Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway — For Writers and Creatives
Feel the fear and do it anyway is one of the great all-time phrases ever. And I certainly can’t take credit for the words. It was the title of a book that came out years ago, by Susan Jeffers, and I clutched that book to me like a life raft at the time. I was reminded of the book again last weekend when the minister of my church referred to how she also found it life-saving back in the day. (Books really can change lives, never forget that as you write.)
I’m heading off to teach today, and I’ll be honest, I’m nervous. I’m not nervous about the material because I’ve taught it a million times (just not in this format). But I’m nervous about logistics, and getting there on time, and about how I’ve put everything together, and what to wear, and the biggie–what will people think of me? Will they like me? If you stop and think about that one for a minute, it is the most ridiculous fear on the planet. We can’t control what other people are going to think of us. We can be kind and open but if someone takes an instant dislike to us, there’s not much we can do about it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken an instant dislike to someone–and later become close friends with them. Yet this is one of the most crippling fears people have. Oh, we humans are a funny lot.
And here’s another funny fear: that of putting words on the page. Or paint on the canvas. Or stitches on the fabric. We creatives face the blank page and panic. But why? Because all those thoughts about how people will react to the words on the page (which actually aren’t even there yet) crowd in and stop us. We tell ourselves we don’t know how to do it, as if everyone else has innate knowledge of it that we don’t share. That’s simply not true. They learned it by doing it, just like everyone else. The one exception is my four-year-old grandson. He comes up with the most amazing facts and when I ask him where he learned that he just shrugs and says “I just know it.” Which is, come to think of it, probably the best attitude any of us can take. Shrug and tell yourself “I just know how to write a novel.” “I just know how to put paint on the canvas.”
The thing is, if you’re afraid of something, it’s probably yours to do. That is one of the truest things I’ve learned through the years. And so here’s my best advice as to how to deal with fear:
Take action.
That’s the best antidote to fear that I know. It doesn’t have to be big action, it can be something little. Tiny, even. Because teensy actions pile upon each other and cumulatively become big actions. I remember reading Susan Jeffers book back when it first came out and being so fearful that the thought of taking action was simply overwhelming. Back then, I could never have imagined publishing a book. Leading writing workshops in France. Or teaching others. But little actions built up. I went to a meeting of a writer’s group. Joined a critique group. Put words on the page regularly and started shaping them into something more than journal entries. Took the scary step of showing those words to others. And one day I found myself on the plane to Paris (alone–something else I couldn’t have imagined).
Before I started traveling regularly, I had a fear of flying. I’d grip the arm rests and hyperventilate during take-off and landing. But then I realized that if I ever wanted to go anywhere I better get over the fear. It is still not my favorite thing to do, but its not the worst, either. Doing something over and over helps quell the fear (though I still get nervous about logistics, that’s for damn sure).
Write a word, make the phone call, visit the gallery you want to represent you. Send the query, ask someone for something you want, whatever it is that fear prevents you from doing. Sit down at the computer and write the next scene of your novel or memoir. Because here’s the best part–once you’ve done that thing you’ll be flooded with the most glorious feeling of sweet relief. Because you’ve overcome fear. In many ways, I think it is the life journey we all share.
How do you overcome fear? Please share.
I’m off to teach at Sitka today, which is located on the beautiful Oregon coast, so I won’t be back in this space until next week. But follow me on Instagram for lots of photos!
The image is The Scream, by Edward Munch, of course, and it is in the public domain.
Tshepo Rathiaya
Hey Charlotte! Its been an exciting experience reading your blog. I have reaped so much from the harvest of your work.
Like the blog, I just read its so true. I am truly inspired to keep at it. To keep writing. I hope to meet you someday.
Charlotte Rains dixon
Thank you so much! I’m so happy the blog has been helpful. And I’d love to meet you some day, too–maybe you can come to one of my workshops!
Don
Best way to face fear is to hit rate in the face and get it over with! You said it best when you wrote:
“Write a word, make the phone call, visit the gallery you want to represent you. Send the query, ask someone for something you want, whatever it is that fear prevents you from doing. Sit down at the computer and write the next scene of your novel or memoir. Because here’s the best part–once you’ve done that thing you’ll be flooded with the most glorious feeling of sweet relief. Because you’ve overcome fear. In many ways, I think it is the life journey we all share.”
Good advice.
Charlotte Rains dixon
Thanks, Don! I so appreciate you. How are things?