For most writers, whether professional or novice, young or old, there is the experience of writing guilt. As David A. Bednar said, “when we feel pain in our body, it weighs on us and can affect how we carry out our daily basic routines.”
Similarly, guilt can make a simple task unachievable because the spirit is imprisoned in a zone of not being good enough. How can you overcome the writing guilt to turn that blank sheet and unfinished draft into a productive outcome?
In this article, we’ll explore five strategies to help you win in writing and do away with guilt. Let’s dive in!
Writing Guilt—The Thief Of Writing Passion
As a writer, writing is expressing one’s thoughts, emotions, ideas, and creativity in a written form, just as some express themselves with the use of voice, brush, and many more.
Guilt is “a feeling of worry or unhappiness you have because you have done something wrong”. Writing guilt is an uninvited guest that interrupts the ability to write with a smooth mindset.
It arises when one feels anxious, experiences self-doubt, encounters discomfort, and faces frustration during the writing process.
Yet, guilt isn’t awful; there is a good side to it. The guilt one feels before, during, or at the end of writing is a sign of passion to be at his/her best.
The key is to shift gears and build momentum to drive forward. Guilt can come in different ways, some are:
- Self-criticism
- High expectation
- Comparison with others
- Procrastination
- Inconsistency
- Creativity drought
Know Your Own Guilt
“How can I know what I think till I see what I say” – E.M Forster
If one does not know the problem first, it is impossible to find a perfect solution.
The first step in alleviating guilt is to identify the specific type of guilt one feels and bring it to light.
It can be stated as “I don’t feel good enough with my writing—perfectionist” or “I will write when I am in a better mood—procrastination.”
5 Ways to Turn Writing Guilt into Writing Wins
Here are five ways to turn writing guilt into writing wins:
1. High Expectation and Perfectionism
Everyone wants to do their best in all they do.
A common guilt is feeling that the quantity or quality of what is written is not up to standard. Unrealistic expectations can kill passion; they can erode the joy of writing.
The act of reaching the peak in one step is unrealistic. If this guilt is allowed to persist, procrastination will inevitably set in.
One might think I should write 1000 words at a go, finish a book in a year, and produce a flawless article in an hour. The problem is that achieving all this can take time and may not be as easy as it seems.
One of the causes of this is setting high expectations for oneself or comparing oneself to others.
Perfectionism is the fear of making a mistake, having a bad draft, or submitting a piece of writing. The truth is, all good content you read and enjoy today was once an ugly draft.
- How to Win: know yourself, don’t set goals you can’t achieve. Taking things one step at a time is the best approach to everything in life.
Done is better than perfect. You can choose to write a short paragraph on a trending event, edit each sentence, and in a short time, you will have something perfect and straightforward to count as an achievement.
Break down a large project into smaller ones. Be realistic, do what you can, and you will be happy with it when you stop comparing yourself to others.
To have something written is the most important thing at first. Don’t care how messy it is, so celebrate that you have beaten guilt and showed up.
Trust the process. The next time you write, you will be better.
2. Inconsistency
When the desire to match one’s goals and expectations is not met, it can lead to frustration and anxiety, which in turn lead to inconsistency.
The pressure to produce consistent, high-quality writing can diminish one’s enthusiasm, and this, in turn, leads to inconsistency.
Another aspect of this guilt is what happens when one has an irregular writing habit, which can make it difficult to make progress.
Other daily plans can interfere with your writing schedule. During the writing process, inconsistency can set in when one notices irregularities or plot holes, and this can drain the drive to continue writing.
- How to Win: Create a guilt-free writing routine by acknowledging and addressing these inconsistencies.
You can work to overcome them by developing a good writing habit.
A consistent writing routine can be a powerful solution to guilt. Most importantly, the routine should be sustainable and flexible.
Choose to design a routine that works for you and your goal. For some, micro-writing is the way, while some like the broad-brush approach to writing.
- Apply the one-sentence rule: When you start by just writing one sentence, you reduce the anxiety about writing.
From there, another sentence follows, and you will build momentum. You can end up writing more than you planned.
The key is to act promptly before procrastination sets in as you focus on the process.
Remember that consistency doesn’t always mean getting everything done at once.
It’s all about showing up each day. With time, you will always find the spark to pick up your writing tools and write consistently.
3. Creativity Drought
A creativity drought can also be referred to as the blank page syndrome, a state of being uninspired, where one stares at a blank page with no ideas.
This guilt can kill one’s urge to start writing. Pressure to perform and write about a particular niche can lead to a lack of ideas.
Self-doubt about whether one can create something out of a specific idea can also be a problem.
- How to Win: When you choose to write about things you have an interest in, it’s less daunting to write.
You can also choose to explore new interests, read, research, and try new activities to spark ideas and gain inspiration.
Things that can be of inspiration are around us, good use of news platforms, social media posts, listening to podcasts, music, and images are some of the easy information you need to kickstart writing.
Also, check if you are still writing for the purpose you started writing for.
Choosing a suitable writing environment is essential when ideas are not flowing.
If you are in the wrong location, it may be difficult to concentrate and write something interesting.
If you have been writing for a long time, sometimes all you need is a break; a break from your work can help you come back with new, intriguing ideas.
Acknowledge the fact that it is normal to run low on ideas, and show yourself self-compassion.
You can also do well to seek support and learn from others, even from those who are new in the writing world.
4. Celebrate the Beauty of Writing
The beauty of writing is not just about the final product, but to the writer, it is about the process itself—the inspiration, research, flow of ideas, discoveries, self-expression, joy, and, to crown it all, a sense of accomplishment.
Writing guilt is an action that prevents one from writing.
Therefore, it is best to celebrate every win, no matter how small.
Every time you complete a writing task or all you can do is read and revise a writing from another writer, and you learn from it, you have shown up for that moment, and you are winning against your guilt.
As one strives to overcome guilt, you will move from being someone who says, “I am enjoying the process of this creative path,” to one who says, “I am proud of myself for what I have achieved by showing up and making good use of my writing tools and skills.”
5. Guilt to Greatness
Don’t try to terminate your guilt. Redirect it into what drives you into momentum.
Acknowledge your feelings, adjust your expectations, and embrace imperfection.
The draft will develop into good writing. Get to work, don’t postpone your writing time.
Celebrate every small win, and remember that progress matters. Your writing journey is yours, it is unique, and every step forward is a success. Take it one letter, one word, one statement at a time.
Final Thoughts
As you are set to grow from guilt to greatness, remember that Rome was not built in a day, and the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
Let this article be the fuel you need to start your writing today. Do all you can to battle your guilt and get started. The world is waiting for your fine expression in your own unique words. Start now, write boldly, with elegance and pride!