going to keep working on this chapter anyway.” Half an hour here, half an hour there, they add up. I use my timer a lot. “I just have to do this for half an hour and then I can be done.” Whether it’s paying bills, sweeping floors, sorting through old clothes–that method helps me get stuff done. It’s a simple method but it does the trick.
Cathy Carr
Medical Cannabis
Continue reading “Anxiety Is Us: How Can Writers Deal, Part Three”Medical cannabis is the answer for me. Helps with the anxiety and to fall asleep at night.
Stacey O’Neale