On Writing: Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Let’s set one thing straight: you will fail. Repeatedly. It’s not an option, but how you choose to view your failure is. You can let it master you, or you can make it your bitch.

I see it like this: when I fail to write a great story, no problem. I can fix it or ditch it. In both cases, I move forward, and I’ve written a story.

If the fear of failure keeps you from writing, well, you’re not creating anything, are you?

The best way to overcome the fear of failure is to embrace the fact that failure is part of the creative process. You won’t get it right every time, and this should motivate you to keep learning and trying until you do. Knowing what makes a bad story is just as important as knowing what makes a good one, but you won’t know until you’ve written something.

Failure is the byproduct of attempt, and so is success. If the fear of failure keeps you from making attempts, you will never succeed. Keep writing, learn from your failures, and then put them behind you. Or stay home and never have a chance of success. The choice is yours.