Progressing Instead of Regressing in Our Writing Endeavors

How to Avoid Developing Writer’s Apprehension Disorder (WAD) Part 1: Dread

Using last Monday’s blog, The Song that Silenced the Cappuccino Machine, for inspiration let’s delve into our series on progressing instead of regressing in our writing endeavors. Part 1 of our series focuses on dread. WAD includes symptoms such as dread, anxiety and worry. These are all forms of fear and these fears can overcome us as struggling, or even as published writers.

Last week I mentioned we all have a purpose in life and potential. When we allow dread, anxiety or worry to prevent us from fulfilling our purpose; writing, or to make us feel as though we have nothing to contribute, we must resist believing the lie and remember God said otherwise. In Write Away, bestselling author Elizabeth George states that, “Writing a book is terrifying. I can see why some writers go from book to book at a pace that allows them virtually no time off. I don’t want to live that way, and as a result, I have to face my demon fear each time I begin a novel. But Steinbeck faced it; Marquez continues to face it. If Nobel Prize winners can admit their fears, so can I.” (207; Harper Collins, 2004)

Have you stopped writing because you feel apprehensive about how others will respond to your work? Are you battling negative or anxious thoughts about who you are as a writer or questioning if you are a writer? If you have these symptoms or are hesitating to continue writing because someone gave you negative feedback, then you are probably suffering from WAD: Writer’s Apprehension Disorder.

In the first stages of dread you experience a sensation of panic at the thought of continuing your work, so you stop writing.  According to the Oxford American Dictionary, dread is “a great fear or apprehension.” This sensation could keep you from continuing due to fear of negative outcome or fear of conquering the challenge. Dread makes us procrastinate or give up altogether and it can be crippling to a writing career.

Also in Write Away, George states, “When I was creating For the Sake of Elena, I became so incapacitated by fear that I was having trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I finally resorted to saying, ‘These are only words and I will not let words defeat me’ in order to get up and get to work. Thus I struggled to the end of the novel.” (47)   

I find George’s words encouraging, since I experience the same feelings myself and spent the longest time believing I was the only one who did. I fell into dread’s trap and had to pull myself out. Dread keeps our stomachs in knots, our minds confused, and stops us from enjoying our lives. Most of all, dread keeps us from completing the task we set out to do; to finish writing the novel. If we do overcome the dread and finish the work, our joy is short lived because dread reappears to keep us from querying an agent or publisher. Dread feeds on doubt and insecurity. Simply put, dread steals our joy, ruins a good mood and leaves us with a sense of gloom or despair about our abilities as a writer.

How do we overcome the dread we battle and find ourselves succumbing to?

·         First, we need to set our minds to recognize the symptoms before they overpower us. The best way to recognize dread is through prayer. We should ask the Lord to open our eyes and give us discernment when these unwelcome feelings begin creeping in.

·         Another way to overcome dread would be to speak with a trusted friend, someone to whom we could pour out our hearts and receive encouragement. If possible, an established author or agent who is willing to offer advice to writers.

·         One more way would be to change our focus the moment we feel hesitancy or dread appearing. The longer our thoughts are on our fears the more powerful the dread becomes. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (KJV)

·         Finally, the most powerful way to overcome dread is through the Word of God. Speak the scriptures. Hebrews 4:12 states “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.” (KJV).

Throughout the Bible, God tells His people, as He tells our hearts today, not to fear [dread] or worry. Why, because He is in control. Let’s keep that in mind and keep writing. Next week Part 2: Anxiety.

What about you? Have you fallen into dread’s trap? Do you battle with dread? Do you procrastinate when it’s time to write or submit your work? How do you cope with your dread and keep writing? I would love to hear your responses.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PSYCHICS

I wrote the following article when I was freelancing for Suite101.com and thought readers might be interested.  I welcome any comments or questions and look forward to hearing from you.


Since biblical time, people have sought the predictions of psychics who seem to possess supernatural power to predict the future and give answers to desperately sought questions. The truth is, the psychics are as deceived as the people they are deceiving and neither one is given the absolute truth. Instead, both have put their trust in something other than God.

People who seek the counsel of psychics believe the mystic can predict their future or answer their questions. Many psychics believe they are getting their visions from God, but they are not. The Word of God gives clear warning to stay away from their counsel. Some of these warning can be found in Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6-8 & 27, Deuteronomy 18: 10-12, Malachi 3:5, Acts 13: 6-11 and Revelations 21:8.

Demons know a great deal about us because they are watching, listening, and learning everything they can. However, only God can read thoughts. The Bible states that when a person dies, he or she goes to heaven or to hell (Luke 16:22-31). No person who has died floats around in the spirit world. However, spirits do. Good spirits, which are angels and bad spirits, which are demons (1 Kings 22:19-23; 1 Peter 5:8; Mark 1:23-26).
Demons are interested in the person and the psychic’s weaknesses, addictions, and faults. They use psychics to whisper lies they want people to believe. As for the psychics, demons deceive them into believing they are speaking with the actual spirit of the dead loved one. The demons know the person seeking a psychic wants to hear from their dead loved one, so they give the psychic all the information necessary to deceive the person into believing they have contacted that dead person.

That’s how the psychic is able to give details no one else could possible know. After the demons hook the person by having the psychic tell them what they already know about their lives, but are astounded the psychic knows, they begin feeding the psychic lies for the person to believe.

Some psychics are also unscrupulous. Their motivation being money and prestige, they can hook a person into coming back for more. What they tell them may sound intriguing but what it really does is increase a person’s chances of becoming dependent upon them. In turn, that pulls them further away from dependence and trust upon God. It also causes a person to seek ‘quick answer’ guidance from psychics instead of waiting on God’s perfect timing. Some may become so dependent they question their own decisions and ignore the Holy Spirit’s guidance when He gently tugs at their hearts.

Remember, a psychic is also deceived and could unknowingly misinform someone into making a decision that could result in damaging, or even fatal, results.

In truth, all the psychic really accomplishes is diverting a person’s focus away from trusting in God’s divine knowledge. If a person seeks insight into their future or answers to their questions from anyone other than God, they risk the chance of being deceived. They can never trust or know the information given was the absolute truth.

What do you think? I would love to read your comments.