How do you write through the fear?

How do I write, when it feels scary?

If I am 100% honest there is something that makes me even happier than writing. It’s singing. I grew up surrounded by music. I was in church choir from a young age and spent most of middle school and high school in a glorious musical experience my neck of the woods calls show choir. (Not to mention regular choir class as well.)

Watching the Grammys and hearing the performances of today’s biggest and brightest stars always fills my heart in a way that few other things can. No, that’s not true. I get the same feeling when I sing at the top of my lungs in my car, or from the pews at church.

The difference between writing and singing, for me, is that singing is something that scares the bejeezus out of me. Put me in a choir and I’m good to go, but the threat of a solo will have me melting faster than cotton candy on a four year old’s tongue. Place my writing in a post that goes viral and you will find me only slightly sweaty from nerves. But singing on a stage, all alone, even though music makes me happy? So, so happy? No way, Jose.

So what’s the point?

My blog is supposed to be about writing and not singing, right? The thing is, writing is sometimes (a lot of times) about facing your fears. Even though I’m not afraid of committing pen to paper or publishing words for others to read, it doesn’t mean the entire writing process is always fearless endeavor.

Sometimes writers are scared to start, because they don’t know what will come out, or if anything will come out at all.
Sometimes writers are afraid of how readers will react, or maybe that they won’t react.
Sometimes writers are afraid that their work won’t be any good or that it won’t be as good as the last thing they wrote.
Sometimes writes are afraid to let anyone see what they’ve written, or maybe that no one will will ever see what they have written.
Sometimes writers are afraid they won’t have enough time to tell their story.
Sometimes the fear is irrational, unnameable, and illogical, but it’s still there.

And so, in the spirit of fear and writing and music, and in an attempt to tie all of these seemingly random threads together, I’m going to offer a few of my favorite quotes and lyrics from this year’s Grammy Awards. It is my hope that they offer you a little comfort, a little hope, a gentle nudge forward, a pep talk, or a hug. Love what you do. Do what you love.

And try not to be afraid.

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