how to overcome essay writing anxiety

Writing Anxiety

What this handout is about.

This handout discusses the situational nature of writer’s block and other writing anxiety and suggests things you can try to feel more confident and optimistic about yourself as a writer.

What are writing anxiety and writer’s block?

“Writing anxiety” and “writer’s block” are informal terms for a wide variety of apprehensive and pessimistic feelings about writing. These feelings may not be pervasive in a person’s writing life. For example, you might feel perfectly fine writing a biology lab report but apprehensive about writing a paper on a novel. You may confidently tackle a paper about the sociology of gender but delete and start over twenty times when composing an email to a cute classmate to suggest a coffee date. In other words, writing anxiety and writers’ block are situational (Hjortshoj 7). These terms do NOT describe psychological attributes. People aren’t born anxious writers; rather, they become anxious or blocked through negative or difficult experiences with writing.

When do these negative feelings arise?

Although there is a great deal of variation among individuals, there are also some common experiences that writers in general find stressful.

For example, you may struggle when you are:

• adjusting to a new form of writing—for example, first year college writing, papers in a new field of study, or longer forms than you are used to (a long research paper, a senior thesis, a master’s thesis, a dissertation) (Hjortshoj 56-76).
• writing for a reader or readers who have been overly critical or demanding in the past.
• remembering negative criticism received in the past—even if the reader who criticized your work won’t be reading your writing this time.
• working with limited time or with a lot of unstructured time.
• responding to an assignment that seems unrelated to academic or life goals.
• dealing with troubling events outside of school.

What are some strategies for handling these feelings?

Get support.

Choose a writing buddy, someone you trust to encourage you in your writing life. Your writing buddy might be a friend or family member, a classmate, a teacher, a colleague, or a Writing Center tutor. Talk to your writing buddy about your ideas, your writing process, your worries, and your successes. Share pieces of your writing. Make checking in with your writing buddy a regular part of your schedule. When you share pieces of writing with your buddy, use our handout on asking for feedback .

In his book Understanding Writing Blocks, Keith Hjortshoj describes how isolation can harm writers, particularly students who are working on long projects not connected with coursework (134-135). He suggests that in addition to connecting with supportive individuals, such students can benefit from forming or joining a writing group, which functions in much the same way as a writing buddy. A group can provide readers, deadlines, support, praise, and constructive criticism. For help starting one, see our handout about writing groups .

Identify your strengths

Often, writers who are experiencing block or anxiety have a worse opinion of their own writing than anyone else! Make a list of the things you do well. You might ask a friend or colleague to help you generate such a list. Here are some possibilities to get you started:

• I explain things well to people.
• I get people’s interest.
• I have strong opinions.
• I listen well.
• I am critical of what I read.
• I see connections.

Choose at least one strength as your starting point. Instead of saying “I can’t write,” say “I am a writer who can …”

Recognize that writing is a complex process

Writing is an attempt to fix meaning on the page, but you know, and your readers know, that there is always more to be said on a topic. The best writers can do is to contribute what they know and feel about a topic at a particular point in time.

Writers often seek “flow,” which usually entails some sort of breakthrough followed by a beautifully coherent outpouring of knowledge. Flow is both a possibility—most people experience it at some point in their writing lives—and a myth. Inevitably, if you write over a long period of time and for many different situations, you will encounter obstacles. As Hjortshoj explains, obstacles are particularly common during times of transition—transitions to new writing roles or to new kinds of writing.

Think of yourself as an apprentice.

If block or apprehension is new for you, take time to understand the situations you are writing in. In particular, try to figure out what has changed in your writing life. Here are some possibilities:

• You are writing in a new format.
• You are writing longer papers than before.
• You are writing for new audiences.
• You are writing about new subject matter.
• You are turning in writing from different stages of the writing process—for example, planning stages or early drafts.

It makes sense to have trouble when dealing with a situation for the first time. It’s also likely that when you confront these new situations, you will learn and grow. Writing in new situations can be rewarding. Not every format or audience will be right for you, but you won’t know which ones might be right until you try them. Think of new writing situations as apprenticeships. When you’re doing a new kind of writing, learn as much as you can about it, gain as many skills in that area as you can, and when you finish the apprenticeship, decide which of the skills you learned will serve you well later on. You might be surprised.

