Mental Health Moments: How To Overcome The Fear of Sharing Your Writing

⌛  By Kaylin R. Staten ⌛ 

I have been writing since childhood, and I’ve said this many times before: writing is my first professional love.

When I was in second grade, I asked my teacher if I could read some of my stories OUT LOUD. For those who knew me at the tender age of 7, this was not my tendency to have all eyes on me as I shared something personal. I am a Leo, and I secretly do like the spotlight (for the right reasons), but as a child, I never wanted to be the center of an audience’s attention. I didn't like to read out loud in front of the entire class or answer a question if I thought I had the slightest chance of being wrong.

Nevertheless, I pulled up a maroon chair with metal legs, reading out of a small notebook as my classmates listened to my tales.

Here is a sample of the greatness that was my childhood writing:

In last week’s blog post about self-publishing, I mentioned in the last point to not let fear stop you. I wish I could bottle even just a drop of that little-girl fearlessness. There are times I really need it and have to still push myself past the corners of a suppressed envelope in order to reach my writer’s potential.

I’ve written millions upon millions of words at this point personally and professionally, but I still struggle with a lack of confidence in certain writing realms. Here are three ways you can work on overcoming your fear of sharing your work:

Don’t overthink it.

As a perfectionist, I agonize over the “perfect” time to release something, both from a strategic standpoint and out of fear. I am confident in my writing -- it’s just that some topics are a bit taboo for me. As I get older, however, I’m becoming more open about some of those topics and have chosen to share parts of my journey. I share these to help others who could be going through the same situations and struggling or finding their own brands of success like I have. The important thing is to not overthink it, and don’t try to be perfect. There could be a typo or something you wish you would have added. Just take action, and the rest will work itself out. See what others are doing, too. There’s nothing like the work and support of colleagues, friends, family, and those you look up to ignite that sharing spark within you.

Share them in your own time.

I’ll admit that I am sitting on SO MUCH WRITING. Of course, I write my journals for myself and to have a non-judgmental space where I can share my deepest feelings and figure out my own journey through life. I’ve written hundreds of poems and started several short story drafts. Some may never see the light of day, and that just happens. Just don’t sit on all of your work forever. Share them when you feel comfortable (even if you’re never 100 percent comfortable), whether it’s online, in a class, during an in-person reading, or another outlet. I’ve written a memoir, and to be brutally honest, I’m not sure if I will ever release it to the public in its entirety. I wrote these vignettes for myself in order to showcase memories and cope with emotions and thoughts. Some people have read selected pieces of it, but the only person who has ever read it from cover to cover is my husband. So, if you can’t share it with the world, share it with someone you trust. Or keep it for yourself. You’ll know the best way to share your work!

I’ve also entered some of my writings into contests and publications. Seeing that rejection letter is part of the trade, but it’s exhilarating when you see your own byline in any publication. It represents someone taking a chance on you, and if you’re asked to write more, you must be doing something right. ;) 

Don’t care as much what people think.

People pleasers will panic about this sentiment, but it really does help when you don’t focus as much on what others think. Yes, you want to please your readers and be careful to not offend anyone with your writings. On the flip side of that, if you curate your work so heavily that it loses that creative spark and your writer’s voice, your readers will know. Be authentic with everything you write, and your audience will appreciate that -- even if they like or dislike what you write. If you dwell too much on what people will think about your writing, then you will never write or share your work at all. I’m working on this currently with my first novel, Paper Dahlias. I wrote the first draft of this novel in November 2017, and it’s November 2020, so… I’d say it’s long overdue for its editing process and future publication! It’s just really challenging to get past the stage of thinking that it’s crap and that no one will like it. But, you have to realize your worth as a writer and that not everyone will like your novel or other piece of writing work. And that is OK. You will have plenty of fans! 

Please note: These blog posts are not clinical, although we will provide symptoms and other information. These posts are based on my experiences with anxiety and mental health in general. If you or someone you know needs help, visit a website like Mental Health America to learn more.

Mental Health Moments blog posts are every other Tuesday of the month. Our CEO and contributors highlight what it's like to live with a mental health disorder and continue to fight the stigma through storytelling.

Kaylin R. Staten, APR, is an award-winning, accredited public relations practitioner and writer based in Huntington, WV with 18 years of professional communications experience. As CEO and founder of Hourglass Media, she uses her compassionate spirit and expertise to delve into the heart of clients’ stories. She is a recovering perfectionist, mental health advocate, wife, Luke’s mom, cat mom, and Leia Organa aficionado. Connect with Kaylin on LinkedIn.