How to free your writing from your own doubt
The things we think are barriers to speaking up can also be persuasive power tools
In our writing, often feeling stuck can be cured by naming the very thing that is stopping us. This technique isn’t something that comes naturally, but the benefits to naming a perceived flaw or problem into our writing not only will help get us unstuck but also can help us name and frame any possible opposition. Here’s what I mean by that:
Say you want to write a piece about a letter to the editor of your local paper about the need for a stop sign on your street. And, the feeling that stopped you was, “Yeah, but, I’m just an ordinary person. Who is going to listen to me?” As a result of that feeling, your writing is sitting untouched and unsubmitted.
So, instead of waiting to be “ready” by psyching yourself up (which could take years, tbh) instead, include your concern in your writing, turning your fear or mental block into an advantage by strengthening your piece with it.
Try, “to be fair, I’m but one citizen speaking out on this issue. But, I’m also a resident who sees numerous vehicles speeding down the street every day, and see almost daily near-misses with pedestrians, including playing children, that could be way worse.”
Oh look! The fear that being just one person undermines your piece is now making it stronger by making the reader see the bigger stakes very clearly.
And, if any troll planned to say “you’re just one person, who cares what you think!” (which probably would have bothered you, bc deep down you were having the same doubt) you’ve taken the wind out of their sails preemptively and removed their path to messing with you on that particular thing.
So when we have a spark of an idea and set out to write something and the little voice in our head goes, “yeah, but…” and brings us to a halt, try naming it in the very writing it’s trying to halt.