Below are some suggestions for how to learn about new kinds of writing:

• Ask a lot of questions of people who are more experienced with this kind of writing. Here are some of the questions you might ask: What’s the purpose of this kind of writing? Who’s the audience? What are the most important elements to include? What’s not as important? How do you get started? How do you know when what you’ve written is good enough? How did you learn to write this way?
• Ask a lot of questions of the person who assigned you a piece of writing. If you have a paper, the best place to start is with the written assignment itself. For help with this, see our handout on understanding assignments .
• Look for examples of this kind of writing. (You can ask your instructor for a recommended example). Look, especially, for variation. There are often many different ways to write within a particular form. Look for ways that feel familiar to you, approaches that you like. You might want to look for published models or, if this seems too intimidating, look at your classmates’ writing. In either case, ask yourself questions about what these writers are doing, and take notes. How does the writer begin and end? In what order does the writer tell things? How and when does the writer convey their main point? How does the writer bring in other people’s ideas? What is the writer’s purpose? How is that purpose achieved?
• Read our handouts about how to write in specific fields or how to handle specific writing assignments.
• Listen critically to your readers. Before you dismiss or wholeheartedly accept what they say, try to understand them. If a reader has given you written comments, ask yourself questions to figure out the reader’s experience of your paper: What is this reader looking for? What am I doing that satisfies this reader? In what ways is this reader still unsatisfied? If you can’t answer these questions from the reader’s comments, then talk to the reader, or ask someone else to help you interpret the comments.
• Most importantly, don’t try to do everything at once. Start with reasonable expectations. You can’t write like an expert your first time out. Nobody does! Use the criticism you get.

Once you understand what readers want, you are in a better position to decide what to do with their criticisms. There are two extreme possibilities—dismissing the criticisms and accepting them all—but there is also a lot of middle ground. Figure out which criticisms are consistent with your own purposes, and do the hard work of engaging with them. Again, don’t expect an overnight turn-around; recognize that changing writing habits is a process and that papers are steps in the process.

Chances are that at some point in your writing life you will encounter readers who seem to dislike, disagree with, or miss the point of your work. Figuring out what to do with criticism from such readers is an important part of a writer’s growth.

Try new tactics when you get stuck

Often, writing blocks occur at particular stages of the writing process. The writing process is cyclical and variable. For different writers, the process may include reading, brainstorming, drafting, getting feedback, revising, and editing. These stages do not always happen in this order, and once a writer has been through a particular stage, chances are they haven’t seen the last of that stage. For example, brainstorming may occur all along the way.

Figure out what your writing process looks like and whether there’s a particular stage where you tend to get stuck. Perhaps you love researching and taking notes on what you read, and you have a hard time moving from that work to getting started on your own first draft. Or once you have a draft, it seems set in stone and even though readers are asking you questions and making suggestions, you don’t know how to go back in and change it. Or just the opposite may be true; you revise and revise and don’t want to let the paper go.

Wherever you have trouble, take a longer look at what you do and what you might try. Sometimes what you do is working for you; it’s just a slow and difficult process. Other times, what you do may not be working; these are the times when you can look around for other approaches to try:

• Talk to your writing buddy and to other colleagues about what they do at the particular stage that gets you stuck.
• Read about possible new approaches in our handouts on brainstorming and revising .
• Try thinking of yourself as an apprentice to a stage of the writing process and give different strategies a shot.
• Cut your paper into pieces and tape them to the wall, use eight different colors of highlighters, draw a picture of your paper, read your paper out loud in the voice of your favorite movie star….

Okay, we’re kind of kidding with some of those last few suggestions, but there is no limit to what you can try (for some fun writing strategies, check out our online animated demos ). When it comes to conquering a block, give yourself permission to fall flat on your face. Trying and failing will you help you arrive at the thing that works for you.

