Growing Comfortable with the Discomfort of Writing

Do you ever feel uncomfortable as you stare at the cursor on the screen or the blank line in your notebook? I do ALL the time!

Here’s the thing. I love writing. But before each writing session, I struggle with discomfort.

My blood grows sludgey in my veins. My muscles tighten. A thousand thoughts flutter through my brain like released butterflies, and I can’t catch a single one.

In the back of my mind is the fear. Will the words come? Will they make sense? Is this story even good? Where is the chocolate??

I do not allow myself to be a slow writer. Because I don’t have the discipline for it. When I write a few hundred words here or there, I get lazy and I lose the plot thread. Trying to get it back takes time–precious time.

So when I’m drafting a novel, I push myself to write a big chunk each day. But before I do, I’m sitting there looking at the cursor, dreading the moment I have to make a decision and put a word on the page. Then another and another until I’m in my groove.

Part of my process is accepting the discomfort. I know I have to grow comfortable each time I sit down to write by reviewing the previous scene. This jump starts my creativity and allows the words to flow.

If the words refuse to flow, I go for a walk. When I return, the cursor no longer taunts me. I’m ready to begin.

Do you dive into each writing session? Or do you feel the discomfort I experience?

I’d love to hear your process! Leave a comment!