I write for a living, and the writing I actually get paid for is much much more difficult than the writing I do on my blog and for myself (just not as interesting). And so the fears connected with it are not easy to understand at all. Why should I fear this easy stuff? And yet it is so hard to put pen to paper some days.

Some warped fear of the unknown? Fear of boredom finally turning into insanity? Honestly, I have no idea, yet I’m certain that fear underlies that writers block in some mysterious way.

And like Kempis said, that old dreaded ‘fear of failing’ comes creeping in.

Still, I have to remind myself that this is what I love. It is my passion. I have to write to breathe, to live.
And I think it is only because writing is such a huge part of who I am, that I continue to do it; even if I never publish a thing.

I can’t answer that question for you.

But for me, It’s fear. Fear of failure. As long as one never tries, one can’t fail. Then we can hang on to that fragile dream that will never come true. Never hurt by rejection. Never discouraged. Never having to face the possibility of a shattered dream. On any random day we can entertain ourselves with that thought of “what if”. .. or “maybe I can, maybe I’ll try today.” We might even give it a try before putting it away again. And we can be secure with that fragile dream. A dream that makes life tolerable. That makes bearable the unbearable. It’s not logical. But then fear never is.

At the same time we’re also cheating ourselves out of the possibility of success.

I’ve had the same problems you’ve mention in your post. Starting. Writing. Then running into a wall. I’ve let myself get distracted by the rest of life’s needs. One thing or the other. And I’ve finally realized- and it took me long enough- that I’ve cheated myself out of a whole lot of time. Time that I could’ve been spending learning my writing process. Writing and finishing that first crappy draft. Practicing and perfecting.

Now that I’ve learned those lessons. I’m more determined not to waste any more time.

I know. It does. It does get better. It’s hard to have faith in that, though. And where does the anxiety come from? I mean, what is so scary about putting words on paper?

It’s never going to be perfect the first time out. Caveblogem is right. Someone once told me “There is no substitute for it, Just write the first crappy version of your story and finish it.” That person was right. You need to do that. And do it over and over. Each time with a story that has meaning to you. Eventually it gets better. It does take practice.

Before I conclude this post here’s one last truth I’ve recently discovered: The difference between success and failure as a writer is one thing- Passion. It’s the drive to keep at it in spite of the odds, the multitude of failures, and distractions, that may occur prior to the one success that gets the ball rolling. Many people have talent. Not everyone has passion.

Good luck.

And blogging certainly has helped make me more verbose. . . .