Reduce Writing Stress

Trying to complete a writing project can be stressful, especially if there's a deadline or if the project is particularly difficult or new territory for you. Learning how to handle writing stress is critical to your success as a writer. Letting stress get out of hand can be a huge distraction in the writing process and can even stop your writing cold in its tracks. It is always important, when writing, to keep your eye on the goal, but it is especially important when the writing itself becomes stressful. Keeping your goal in mind and repeating it to yourself (i.e., finishing a chapter or report or poem) can actually lessen your stress because it keeps you focused on something positive (the goal) and distracts you from the negative (the stress of the process). There are also other ways to tackle writing stress. You can feed yourself positive affirmations (i.e., I can and I will complete this project). These affirmations re-track your thought processes from "I can't" to "I can." You can also adjust your thoughts when you hit a stress wall. Allow yourself to acknowledge that the stress you're feeling will pass. It's a rough spot, but it need not derail you. You can learn to go with the flow of writing by reminding yourself up front that your writing project will have ups and downs and, in fact, even expect the down times. Incorporate them into your mindset as just part of the writer's territory. Getting a handle on stress will keep you writing past those blocks and fears that crop up and keep you actively engaged in the writing process no matter what else is going on.