10 Ways to Manage Unhelpful Thoughts When Writing
By: Trisha Dunbar
Tags: Writers On Writing, Psychology, Writing, Writers Life, Negative Thoughts

10 Ways to Manage Unhelpful Thoughts When Writing

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Sometimes when we write we really can be our very own worst critic. This may stop us from pushing the publish button, decrease our motivation, and even increase the risk of us giving up on our dreams. So, what are these unhelpful thinking habits holding us back and what can we do about them in order to improve our writing?

1. Letting go of perfectionism

Writing high-quality, well-researched pieces is important, but at some stage, we do just need to go for. I get it I used to be perfectionistic and ended up burning out. Don’t be afraid to hit publish on a post that you feel isn’t to your high standards. These days I use the feedback from writers to go back and improve my posts. So I am writing for my readers and not just assuming I know what is best for them. My readers also get a buzz from knowing they have contributed to my writing and I have learned something new from them.

2. Comparing can lead to despair

There are lots of writers in this world, everyone has a story to tell, but you are all on a different journey. By comparing yourself to other writers you are being unfair. Don’t be another Tim Denning, yes he is awesome, but be you! Write in your authentic voice. Learn from other successful writers, but don’t obsess over their follower count or try to compete with the number of articles they write a month. We all have unique backstories and life to live. Remember what works for one person may not work for you. Find your unique writing style. Why try to be someone else when you can be you.

3. Fighting the inner critic

Easier said than done but do try to be kinder to yourself. Telling yourself you can’t do something repeatedly will convince your brain this is the truth and you will run the risk of giving up. As a writer, it is important to grow your mindset. Find yourself being negative try adding ‘yet’ to the end of a sentence to reframe your thinking. For example, I haven’t been published…yet, I have had no views on this article…yet or I have had no reads…yet. Don’t try to justify or reason with your inner critic. It has an excuse for every solution.

4. Memories of rejections

You have been rejected in the past by other publications. So why bother now, right? Wrong, what did you learn from this experience? Take this learning and try again, celebrate rejections and use them as stepping stones for success rather than seeing them as failures. Our rejections help us to appreciate when we are published. Also do not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone with publications. One of my highest rated posts this week was a poem in the POM, I had over 800 claps within hours — I have never written a poem before.

5. I Should, Must, and Got to do this

You have been a member a week and you should have 1K followers by now, you must post 100 posts a month and you got to get into every publication! WOW, a little extreme I know, but should, must, and got to put a lot of undue pressure on us. It is good to have some goals and that will give you direction, but ensure they are SMART

6. Emotional reasoning

As a writer, it’s important to be consistent, but we can be very good at talking ourselves out of doing things. For example, written an article last week so I deserve a rest this week. Although it’s important to take breaks readers like a pattern and it also shows you are serious as a writer. Let’s start talking ourselves into meeting our set targets rather than making excuses why not to do something.

7. The negativity filter

Our moods can impact our filters for example if we are feeling gloomy we might notice the negativity and sadness around us a lot more. As a writer, it’s great to take a more balanced route. If we are feeling low we are more likely to soak up like sponges negative comments and be more reactive to trolling behaviours, whilst all positive comments get sieved, ignored or we make excuses as to why we feel we do deserve it. Compliments are a gift, accept them and say thank you.

8. Predicting the future

This publication sounds great, just what I have been looking for, but I am going to ignore it as they will never accept me! Sound familiar? If you don’t try the answer will always be no. We can miss out on so many opportunities by trying to predict the future.

9. Over catastrophising

I will publish this article and my friends and family or work colleagues might see and then I will lose my job leading to the world exploding! We can run away with our thoughts sometimes. If we are too scared of what others make us think we may be more likely not to push the publish button! Try not to get lost in thoughts. Ask yourself is this just my opinion or is this fact. will the world explode if I push that publish button or am I just being dramatic!

10. Making Judgements

Making judgments will feed our inner critic and lead to those future predictions being made. If you are a new writer thinking that you will not get any of your work published is a judgment. You don’t know this unless you try. it’s much better to describe for example say instead publications like quality posts. This is a fact for a majority of publications.

You GOT this!