Fear

The life of a writer is a life of fear. When you aren't writing, you are afraid you never will, that you'll never get a good idea. When you finally do get an idea, you're afraid that it's a stupid idea. When you start writing, you're afraid that nobody will like it. When you send it out to publishers, you're afraid it won't be accepted. When you get published, you're afraid you will be jeered in a scathing review.

No matter where we are or what we're doing, we are afraid. But here's the thing nobody tells you: fear is good; it prevents you from being a crappy writer. Have you ever met people who were absolutely sure that what they were writing would be fantastic and well-loved? If you have, that person is writing formula (or very deluded). Formula may be good enough. It may be perfectly enjoyable to its audience. Reader's Digest is nothing but formula and it's still ticking. However, formula is boring. It isn't powerful. It isn't effective. It is sustenance, but not a meal.

It's ok to be afraid of not having a good idea, but continue to think. If you are writing something that you enjoy, but you're stuck b4ecause you're afraid that working on it is going to mess it up, then go ahead and mess it up. Mess it up as bad as you can. Just remember to fix it in the next draft. There's no reason to be afraid that somebody will hate your writing because it's a guarantee. Nothing is universally loved. Same goes for getting published and getting reviewes. You will be rejected. A lot. But you keep sending your work out anyway.

Use your fear to your advantage. If you're afraid your writing is stale, do something different. If you're afraid you're too confusing, move slower and more clearly. Just don't get paralyzed.