Conquering The Trio of Writers' Fears

Are Writers Born or Made?

Writing always felt like second nature to me. I have no idea why; perhaps my insatiable appetite for books played a pivotal role. Before I turned 13, I had read literary works like Things Fall Apart and Purple Hibiscus. Whenever I encountered a new word, I would ask my dad for help. Together, we would peruse the dictionary. If I still didn't understand, he would proceed to explain the word in the clearest possible way. It is likely that his effort fortified my foundation in creative writing. I found solace in journaling and whenever I had the chance to write an article for class, I would leap at the opportunity. I'd do the research and writing first and my dad would polish the edges to perfection.

Holding My Horses

I started writing books when I was a junior in high school. There was this book I was working on at the time. After reading it, my older brother promised that if I completed it, he would ensure it was edited and published by the right sources. My classmates were well aware of my writing prowess(Lol). They would request my book and read it in turns.

I'm not sure how it happened but the book went missing and I was devastated. I was just 15 at the time and that book meant everything to me. I had invested so much time and energy in it and it was gone. Something died inside of me that day, although saying that would sound corny. Well, I lost interest in that project and eventually lost my zeal to write.

My Watershed Moment

Fast forward to 4 or 5 years later, I had completed high school. I ran into a former high school classmate while I was at the university.

She was one of those friends who insisted on reading everything I wrote. She'd playfully tell me "I wish I could write like you" and we'd laugh about it. We stopped to chat for a bit and she asked me if I was still writing. I laughed and said, "Uhm, not really". She wanted to know why I stopped but obviously, I wasn't ready for that conversation. We exchanged contacts and parted ways.

I tried to keep up with her socials. She was a copywriter. I went through her articles and Damn! she was good. She had perfected her art of writing over the years. I was impressed yet my heart ached. This was because I knew if I never stopped writing, I would be as good as she was too. This was the moment I realized I needed to take action to improve my writing.

Just like any other skill, writing requires cultivation and development. Even if you were born a writer, once you stop developing that skill, it goes dormant.

I tried to write numerous times but I was unable to. The words just wouldn't come. I would often lose patience and give up.

A couple of months later, a friend emailed me a link to sign up for her newsletter on Substack. I read her piece and I had a paradigm shift right there. Someone was doing something I had always wanted to do. Why couldn't I do the same?

In that instant, I made a decision. I was no longer going to idle away my time.

Procrastination- The Sworn Enemy of Productivity

Months later, I had taken courses and read additional books and articles. I had done almost everything to get inspiration. I eventually began to write...only in my notepad, though.

As I contemplated starting a blog, I managed to develop a PhD in the art of procrastination. I became the master of excuses. I could list a million and one reasons why that wasn't the right time to start my blog. Whenever I got myself to start working on the blog, I would stare at it with the tenacity of a caffeinated squirrel, only to find myself binge-watching Netflix.

But fear not, my friends, for every procrastinator has an epiphany and mine came when I realized I had become more proficient in coming up with excuses than actual content.

Fear of Inadequacy

I had read articles from other writers, each with their unique voice and captivating content. With every scroll, the monster of comparison would rear its ugly head. "Why even bother when there are so many amazing writers out there?" This was one of my greatest obstacles. I was constantly comparing myself and thinking that I just wasn't 'good enough' or 'ready'.

Then it struck me. If Shakespeare had worried about being inadequate, we'd never have "To-be or not to be". No one becomes a great writer overnight. In a sea of talented writers and creators, it is easy to doubt one's abilities and feel that your voice won't stand out.

I overcame this fear by shifting my focus from comparison to self-expression. I embraced my individuality and accepted the fact that the journey is about improvement and not instant perfection.

The Paradox of Perfectionism

I knew I was ready. I felt ready. Everything was finally starting to make sense but when it came to writing, I treated each word like a potential Nobel Prize winner. It took me longer to craft a title than to decide what to eat for dinner (Trust me, I take forever to decide). I strived so hard to create flawless content that I would obsessively edit and edit without ever hitting the publish button.

My friends published post after post and built themselves an army of readers while I was still struggling to perfect a single article.

This was when my obsession with perfection dwindled. I began to see that perfection is unattainable and the most authentic and relatable content is the one that's imperfect, raw, and genuine.

Fear of Criticism

What if readers hated my work? What if my wit was about as sharp as a rubber knife? The mere thought of putting my thoughts out there for the world to see and potentially facing criticism or even worse, rejection, was daunting.

But what's that thing they say about one man's food being another man's poison?

Not everyone will resonate with your content and that's okay, what matters is connecting with the people who will. I recognized that all feedback is important and necessary for growth. I decided that I was going to take constructive criticism while filtering the destructive comments.

Choosing a Niche

I always wanted to own a personal blog. One where I could share personal anecdotes, chronicle my triumphs, setbacks and progress, and share actionable tips, insights and the resources that have ultimately benefited me.

With time, I ventured into tech (story for another day). I started learning how to code and I thought to myself, I could also write about that– my learning journey, talk about technology that fascinates me, and write how-to guides, and technical pieces in general.

I knew I wasn't ready to build my blog from scratch just yet, so I started searching for free platforms.

I stumbled on Edidiong Asikpo (Didi)'s article- Hashnode vs Building a Blog from Scratch. She recommended Hashnode. I studied Hashnode and I knew I had come to my logical end.

Well, a couple of Technical writing courses after and I am excited to introduce my BLOG! 🥳

Welcome to LifeNTech!

LifeNTech seeks to create a harmonious balance between the digital and the tangible. Here, we demonstrate that you can be tech-savvy without necessarily disconnecting from the very essence of what makes us human.

LifeNTech aims to celebrate this blend and show how seamlessly these two spheres intertwine to create a holistic and fulfilling existence.

Together, we can create a thriving community of tech and lifestyle enthusiasts as we learn and grow.

Conclusion

If you've come this far, you've successfully gone through my entire tale of procrastination escapades and comparison meltdowns.

I just want to say if you find yourself hesitating to start something, whether it's a blog or a business etc.. Don't be. You need to remember that fear doesn't have to be a roadblock. It could be a stepping stone with each step providing an opportunity to learn, grow and evolve.

I'd like to conclude by quoting one of my current favourites:

"If You No Make Am, No Evidence Say You Try Your Best. You Go Explain Tire…"

This statement is as profound as it is amusing. It means that if your efforts don't yield the desired outcomes, it will be quite difficult to demonstrate that you genuinely gave it your all. You'll wind up having to explain yourself a lot because your results aren't strong enough to serve as independent proof.

So, If you were looking for a sign to get started, I just gave you one!