Do you ever feel nervous about writing? If so, you might be experiencing writer’s anxiety, or the feeling of unease or agitation about a writing project. This excessive worry can be problematic, especially when you really do want to write!

Writer’s anxiety is distinct from writer’s block, which describes a broader range of explanations for why a writer is stuck in the creative process. While every writer is unique, common causes of writer’s anxiety include feeling pressure from yourself or your reader audience, looming deadlines, a lack of confidence in your skills, or discomfort with the purpose of your writing task.

Many successful authors have experienced this very phenomenon—but rest assured that there are active steps you can take to address these anxious feelings and finish your manuscript.

Remedy #1: Increase Self-Efficacy

In 2017, scholars Huerta, Goodson, Beigi, and Chlup set out to better understand writer’s anxiety. They were interested in how this anxiety relates to self-efficacy, or the confidence in one’s ability to write. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the researchers discovered a negative association between writing anxiety and self-efficacy. (In other words, the higher your self-efficacy, the lower your writer’s anxiety.)

So, if the secret to conquering writer’s anxiety is increased self-efficacy, how do we improve our writing confidence? University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center recommends creating a list of writing-related activities that you do well, such as seeing larger connections, keeping readers’ attention, or explaining things clearly. The Writing Center suggests, “Instead of saying ‘I can’t write,’ say ‘I am a writer who can…’” This practice can help you not only boost your confidence but also understand how your writing talents are unique and valuable.

Remedy #2: Try New Writing Tactics.

Sometimes it’s best to switch things up when your current practices don’t seem to be helping. These changes don’t have to be permanent (unless you want them to be!), because even a short break from your old routine can help you think in new ways and consider new perspectives. Here are a few writing tactics to try out.

Tactic No. 1:

Consider taking a break from your writing. Neil Gaiman recommends: “Put [your writing] aside for a few days, or longer, do other things, try not to think about it. Then sit down and read it (printouts are best I find, but that’s just me) as if you’ve never seen it before. Start at the beginning. Scribble on the manuscript as you go if you see anything you want to change. And often, when you get to the end you’ll be both enthusiastic about it and know what the next few words are. And you do it all one word at a time.” Intentionally taking a break allows you to look at whatever progress you’ve made with a fresh perspective.

Tactic No. 2:

Create space by doing something other than putting pen to paper (or hands to keyboard). Similar to Gaiman, Hilary Mantel says, “If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem. But don’t make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people’s words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.” Rather than letting the negative feelings simmer as you try to force the words onto the page, take a step back to think through the project while doing something else.

Tactic No. 3:

Make lists. In Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury explains that he started making lists of nouns in his early twenties as a way to trigger new ideas. He says, “These lists were the provocations, finally that caused my better stuff to surface.” This practice gave his subconscious the reins, and he let it take him wherever it wanted.

Tactic No. 4:

Pick up a new book. Ernest Gaines explains, “The six golden rules of writing: Read, read, read, and write, write, write.” So, if you’re stuck on the last three golden rules of writing, why not take some time to focus on the first few rules?

Tactic No. 5:

Keep a diary that only you get to read. David Sedaris writes, “I’ve been keeping a diary for thirty-three years and write in it every morning. Most of it’s just whining, but every so often there’ll be something I can use later: a joke, a description, a quote.” Not only could journaling help you with future ideas, but creating this daily practice also gets you in the habit of writing regularly in a low-stakes, low-stress environment.

Remedy #3: Embrace ALL Writing, Both Good and Bad.

Don’t put stress on yourself to have a perfect first draft. Embrace whatever your initial draft may be: bad writing, free-writing, word vomit, and everything in between. Margaret Atwood offers a helpful insight when she says, “If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”

Maya Angelou also embraced this mentality. She explains, “What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’” Don’t put the emphasis on literary perfection. All writing, both good and bad, can help you in your writing process.

Remedy #4: Take Baby Steps.

Sometimes the scope of your project can feel too daunting, especially if you’re working towards a large word count or writing about a complex topic. Consider developing several short-term goals that will help you take baby steps towards the finish line. You might find your project more manageable if, instead of simply envisioning the end product, you plan out the details of your brainstorming, preliminary research, outlining, drafting, and revision. You also might find it helpful to define a specific amount of time you will actively write, such as one hour a day.

Remedy #5: Know Thyself.

It might be helpful to identify the source of your individual writer’s anxiety. For example, if you’re writing a memoir, are you anxious about how your family will receive your words? If the source of your writer’s anxiety isn’t obvious, consider engaging in self-reflection. We’ve included some starter questions below.

• What are my writing expectations?
• Are these appropriate expectations?
• Which part of the writing process makes me nervous?
• Do I always feel this anxiety when writing?
• Is there something unique about this writing task?
• Have I successfully completed a writing project like this in the past?

Whatever the cause of your writer’s anxiety, take steps to confront this obstacle. If you know where the anxiety comes from, you might have a better instinct about the proper channels for addressing the issue.

Remedy #6: Reach Out to Others.

Discussing writer’s block and writer’s anxiety, psychotherapist Belinda Seiger advises, “Don’t try to solve this problem in isolation. Get together with other writers; get together someone who’s a mentor; find a therapist or writing strategist; find a writers’ group. Don’t try to figure it out alone.”

Writing is a complex art, and it can be helpful to find support in the literary community, including writing groups. If you are thinking about joining a group, be sure to check out our blog post about the pros and cons of writing groups.