Today we're tackling the fear. Head on. No pads. Right between the eyes. So if you're not quite ready for that, you might wanna locate your mithril and pick up some extra chocolate.
Ready?
Let it be known that any author, at any stage, has fear. This thing, that, the other.
Me? What am I afraid of?
7. Mediocrity
6. The unknown
5. Ghosts
4. Sushi
3. Living up to expectations
2. Failing as a wife/mother/sister/friend/teacher/writer
1. Dogs
Yeah, so-and-so said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." but he wasn't trying to publish a book or raise a child or keep a rabid yellow lab from tearing into his thigh. So whatever.
I do think once we recognize what we're afraid of, it's not so scary. Once we look it in the eye and try to deal with it, the horror isn't as real. We're in control then. The problem is, it's easier to put on the headphones and ignore the raw fish, lingering spirits and antsy canines.
Easier, but not better.
So spill. What're your top fears? How will identifying them help you move past them?
I so agree, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself....that guy was crazy. I guess I get his point. Sort of. But not really.
ReplyDelete1. Spiders
2. losing my mom, grandparents, or best friend - I don't think I could survive any of that.
3. Dying before I'm 25 - something I firmly believed was going to happen for a very longtime, for very real reasons.
4. Having the voices in my head go silent.
5. Failing at anything I apply myself too (which is generally why I avoid the applying all together).
What great timing for your post. All week I have been gripped in fear while trying to draft my first novel. What if it's no good? What if I've wasted all this effort? What if I never learn to tell a good story? I will work past my fear and keep writing!
ReplyDeleteHmm with writing or life? In life, I guess it is running out of money before my husband finshes school and works again. With writing, that I will always be mediocre and not ever get a book out there!
ReplyDelete#1. The first step in anything! It chokes me into non-action. I say "Just do it!" but manage to sidetrack myself.
ReplyDeleteMary
Giggles and Guns
Giving the fear a name and then looking at greater wisdom like the Bible is a very powerful way for me to deal with fear. Unfortunately I have had a lot of practice for the last two years.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest fear? Being abandoned.
Damn! I forgot my Mithril shirt. Where's Bilbo when you need him?
ReplyDeleteYour honesty and humility never cease to amaze and inspire me Elana, they are one of the many reasons you rock so hard.
That's sad that you're afraid of Sushi. I wrote a sort of guide for beginners on my blog once here . Check it out if you have time sometime (it's a little longer than your guidelines).
Yeah, you read about mine already. But the failing as a mother thing . . . that's pretty high on my list, too.
ReplyDeleteI look at my fear of querying, and I think "What am I really afraid of?" A no? It must be fear that I'm no good at writing. But I can fix that if I don't give up. :)
My biggest fear? Looking/sounding/being stupid. This spirals out into everything I do and paralyzes me so then I DO look/sound stupid. Vicious cycle.
ReplyDelete#3 is a biggie, too.
Here's my biggest fears:
ReplyDelete1. Losing my immediate family--not too many left. Just my mom, husband, daughter, & my husband's mom & dad.
2. That I'm not a good enough writer to ever get published.
3. That if I did get published, I couldn't handle the marketing, writing with raising a family, taking care of a chronically ill husband, and a full time job, which wouldn't go away.
I try to tell myself I can handle it all. On good days when I get almost enough sleep, I'm okay. On too hectic days, I still feel overwhelmed about it. But you're right, the first step is to confront your fears.
I like the no pads idea. I think that's how I'll approach my writing, today. Your #3 is classic for me. Shamefully, another one is success. What if I actually do well? Then what? Stupid, I know. And you are so right when it comes to facing the ugly beast. Recognizing our fear takes it down a notch. ";-)
ReplyDelete1. Crustaceans
ReplyDelete2. Failing at life. Period.
3. Paper cut to the eye
4. Critiquing other's writing
5. Speaking in public
6. Latex gloves
7. Clowns
8. Driving into a wall
9. Never seeing things through
10.-10,000. All other animals as varying degrees.
My biggest fear is success. Yeah, what I'm trying to achieve is scaring the behoozis out of me.