Celebrate your successes

Start storing up positive experiences with writing. Whatever obstacles you’ve faced, celebrate the occasions when you overcome them. This could be something as simple as getting started, sharing your work with someone besides a teacher, revising a paper for the first time, trying out a new brainstorming strategy, or turning in a paper that has been particularly challenging for you. You define what a success is for you. Keep a log or journal of your writing successes and breakthroughs, how you did it, how you felt. This log can serve as a boost later in your writing life when you face new challenges.

Wait a minute, didn’t we already say that? Yes. It’s worth repeating. Most people find relief for various kinds of anxieties by getting support from others. Sometimes the best person to help you through a spell of worry is someone who’s done that for you before—a family member, a friend, a mentor. Maybe you don’t even need to talk with this person about writing; maybe you just need to be reminded to believe in yourself, that you can do it.

If you don’t know anyone on campus yet whom you have this kind of relationship with, reach out to someone who seems like they could be a good listener and supportive. There are a number of professional resources for you on campus, people you can talk through your ideas or your worries with. A great place to start is the UNC Writing Center. If you know you have a problem with writing anxiety, make an appointment well before the paper is due. You can come to the Writing Center with a draft or even before you’ve started writing. You can also approach your instructor with questions about your writing assignment. If you’re an undergraduate, your academic advisor and your residence hall advisor are other possible resources. Counselors at Counseling and Wellness Services are also available to talk with you about anxieties and concerns that extend beyond writing.

Apprehension about writing is a common condition on college campuses. Because writing is the most common means of sharing our knowledge, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we write. This handout has given some suggestions for how to relieve that pressure. Talk with others; realize we’re all learning; take an occasional risk; turn to the people who believe in you. Counter negative experiences by actively creating positive ones.

Even after you have tried all of these strategies and read every Writing Center handout, invariably you will still have negative experiences in your writing life. When you get a paper back with a bad grade on it or when you get a rejection letter from a journal, fend off the negative aspects of that experience. Try not to let them sink in; try not to let your disappointment fester. Instead, jump right back in to some area of the writing process: choose one suggestion the evaluator has made and work on it, or read and discuss the paper with a friend or colleague, or do some writing or revising—on this or any paper—as quickly as possible.

Failures of various kinds are an inevitable part of the writing process. Without them, it would be difficult if not impossible to grow as a writer. Learning often occurs in the wake of a startling event, something that stirs you up, something that makes you wonder. Use your failures to keep moving.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Hjortshoj, Keith. 2001. Understanding Writing Blocks . New York: Oxford University Press.

This is a particularly excellent resource for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Hjortshoj writes about his experiences working with university students experiencing block. He explains the transitional nature of most writing blocks and the importance of finding support from others when working on long projects.

Rose, Mike. 1985. When a Writer Can’t Write: Studies in Writer’s Block and Other Composing-Process Problems . New York: Guilford.

This collection of empirical studies is written primarily for writing teachers, researchers, and tutors. Studies focus on writers of various ages, including young children, high school students, and college students.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

Mind Diagnostics is user-supported. If you buy through a link on the site, we earn a commission from BetterHelp at no cost to you. Learn More

How to Tackle Writing Anxiety

Reviewed by Dawn Brown, LPC, NCC · October 26, 2020 ·

• Share to Facebook
• Send as Email
• Copy link Copied

Anxiety is explained by the American Psychological Association  as an emotion that comes with feelings of tension, being worried about something, and experiencing physical changes.  Anxiety.org expounds that anxiety is experienced when your mind and body react to stressful, dangerous, or strange situations. It is empirically shown to have common symptoms such as feelings of panic, Irritation, tension, restlessness, nervousness, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, weakness, trembling, increased perspiration, sleeping problems, gastrointestinal problems, difficulty concentrating, excessive worry, and a strong desire to avoid anxiety triggers.

Anxiety can be developed in different things that can characteristically overwhelm you. In other words, different entities can serve as triggers. It may be animals, objects, situations, or events. This emotion can also affect writers. This is because writers obviously can become anxious when there is a certain writing task in front of them. This kind of anxiety is characterized by the feeling of the worry associated with crafting a book, term paper, or a blog post.

What Is Writing Anxiety?

