Fearing Rejection

I recently read an article on "fear of rejection". The writer focused on how to overcome rejection in a social situation. I read every word and found myself quaking in my shoes, just contemplating doing a few of the things she suggested.

Since I have a fear of meeting new people and making a total fool of myself, I wanted to panic, bury my head in a drawer of old mismatched socks and ignore any of the suggestions she made. But something held me back. Something spoke to me. Something beyond the need to break out of my self-imposed shell.

This writer could have been talking about my writing as easily as she was talking about getting a social life. What about you? Do you have the same fears?


How often do you avoid writing? Maybe you tell yourself you just don't have time to write. Do you feel writing the story that lingers in your mind, whispering to you late at night, is useless? Nobody would want to read your work. Or maybe you don't see yourself as having the talent, the gift of writing. You know, like all those successful writers. Do you feel hopeless, as if writing is a waste time? Do you waver back and forth about pursuing your dream of being published?


You are not alone.


Seriously, you are suffering these fears with the masses. Every writer out there (okay, there may be ONE writer out there, who has never experienced this fear, not likely though) spends hours, days, weeks, even years in fear of what others will think of their work. The difference between many of them and many of us is that they willing face that fear head on. They write through the fear. On top of that, they are willing to send their work out for other writers to critique and submit to editors for possible publication. You need to adjust to this way of thinking.


Do you want to face your fears? Do you want that story out of your head and down on paper? Do you want to be published?


Only you can make the decision to go forward. You don't have to do it alone, though.


1. Step out of your comfort zone--take a chance.

2. If you are not part of a critique group, join one.

3. Look for a mentor--someone willing to listen to your fears. Let them push you past your fears.

4. Write a goal list, for your writing. As part of this list, add a section for failures achieved. Why? So that you can mark off everything you've learned along the way.

5. Look at writing as growing process. By changing your perspective of failure, you'll note that each lesson learned makes you stronger and more skilled as a writer, moving you one-step closer to achieving your dream.

6. ALWAYS, remember the difference between defeat and success is PERSERVERENCE.

Failing is not failure.

As Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."


DeAnn Sicard
http://AWritersGuidetowords.com