ReplyDeleteMy fears are similar to those of others. That I won't succeed as a writer. That I will succeed as a writer (I think that's really fear of the unknown). That I won't be a good mom/wife/daughter/sister. That something will happen to someone in my family. Oh, and, um... centipedes.
ReplyDeleteToday, I'm afraid I'm not supposed to be a writer. I was all set to go to a conference, and everything keeps getting in the way. The latest? Lost passport. Feels like the universe is telling me a big fat no. :(
ReplyDelete#1 Fear...being a failure. Not sure how to get past that one other than finding success, which I have in many areas of life. Just not my career......yet...
ReplyDeleteRight now it's not getting an agent after everything. Sure, it's not at the TOP of my fear list, but it's enough.
ReplyDeleteBefore I start - I have an award for you on my blog!
ReplyDeleteNow on to more serious matters...
Sigh, that's the hardest part - looking it in the eye and dealing with it. I always want to run in the opposite direction!
What am I afraid of? I'm a big scaredy cat, so there are so many! I have all of yours (minus the sushi), plus:
1. Losing my family
2. Ending up alone
3. That I'll be working my entire life and always be struggling
4. Not ever finishing my novel - not being able to see it through
5. Never getting published
6. GETTING published
7. Ending up stuck in a rut forever
Ours are similar:
ReplyDelete7. Mediocrity
6. Being considered unemployable
5. Ghosts
4. Rats
3. Global Warming
2. Failing as a wife/mother/sister/friend/teacher/writer
1. Dogs
I'm with Candyland. What if This last year of my life ends up being wasted.
ReplyDeleteI can't see trunking my novel as an option.
wait wait wait... Dogs?!!
ReplyDeleteBLASPHEMY!
(i'm just kidding. it's ok if you're afraid of ghosts)
and yeah, ghosts? Straight up. I don't want invisible things bothering. Especially when i', sleeping
Other than bugs and rodents, my biggest fear is that I'll never publish a novel. I'm not sure if it's because of fear that I don't usually say that aloud. It probably is but I constantly tell myself that if I work hard enough at it, I'll get there.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a whole lot of honesty for so early in the morning. I'll go ahead and respond before I chicken out.
ReplyDeleteI just had my first book published last month. What do I have to be afraid of?
That it will be the only one. That I will somehow screw up, and this will be IT. The end.
Rats
ReplyDeleteSnakes
Big icky spiders
Querying
Fortunately the last one won't kill me. ;)
I think it was a fear of mediocrity that kept me from finishing my book for months! I was only like 2 chapters away from the end & knew how it was going to end, but I just couldn't write it. Or maybe I didn't want the fun, creative part to be over...
ReplyDeleteI'm also afraid of spiders. Any size.
3. Scorpions
ReplyDelete2. Losing my family
1. Failing to realize/perform my destiny
And yes, I put my MITHRIL on first!!!!
Not being able to finish some of the stories I've started. The ones that mean the most to me. The ones I think are great if I could just tell them right.
ReplyDeleteHuh....the other fear was saying that out loud.
Wasps and bees--I try to be all calm and normal it doesn't work so well. (getting better around bees they really aren't interested in me).
Bugs, when they are on me. If they are on the ground, or a leaf, or in the grass where they belong I am fine, on me...WHOLE nother story.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteMy greatest fears:
1. My husband dying.
2. Never finding a career I love.
I know God says, "who by worrying adds one hour to his life." But it SURE IS HARD to turn off that fear/worry, isn't it?
But if I'm aware of what's freaking me out, it might help me get past it, you know?
Sounds good, in theory, anyway.
I fear my laundry basket. I think it might be magical because no matter how many clothes I wash, it remains full. Seriously, it's freaking me out.
ReplyDeleteLoved ones dying, snakes, and failure. That's pretty much it. I need to work on getting over them, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. I just keep hoping the first one will never happen, I won't ever run into a rattle snake while wearing sandals and I won't fail too much before I can succeed.
