You’re Not Alone
Most writers feel overwhelmed with writing at some point. It’s part of the process!
However, knowing this and dealing with it are two separate things. It’s all very well someone like me telling you it’s normal. What are the steps to getting out of this headspace?
Let’s break it down. Ready? Let’s go …
1) You Don’t Have Too Many Ideas. Fact.
You have too much fear. And look, I get it. Writing can feel overwhelming just getting words down on the page. Looking ahead to things like publishing, marketing, building a platform … it can seem like too much.
It’s far easier to go into what I call ‘slug mode’. We writers love to believe we’re stuck because we’re ‘too creative’. The ‘tortured artiste’ stereotype can feel irresistible.
But the reality is, we end up stuck because choosing just one idea means …
- Other ideas don’t get picked
- The one you do choose might be bad
- Someone might judge it/you
- You will have to finish it
Hovering feels safer than committing. Brainstorming feels productive without risking failure.
But let’s be clear: unfinished ideas do absolutely nothing for your writing career.
2) Stop Asking Which Idea Is “Best for Your Career”
This question kills more writing projects than rejection ever will. Because here’s what actually happens …
- You pick something you think is “marketable”
- So you start writing it with gritted teeth
- Which means your writer’s voice flattens
- This in turn causes your enthusiasm to die
- Then you abandon it and feel worse than before
But writing careers are not built by trying to second-guess. They’re built by writers who can:
- Finish drafts
- Learn from them
- Write again
- Improve visibly
Publishers and agents don’t sign “potential”. They sign the execution. True story.
3) Hating Your Draft Means You’re Doing It Right!
Yes, really. That moment when you suddenly think your story is crap?
Congratulations – this is NOT a red flag. It means you’ve left the romanticized phase!
Every single project has:
- That first, heady exciting idea bit
- The “oh god this is terrible” bit
- The craft bit (where writing actually happens)
If you quit at stage two every time, guess what? You’re not choosing the wrong ideas. You’re refusing to do the work.
This isn’t a vibe issue. It’s a discipline issue. Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of the work.
That’s the good news. The bad news? There is no short cut.
Stop Trying To Be Smart. Start Being Consistent!
Here’s a big truth bomb …
- There is no “right” idea
- Nor is there is any ‘safe’ choice
- There’s no guaranteed career win
- There is only the project you actually finish
So instead of asking which idea will “pay off”, ask yourself instead …
- Which one can I stick with when it stops being fun?
- How can it make me a better writer by the end?
- Which one can I commit to for a set period without flaking?
But don’t stop there. You need a boundary as well. Tell yourself, “This gets one full draft.”
Or “This gets eight weeks.”
Evaluate your goals and your progress and make difficult decisions based on DATA, not panic or doom spirals.
The Hard Truth
Writers who move forward aren’t braver, smarter or more inspired than you. They just stop treating every decision like it’s a life sentence. They …
- Pick an idea
- Write it
- Have the guts to finish it
- Learn
- Rinse & repeat!!
What else is there? Seriously. This is what we ALL need to do.
Last Points
So, if you’re overwhelmed, you don’t need yet another idea. You need to sit your arse down and write the one you’ve already got.
Smack talk over. Now get on with it. GOGOGO!
