SEVEN FEARS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM WRITING

Seven fears that stop people from writing 

We’ve all come across people who are extremely knowledgeable and experienced. They are highly articulate and can describe incidents in great detail, using a colourful vocabulary with ease. Their flow is smooth and enthralling.

Yet, when you ask them, “Why don’t you write and share your eloquent thoughts with others?” they suddenly go quiet and say it’s not their cup of tea.

I happened to interview a few such thinkers, and most of them gave very similar reasons.

1. Who will read my work?
If all writers had this doubt, we wouldn’t have had much literary work to enjoy. The world is full of people with diverse reading tastes, and there are even more writers catering to those interests.

So, there will always be someone who finds your writing meaningful.

Anne Frank didn’t write her diary thinking of readers. She simply wrote what she felt was important for her. Yet today, her diary remains one of the most widely read works of nonfiction in the world.

Emily Dickinson, now a famous poet, had most of her work rejected or heavily edited during her lifetime.

2. I’ve never written anything.
No! This isn’t true. In fact, we’ve all written plenty since school days—essays, reviews, stories, poems, and even letters to friends or parents.

All we need now is to take responsibility for our writing goals and stay consistent.

Everything has a beginning, and usually, beginnings are nothing much to look at. But for something to become a habit, we must start somewhere.

Stephen King said it beautifully:
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”

3. What can I write about?
Our minds zip with thousands of thoughts every day. No one has the authority to say whose thoughts are more worthy. Some people think about food, others about money, inventions, problems, peace, love, fashion—the trail is endless.

We all observe, experience, and feel a lot. We go through so many phases in life. You can begin writing from any of these.

4. I’m not good at writing.
Every famous writer likely has a drawer full of rough drafts and rejections. Writing is not an inborn talent like singing—it’s a skill that matures with practice.

Once you begin, ideas start flowing, connections build, and the plot deepens.

Anne Lamott once said:
“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”

5. I make too many mistakes.
Have we ever done anything perfectly from the beginning? We all crawl, stumble, fall, cry, get up, try again, and repeat before we succeed. Writing is no different.

If you can identify your own weaknesses—that’s progress! Not knowing your mistakes is far more damaging.

Also, let’s not worry too much about grammar errors. AI tools like Grammarly, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word can fix the structure. What AI can’t do is think for you.

So, let writers write, and let tech correct.

6. I can’t finish an entire article—it’s too hard.
Yes, imagining yourself writing three full pages can be overwhelming. But who says you must start with a formal article?

Not everyone is suited for expository writing. Try light, descriptive writing. Or journaling. Or poetry.

Another great option is narrative writing. Describe a small incident, write an anecdote, or tell a short story.

There’s no rule about what or how much to write. Just start in whatever form feels right.

7. I don’t want people to know what I think.
I know a young lady with zillions of write-ups stored in her Google Drive. She doesn’t send them to anyone. She still writes. Her work sits unread, but she’s unstoppable.

Maybe the assurance that no one is reading her work has actually encouraged her to keep writing.

And who says you must write for others? Writing can be deeply personal and therapeutic. Write for yourself, for your joy, for your sanity. Your thoughts deserve a permanent home—even if it’s just on your own screen.