Technically, writing anxiety is a condition characterized by the feeling of uneasiness about writing. Sometimes, writers do experience what is called “writer’s block,” which is the inability to begin or even continue to work on a piece of writing. This can lead to or cause writing anxiety.  When you have writing anxiety, you may develop excessive worry about a given writing task, feeling agitated or uneasy when it’s time to work on a page, or feeling negative about specific types of writing. Most times, writing anxiety is more about who you are, the type of people you are writing to, or the purpose of writing than writing just for fun.

Several individuals know how it feels when your creative mind is blocked, and you become stuck looking like you are out of things to express. This condition can ignite your worries if you’re not a professional writer that knows that something like that does happen, of which after waiting for some time, the words may begin to flow again. If you have excessive worry about having nothing to write, which may result in procrastination, it can be referred to as writing anxiety.  From a clinical standpoint, writing anxiety could be seen as a mental illness that requires effective treatment.

What Are The Physical Symptoms Of Writing Anxiety?

When you’re experiencing writing anxiety, there are physical signs that you will see. Some of these signs may include:

• Sweaty palm
• Racing heartbeats
• Nervousness
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Panic attacks
• A desire to procrastinate a certain task

What Are The Causes Of Writing Anxiety?

Like many other mental health challenges, writing anxiety can be related to some situations that may serve as the source of the irrational feeling of tension and worry. The following are common causes of writing anxiety:

Inexperience With The Type Of Writing Task

Your past negative experiences with writing, the negative feelings you have, immediate deadline, distant deadline, your lack of interest in the given topic or not understanding the writing task, personal problems or life events.

How Can You Deal With Writing Anxiety?

It should be noted that writing anxiety is not absolutely bad. Sometimes it can motivate you to work very hard to get a task done by every means necessary. But at times, it can be excessive associating with stress-induced mindset and attitude. In this situation, you may need to look for ways to deal with it.

Irrespective of what kind of anxiety you may have, you expected to seek the best coping strategies. To know more about your condition, you can read more about it on anxiety blogs or get anxiety journals or search online for different anxiety articles.

Writing anxiety that may be considered an illness can be dealt with in different ways to have your writing magic back. The following are some ways through which you can deal with writing anxiety:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Engage frequently in freewriting, writing rituals.

Understanding Reality

Talk to expert or get supports from those close to you, dealing with some physical challenges, avoid judging yourself and your writing, make your task smaller, and your goal short-term.

It is always good to know as early as possible that you have anxiety before it becomes a disorder . To determine if you may have anxiety, take our quick online test: https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/anxiety-test .

Find out if you have Anxiety

Take this mental health test. It's quick, free, and you'll get your confidential results instantly.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable. If you or someone you know thinks you are suffering from anxiety then take this quick online test or click to learn more about the condition.

Take test Learn more

Related articles

Reducing Anxiety in Overwhelming Situations

Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million Americans aged 18 or older every year (18% of the population), making it the most common mental illness in the United States. While...

Recognizing and Halting Anxiety Symptoms

If you have ever experienced anxiety, you may wonder what it means and if it is something that can be prevented. You may also be curious about the anxiety definition and...

Spotting Anxiety Symptoms in Teens

If you're a teenager or the parent of a teenager, you might wonder what the signs of anxiety in teens are. Maybe, you think that you have an anxiety disorder yourself, or...

Need help? We recommend the following therapists

Michal collier, ncc, lpc, cpcs.

• Michal can help you with: Stress
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Anger management
• Trauma and abuse
• Intimacy-related issues
• Parenting issues
• Self esteem
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• Compassion fatigue

Christina Polizzo

Msw, lcsw, polizzo.

• Christina can help you with: Stress
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders

Judith Lathrop

• Judith can help you with: Relationship issues

Writing Anxiety: Why Does Writing Sometimes Make You Anxious (And How to Overcome It)​

by J. D. Edwin | 2 comments

Have you ever felt a rush of writing anxiety when trying to write your story? Do you often label this writer's block before letting it take over? Has writing anxiety made you feel like you're a poor writer, and then it tricked you into giving up?

