Ever stared at a blank page, wondering where to start? You’re not alone. Many of the writers I work with arrive with the same problem. Often, they’ve been left with powerful writing anxiety from school, and so a lack of writing confidence. Others can begin but have no idea how to move beyond a raw draft to a finished piece.
I believe that, at the heart of every barrier to writing lies a powerful emotion: fear. Whether it’s a Year 10 student staring blankly at an assignment or a seasoned writer unable to navigate their next project, fear of writing is often the culprit. It doesn’t just leave blank pages – it stifles creativity and confidence.
So, what exactly are these writers afraid of? In this post, I’m going to explore three common fears writers face and offer practical teaching strategies to overcome them.
What are Writers Afraid of?
- Criticism
Many writers worry that their work will be judged harshly—and by extension, that they’ll be judged too. For students, feedback can feel personal, especially if they already doubt their abilities. Most teachers know to be careful with tone – but even the most gentle ‘next step’ can feel insurmountable to a struggling writer. - Rejection
Everyone craves validation for their words and ideas. The fear of rejection—whether it’s a low grade or a dismissed idea—can paralyze writers and prevent them from taking risks. There’s the added risk, with student writing, of ‘failing’ a deeply personal story because of technical issues – which can feel like a rejection of the student’s life experience. - Running Out of Ideas
For older students or experienced writers, the fear of being unoriginal or clichéd can be overwhelming. Poor results or past failures can amplify this anxiety, making it harder to trust their creativity.
How Can You Help Struggling Writers?
So, as a teacher or mentor, how can you support writers in overcoming these fears? Here are some tried-and-true strategies to build writing confidence and foster creativity in students:
- Remove the Pressure of Grades
Make writing playful, low-stakes, and fun. Here are some ideas:
- Go Slow: Don’t dive straight into assessments. Just as a new sports team needs practice before their first game, writers need time to warm up.
- Take Small Steps: Avoid overwhelming students with a full task upfront. Start with bite-sized exercises. For example, restrict their writing to just 40 words, then challenge them to add 5 or remove 3. Specific constraints can spark creativity.
- Group Work: Collaborate on stories where no one individual is responsible for the whole piece. Sharing ideas and working together makes writing less intimidating. Students might, for example, be given an event, then each be assigned a character who’s at the event – they have to work together to develop a parallel storyline with the different perspectives.
- Silly Writing Prompts: Use nonsense tasks that encourage fun and freedom. The lack of seriousness removes the fear of judgment. Tell a story in a group, each person contributing one sentence at a time. Or set an exercise like writing a story without using the letter ‘s’.
- Guided Starts: Begin with a whole-class exercise to spark ideas, then let students build off it individually. A great place to start is with setting – if a whole group develops a setting or world, then each student can write a story set within that world more confidently because they have a strong base.
- Focus on Affirmation
Start by highlighting what students are doing well. Especially at the beginning of the year, prioritize encouragement over critique. Building their confidence early on can have a lasting impact. - Be Specific with Feedback
Vague feedback like “Be more specific” can frustrate writers. Instead, offer concrete examples and solutions. For instance:
- Instead of saying, “Your character is lonely,” suggest showing loneliness through their surroundings: an empty chair, a specific song, or a memory.
- Use Visual Aids
Help students visualize scenes using filmic techniques:
- What do they see in a long shot? Close-up? Take a look at these two images, to see what I mean:
Long shot:
Close up:
- What’s that off-screen sound?
- What appears in the distance?
These prompts help writers bring their ideas to life with vivid detail.
What’s Your End Goal?
Ultimately, your goal as a writing teacher is to nurture adults who feel confident and competent in their writing. Yes, assessments matter, but they’re just a small part of the bigger picture. By fostering skills and building confidence now, you’re giving your students the tools they need to succeed long after they leave your care.
Writing isn’t just about passing exams; it’s about finding a voice and learning to share it with the world. And that’s a gift worth giving.
I’d love to chat with you about how I can help you develop your writing skill set, whether that’s as a writer or teacher of writing. Contact me here.
Also, check out my creative writing and critical thinking prompt cards here.
I look forward to hearing from you!