ReplyDeleteFacing them head on...erm I could do some of them and rationalize other but number 1 no one has been able to break me of
ReplyDelete1. Emotiphobia- look it up :P
2. loosing my husband
3. living in a haunted house
4. i'll run out of ideas
5. choking
6. Spiders (but only the big ones with the "butt")
My fear is that I won't be able to finish anything I start. Writing, fitness, projects, what have you. Which, I guess, is that boring old fear of failure. But it paralyzes me on most days. My other fear is more of a rabid revulsion: spiders. HATE those eight-legged FREAKS--!!!
ReplyDeleteUm, spiders, bees, losing my kids ... oh and finding myself without any chocolate. That's a huge one.
ReplyDeleteHornets. Def. Esp. when they are in my house. And rumor has it they attack people for no reason. Cranky buggers.
ReplyDeleteI've looked them in the eye and killed them everytime - with much screaming, trembling, heart pounding, and sweating. It doesn't take away the fear to face it. For me anyway.
Well right now in my writing life (in my real life, there are too many fears), it's not having any agent believe in my writing enough to take me on. sigh... And then after that I'm sure it's the same with an editor.
ReplyDeleteWith the one-two punch, Elana! Also, I hope your list isn't in order...:)
ReplyDeleteI would say I'm afraid of wasting any potential I have in life and never being brave/determined/dedicated/crazy enough to reach my full capacity as anything. Also I'm afraid of a brown recluse climbing into my bed at night, heights, and anything that challenges my relationship with solid earth under my feet.
If you figure out how to beat these fears, give me a call. I'll have chocolate waiting as a thank you.
1. loss of a loved one (esp.one of my kids)
ReplyDelete2. failure/being a disappointment
3. dentists
4. bees
5. wrinkles
I have an award for you today! :-)
Oh please don't be afraid of my favorite food in the whole wide world. It's the comfort food of the century. Soon it will take over Thanksgiving tables and be served at McDonalds. i promise you will love it. Sushi rocks.
ReplyDeleteI fear paper cuts.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I became a writer after the PC was invented.
I fear posting comments on blogs.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing others.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing myself.
Being ridiculed.
So of course, I tend to not do anything for fear of the above.
I have an irrational fear of balloons. They're always going to pop and scare the heck out of me. But really, I'm scared of not living a meaningful life.
ReplyDeleteWow, I would say failing as a parent is high on my list and probably every other parents too. Right now I have a fear that I'm never going to finish this ms. :) Oh and Jonathon Arntson, I've had a paper cut on my eyeball, while not fun, they do heal quick.
ReplyDelete*giggles* I've never heard of someone being afraid of sushi before. :)
ReplyDeleteMy fears--in random order:
-Failure
-Spiders
-Small Spaces
-Clowns
-Guys in Speedos *shudder*
-video cameras
Yup. I'm weird. ;)
I think the only thing I could consider a fear is failing to provide for my family.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I've done some crazy things, such as skydiving, so most fears for facing death have been blown away as I free fell at 120MPH.
Great post like usual Elana.
Ugh.
ReplyDelete*Spiders (Bleh!)
*Loss of loved ones (not sure this will ever change)
*Murky water to swim in (shiver)
*Sharks (easily avoided--no land sharks)
*Great Heights (conquered while ziplining over the jungles of Costa Rica)
*bikinis (scream of horror)
*Lost opportunities (I try to carpe diem!)
Maybe I am less scared of those things the older I get. (except the bikinis--that gets worse...I would die if I had to wear one.
AND I'm a California girl. Sad.)
This was a timely post for me, too. Thanks, Elana! I was just thinking about how dread is worst than the thing I'm dreading...usually.
ReplyDeleteI share the top one with most everyone else who commented:
1) loss of family (whether to death or alienation)
2) failing as a mom
3) mediocrity (i know I'm stealing yours, but it's mine, too)
4) being hated
5) the apocalypse happening before I get published (seriously. sad, I know)
Sorry. I meant, dread is WORSE, not worst.
ReplyDelete6) typos
NOTHING!! I AM HANNAH THE MIGHTY!! I FEAR NOTHING!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's not entirely accurate.
