Writers Who Fret, Worry and Stew

Fret, Worry, Stew...

It seems to be a part of the human psyche to fret, worry, or stew over things beyond our control. I found several good quotes about worrying that I'll share here today and then my own thoughts on writers who worry.

The Quotes:

1. “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere”
   – Erma Bombeck
2. “A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.”
   – John Lubbock
3. “Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.”
   – Henry Ward Beecher
4. “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”
   – Arthur Somers Roche
5. “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.”
   – Swedish Proverb

Writers and Worry:

What do writers worry about? Plenty! 

1. They fret over the beginning of a story.
2. They stew over the ending of a story.
3. They worry over where to send a submission.
4. They worry that they'll never be published. (or published again)
5. They fret over reviews that are not glowing.
6. They worry about the critiques others give their work.
7. They stew over not hearing from an editor.
8. They worry that their writing is not as good as it should be.

There are other concerns that writers have but the list above covers some of the main ones. 

Worrying is a lesson in futility. It doesn't change a thing. Erma Bombeck's quote above illustrates that thought. We need to have the attitude that whatever is going to happen is what we'll deal with if need be. 

If you worry over the beginning or ending of a story, pick the one that makes you feel the best. That's probably going to be the right one. If you are fretting over an opening line, try another one or two or three until you find one you're comfortable with. Don't just sit there and worry about what you wrote.

If you worry that you'll never be published again, that may be what happens. Instead, you need to keep writing and keep submitting. It's the only way to be published.

If you get poor critiques or less than pleasing reviews, you have an opportunity to do correct your errors or to do better the next time. Worrying about it will only give you a headache.

If you stew over weeks going by without a response from an editor, push it aside and start a new writing project. You may hear from the editor later or might never get a response. Many only respond when accepting. 

If you worry about your writing not being as good as you hoped, then get to work learning more about the craft through reading reference books on writing. Take a class or two. Attend a conference with workshop speakers. And keep writing. The more you write, the better writer you will be. 

Pick a day. Maybe tomorrow. Make a vow to not spend one minute worrying about anything writing-related. Practice having a little faith in yourself.