Here are four common problems that feed writing anxiety and tips on how to overcome them.

Tons of writers, even professional writers, suffer from writing anxiety on a daily basis no matter their experiences with writing.

Whether you view this as resistance or low self-esteem, writing anxiety can prevent you from finishing that beautiful, unique story that only you can tell.

We've All Suffered From Writing Anxiety at Some Point

I'll admit writing anxiety has stalled a lot of my writing. The negative feelings are unwelcome, but sometimes impossible to ignore.

I can't count the number of stories I didn’t write to conclusion, or the half-formed novel ideas that I started and abandoned because I grew too anxious to continue writing.

I’ve abandoned ideas in the first sentence, the first chapter, the first ten thousand words. I have a book that’s sitting on my computer at sixty thousand or so words. It's filled with scene after scene, and all of them building to a brilliant climax I've never managed to jot down. Mainly because I've allowed writing anxiety to freeze me right before the finish line.

A lot of this anxiety comes from perfectionism—we, as writers, desperately long to deliver a perfect book.

I know I have. I've been flustered over my first drafts.

I've dreamed of that magic last page, but found myself unable to finish.

I used to tell myself things like, “I need to work out those rusty sentences weighing this version down before writing the final showdown,” or “Maybe I need to go back to the first act and fix that before I can write this .”

It's exhausting.

But it's not an uncommon problem.

The thought of delivering anything less than perfect to our beta readers (and eventually next readers) keeps us from either 1) not finishing our stories at all, or 2) too anxious to share our stories once they're complete.

I know this because I've done it.

Writing anxiety may be stopping you from making progress on your writing projects, but it's something we can overcome.

4 Sources of Writing Anxiety (And How to Overcome Them)

In recent years, I’ve recognized four major problems that cause my fear of writing —which has allowed me to discover and practice better habits that have proven successful at pushing me to finish my story.

There are many reasons for a writer to be afraid of finishing a story, especially those new to writing. But when we understand what's holding us back, we can become mindful and prevent fear from manipulating us in the writing process.

Let’s take a look at the four most common reasons we experience writing anxiety. Better yet, lets explore ways to overcome it.

Problem 1: The Story Is Too Long

It’s easy to feel like a story is so massive and complicated that you will never be able to do it justice.

Most ideas spark from a novel premise or a vision of a story's climax. This excites the writer, but then the hard work begins and writing anxiety sets in when trying to build the structure supporting that idea or leading up to that finale moment.

Big ideas can be very overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting to write.

Do we all dream of writing a franchise masterwork like the Harry Potter series? Of course! Who wouldn't get a thrill from mastering J.K. Rowling's writing process ?

But complicated books, especially epic fantasy series, take years to plot out. This might be the direction you want to go—that's fine if it is! But if it's not, cut yourself a break.

If you're writing a book , especially your first, the goal should be to deliver a story readers will enjoy—and enjoy isn't synonymous for perfect.

Here's an important truth: if readers like your first book, they will come back for more expecting you to grow as a writer. Writing is a life-long learning process.

Hopefully when you understand this, you can give yourself a break. You can take that BIG idea and learn how to break it up into scenes that can make fiction (or nonfiction) writing easy.

In fact, the fourth step in Joe Bunting's How to Write a Novel article is to set smaller deadlines that build to your big deadline (of finishing a book).

You can apply this same mindset when planning or writing your BIG story idea. Start small, and then build to the ultimate climax.

Solution 1: Start Small

Think of a story idea and tell it in less than a thousand words. Try writing this in three paragraphs that outline the Beginning, Middle, and End in one to two sentences each. Maybe use your premise to kickstart the summarizing of each book part.

Quality doesn’t matter here—the goal is to tell an entire story, beginning to end, within the word limit.

Quality can come in later drafts, after you get used to the feeling of writing small, which might also do wonders for your writing confidence.

Problem 2: You Get Stuck in Story Structure

“Write a book” sounds easy, but when you delve into it, you realize there’s so much more to it.

Inciting incident ? Climax ? Hero's Journey ? Characterization ? There’s so much that goes into planning and writing a book, and stopping to think about just how much can easily give most writers moments of intense anxiety.

