Once upon a time I wrote a ghost book.
What began as a small guide to local hauntings manifested into a huge month-long celebration of Halloween with ghost tours, horror film festivals, scavenger hunts, Halloween balls, and psychic fairs.
To promote the event, I wrote a lot of copy that included playful words like bootiful and eeriesistible, all the while knowing that I was living one fangtastic lie.
You see, I was never a fan of monster movies, creepy costumes, bloody finger hotdogs, and gooey eyeballs floating in spider cider. But my spiritual journey had led me to explore my Shadow Self and I was determined to face my fears.
Fortunately, I came through “the other side” with no permanent scars, despite the scary-go-round of hanging out in cemeteries and haunted mansions with people who lived for Halloween.
At the time, I was the only author of a Rhode Island ghost book and I found myself interviewed on television and featured in a film documentary about haunted places.
Unfortunately, I gained an undeserved reputation as a ghostbuster and that, of course, really scared the bejeezus out of me!
I never realized I was such a big ol’ scaredy cat until the day I sat down and wrote about my fears.
It was a frighteningly long list, dating back to childhood with a fear of my own shadow:
Fear of ghosts. Fear of vampires. Fear of needles. Fear of rollercoasters. Fear of snakes in toilets. Fear of bed bugs that bite. Fear of Grinches stealing my Christmas presents. Fear of being too skinny. Fear of always being flat-chested. Fear of losing my virginity. Fear of black jelly beans. Fear of stepping on sidewalk cracks and breaking my mother’s back.
As I grew older, my list grew longer:
Fear of failing. Fear of success. Fear of bridges. Fear of mountain cliffs. Fear of driving. Fear of being judged. Fear of war. Fear of terrorists. Fear of being trapped. Fear of poverty. Fear of being late. Fear of being too early. Fear of computer crashes. Fear of never writing another word again.
Fear of being judged
For many writers, the scariest thing is not so much about the writing itself but the act of coming out of hiding and showing the world who is really behind those pages.
We all know how it feels to be judged. From the moment we are slapped on our newborn behinds, we are in constant competition. The prettiest baby. The oldest twin. The smartest student. The fastest runner. The first to graduate college. The first to get married. The first to have a baby. The first to own a vacation house. The most successful novelist. The list goes on and on.
I’ll admit I’m not the most patient person in the world. Every time I click that “Submit” button, I’m in agony because I know I’m in for quite a wait, which gives me plenty of time to doubt and dread.
What if I’m not good enough? What if I don’t really know what I’m talking about? What if people write a bad review? What if they unsubscribe from my newsletter?
Writers live with "what-ifs" all the time. And as much as we may try to ignore them, people’s opinions do matter, although they can be puzzling, especially when they have nothing to do with your writing.
I remember meeting a young girl at a book signing. "Are you a witch?" she asked. I told her I wasn’t, but I was curious.
"Why do you think I’m a witch?" I asked.
"Because you wrote about ghosts and you have long hair!"
I’m still shaking my head at that one.
Tricks and treats
In his book, The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear, Ralph Keyes wrote:
“The most understandable trap is to wait for fear to subside before starting one’s journey. It doesn’t, won’t, and shouldn’t. Too much good writing comes from writers on the edge. Trying to defeat or portage around normal writing anxieties merely postpones the day when we confront our fears directly and find the courage to write.”
When I wrote my ghost book, it was during a period when I was worried about death and demons, so I delved further into my shadowy crypts and cobwebs with the intention to write the fright out of me.
It was a cathartic “exorcise” which made me understand that we cannot truly experience the Light without first examining our shadows.
We’ll explore that in today’s writing exercise. But first, are you game for some creative trick-or-treating? Here’s what you can do to keep away the evil writing goblins:
Tricks
Pretend your coffee (or another beverage) is actually a magical potion that allows you to write and write and write.
Create a mantra or affirmation like “I am a writer and my words flow easily.”
Pretend you are wearing the costume of a successful author, especially when you are in public at book signings, television shows, and podcasts.
Wear, eat or drink something in the color blue. Blue is the color of truth, integrity, and communication, which are valuable to writers.
Write a "cease and desist" letter to someone or something you fear.
Treats
Take meditative nature walks to help clear the cobwebs in your brain.
Listen to an inspiring interview with one of your favorite authors.
Take a Laughter Yoga break and LOL until you’re ready to write again.
Reward yourself with a new notebook, laptop or pen.
Consume a cauldron of chocolate peanut butter cups each time you finish a book or chapter.
Not a bad haul, right? Of course, the ultimate fear-busting trick is to summon your courage, ignore the naysayers, and keep on writing.
It’s worth the effort because the ultimate treat is a finished writing project!
Do you believe writing is a scary business? In this episode, I’ll talk about:
my ghost book [1:28]
all my fears [3:20]
fear of being judged [4:51]
tricks and treats [6:53]
a fear writing exercise [10:30]
These books and resources are mentioned in the podcast:
Write a list of everything you are afraid of. This might include a fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being attacked, fear of animals, fear of loving, fear of losing someone you love—anything.
Think of this exercise as if you were writing your shopping list. There is no judgment here. Just release your fears onto your paper or computer.
Review the list and next to each fear, write about the experiences which created that fear.
For example, you might have a fear of large dogs because you were bitten by a German Shepherd when you were a toddler. Or a fear of the color black because you were once rapped on the knuckles by a black-robed nun with a ruler.
Write about the steps you might take to overcome your fears.
Thank you for listening to the W R I T E L I G H T E R podcast.
Some episodes may contain excerpts from my book, Write Awake: A Conscious Path to Creativity and Change.
If you would like to learn more about me, my books, workshops, and writing consultations, please visit my website at writelighter.com.
Blessings,
Eleyne-Mari
W R I T E L I G H T E R is a free newsletter and podcast for writers by visionary author Eleyne-Mari Sharp. Subscribe below to receive conscious content about Creativity, Change, and Wellness to help empower your writing and your life!
✨ Ep.3: It’s Scary Being a Writer ✨