Let's see, in no particular order.
Clowns
Masks
The movie, Paranormal Activity
The movie, The Strangers
More people I love dying before their time.
For me it's water. I have a serious fear of drowning. It almost happened as a child and I have never forgotten it. What's even more amazing is we spend all of our spare time on the beach, on the boat, on the water, in the water, at the ocean. Does that count for me facing my fear?
ReplyDeleteHaha! You're scared of sushi. I'm terrified of strawberries.
ReplyDeleteSheesh Elana. Quit making me think already.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid of so much. I don't know how admitting them will help, but here's a few:
1. Never losing the extra weight I'm carrying and forever feeling like I let myself down.
2. Never getting a book published. Because then it would mean I didn't have what it takes, that I'm not "special" in that way.
3. Not being the friend/wife/mother maybe people think I am. Letting my friends/family/myself down.
I seem to be afraid of letting myself or other people down more than just about anything. Hmm.
Some of your fears are definitely mine, and some of them aren't (I love dogs! And sushi!).
ReplyDeleteMy fear list would include SPIDERS! (ECK!!!), bugs (in general), failure, not living a meaningful life.
Spiders and accidentally stepping on snails. They crunch. Not only is it scary, but it's gross too.
ReplyDelete1. Making a fool of myself/sounding stupid
ReplyDelete2. The future (though this one varies on the list depending on the day)
3. Driving
4. Supernatural
5. Tornadoes (brought on by the recent tornadoes surrounding me)
I'm trying to face one, two, and three right now. I kept telling myself this morning "Courage is being afraid and pushing on anyway" but it only worked the first couple times.
My biggest fear is failure associated with not living up to expectations. Not with writing, funnily enough, because that's the one place where there's no outside expectation to pull me down. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't fear sushi. I fear that there's never enough sushi.
ReplyDelete:)
My biggest fear is being trapped in a car submerged in water. I have that nightmare over and over again. Even worse is when my kids are strapped in the back seat and I can't get them out. Someday I'll have to work that in a story somewhere!
ReplyDeleteOkay...
ReplyDelete- cancer
- something hurting my kids
- snakes
- not being good enough (which pales in comparison to the first 2)
My biggest fear is the same as your number 2. Failing my loved ones.
ReplyDelete1. Loss
ReplyDelete2. Failure
3. Not trying hard enough and regretting it.
Funny how they contradict themselves, eh? My fear of failure has kept me from moving forward at times, but then my fear of regrets leaves me anxious. Damn emotions.
1. Failure
ReplyDelete2. Shots
Good thing those two don't usually happen at the same time, right?
I can help...Try vegetarian sushi...It's awesome! Carrot and asparagus are my favorites...avacado (please excuse my spelling) is mushy...
ReplyDeleteUm, holy crap. So sorry! Didn't realize that when my dogs decided to lick you to death the other day. :(
ReplyDeleteFear? Failure. Success. Change (even when I want it). Loss. Admitting defeat. Letting the world win. Death (my own or those I love).
But the thing that terrifies me most is the idea of growing up to become either of my parents. Seriously. That would be very, very bad. (No, I am not joking.)
More specific than failure as a Mom - fear I'll forget my kid. I am so incredibly absent minded, I'm afraid I will forget about him at a critical time.
ReplyDeleteFear that my writing will never be good enough. I wonder if my writing is actually improving, if I have what it takes to make this a career.
I also fear not living up to expectations.
Biggest fear?
ReplyDeleteNot being good enough.
At the moment, I am afraid that I don't have what it takes to write a phenomenal book.
I am afraid that the corridors of my mind will not unlock to open the absolute creativity that is within.
I am afraid that I will never be able to get out of my own way.
Oh, and not pertaining to writing, I am afraid of not being missed.
ReplyDeleteNot when I'm gone gone, that I could care less about. I'll be gone. But I'm afraid that if I up and left or just took a vacation, that people won't miss me.
What's freaky is that my list of fears is nearly identical to yours. Including dogs.
ReplyDeleteI think we were separated at birth or something.