If you’re trying to tackle an impossible bestseller book checklist, you might come to a fierce halt, probably trapped in paralysis by analysis, obsessing over details that just don't matter on your first go.

It's enough to cause an anxiety epidemic that eventually tempts you to give up.

This is the exact reason my book stalled for eight years.

And while the faithful advice to keep going can grow weary—sometimes maybe even feel useless—the reality is that you can't edit anything that isn't written down.

Solution 2: Practice

This is simple in theory but difficult in principle. However, like anything, practice makes perfect, and the more stories you write, the more things you will realize becomes second nature.

You don't have to master story structure to use it to get a draft down, but a quick structure outline (even if it's only six sentences!) can help you write to the end. And the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll get with story structure.

6 Key Moments of Story Structure

There are six required moments in every story, scene, and act. They are:

• Exposition : Introducing the world and the characters.
• Inciting incident : There’s a problem.
• Rising Action/Progressive complications : The problem gets worse.
• Dilemma : The problem gets so bad that the character has no choice but to deal with it. Usually this happens off screen.
• Climax : The character makes their choice and the climax is the action that follows.
• Denouement : The problem is resolved (for now at least).

If you're unfamiliar with these terms, I recommend studying each of them, especially dilemma. Practicing these will be a huge aid to your writing process.

For your first few scenes, try plotting out each of these six moments, focusing especially on the dilemma.

Better yet, download our story structure worksheet to guide you through the story structure process, from crafting your initial idea through to writing the synopsis.

Messy drafts are the makings of good writers because they are time spent developing your craft.

To relieve yourself of perfectionist pressure, make that first book your “practice book,” or try writing a short story or novella before tackling a 90,000 word manuscript.

That practice book may be a complete mess, but if you stick to it, you will ingrain many of the skills needed to become a great writer. This will carry you far beyond one story. And you'll only get better at telling them!

Problem 3: Leaving Your Story Alone for Too Long

I used to believe that writing a book takes years.

It’s such a daunting project, after all. So big, so many details. But the more I wrote, the more I realized, it doesn’t have to take a decade to write.

Remember that advice about a fantasy series? J.R.R. Tolkien took decades to write the Lord of the Rings series, and for a good reason—he spent ages building Middle Earth and its history in addition to the actual stories.

Your initial story doesn’t have to be a project of this magnitude. You can spend years revising a book, but that first draft can come as quickly as you’d like.

And they'll probably only come quicker the more you write.

The first draft of my first book took three years. The first draft of my second took six weeks.

Plotter or pantser , discovering your writing process and what gets you to the last page will motivate you to write quicker.

Need a writing process that will keep you on track from the first page to the last? We've taken everything we've learned from helping thousands of writers finish their books and packed it all into The Write Plan planner. Plan your story and write your book with the planner designed just for writers. Get The Write Plan planner here »

Solution 3: Write Fast

This is in the interest of both yourself and the book.

Deadlines are crucial in getting you to commit to finishing sections of a book within a set timeline, and establishing consequences for not meeting those deadlines will help.

Set yourself a deadline (or few) and stick to it. Better yet, join a writing community like the 100 Day Book program to keep you writing on track while also receiving peer and editor feedback.

Remember, quality in the first draft doesn’t matter. You don’t have to stick to a certain word count either.

The only thing you have to commit to is finishing your story . Nothing else matters until you have every part of your story written down.

And when you write fast to meet deadlines, I bet that you will also find what you’ve written is tighter and more interesting to read. This is because you didn’t allow yourself to lose your train of thought.

Sloppy writing can be fixed in future drafts, but if you don’t get your story out, those drafts will never happen.

You can finish your book in 100 days. And in 100 Day Book, you'll get the training, structure, deadlines, accountability, and community support you need to make it to “The End.” Join the next semester of 100 Day Book and write your book with us »

Problem 4: Thinking You're Not a Good Writer

Yes, you are. You just haven’t written enough yet.

This deadly mindset is probably the most common problem preventing burgeoning writers from finishing their book.

They think, “I'll never get published. I'm not as good as [INSERT AUTHOR ROLE MODEL HERE].”

Maybe you're not yet . But you have too many great stories to tell, and only you can tell them in your way.

So get going.

Solution 4: Don't Listen to the Voice of Doubt

Bad writing habits can sneak up on you in nasty ways, but this doubtful voice can easily be the most deceitful.

To overcome it, put a jar on your desk labeled “Writer Thoughts.” Every time this idea comes up, add a dollar. Every time it comes up and you believe it , add two dollars. Every time it comes up, you believe it, and you stop writing, add five dollars.

At the end of each month, use that money to donate to a charity you don't want to support.

Not a fan of working against the negative? Use this jar as an “Ice Cream Fund” and add to it every time you have a rush that makes you feel like a writer. Pin a note that reminds you about that feeling, and when you take the money out to treat yourself, make sure to tape these notes to your writer's desk to motivate your next session.

Finishing a story can seem scary, especially for those of us who go into writing with a mindset that all writing is easy and glamorous.

Writing is hard.

But you can do it.

The world needs your stories!

Don't Let Writing Anxiety Cause Writer's Block

A final thought on writing anxiety:

Sometimes writing anxiety sneaks up on writers by labeling itself as writer's block. This is an issue because it disguises itself as something we think is out of our control.

Lots of writers will stop writing for long chunks of time because they're waiting for that creative spark. I'm sure you've heard the advice before: you can't wait for inspiration to strike!

Personally, I like this quote from writer Mary Kay Andrews:

“There’s no such thing as writer’s block. As long as your fingers can move over the keyboard, eventually it’ll segue into something.”

She's right, and this is a big reason why The Write Practice encourages writers to take fifteen minutes at the end of each post to share a prompt that will help writers PRACTICE writing. Now. This very second.

Remember, you can spend years mulling over the first draft of your book, but every moment you suspend on trying to make it perfect, you prevent yourself from delivering a finished manuscript that readers can review and critique.

And without a first draft, there will be no second.

There also won't be a second or third or forty-fifth book.

Do yourself a favor and embrace the problems causing your writing anxiety so you can consciously practice ways to overcome it.

If you need some extra help with this, I highly recommend checking out some of these great posts on The Write Practice:

• How to Overcome Writer’s Block While You Sleep
• 8 Bold Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Writing
• How to Overcome Writer's Burnout
• 10 Obstacles to Writing a Book and How to Conquer Them
• The Hardest Part of Writing Well

But before you do this, take a look at today's practice. Strike while the iron's hot, and even if it's not, keep going!

What’s the biggest problem contributing to your writing anxiety? Share in the comments below.

Set yourself some small writing deadlines for a story of “X” amount of words.

Establish your ending date (preferably something sooner than later). Take fifteen minutes to fill in four to five small deadlines that you'll complete along the way.

Jot down a little bit about what you'll include in each smaller deadline, either in bullet notes or sentences.

When you're done, share in the practice box below. Give feedback on your writing companion's posts—and keep coming back to update us all on how you're doing with meeting your benchmarks!

Oops! We could not locate your form.

J. D. Edwin

J. D. Edwin is a daydreamer and writer of fiction both long and short, usually in soft sci-fi or urban fantasy. Sign up for her newsletter for free articles on the writer life and updates on her novel, find her on Facebook and Twitter ( @JDEdwinAuthor ), or read one of her many short stories on Short Fiction Break literary magazine .

I don’t know what are the biggest barriers to writing. I think the closest approximation is ‘imposter syndrome’, which I also get when I’ve been off work for a while (or sometimes just over the weekend!).

The feeling is that I have forgotten something important; the thread of the book, the aim I had in mind, or even my sense of self, as a writer.

Though I’m getting better, I still have fits and starts of writing regularly and having ‘breaks’ that are too long. These breaks are only influenced by the conscious feeling that there’s something I’d rather be doing instead – even though I know keeping up with my writing is good for my general mental health, which is of course of the greatest importance.

It makes me think that there is an unfelt fear that is behind this – classic for all procrastination – but that I’m unable to reach the fear in the first place, let alone face it down. There are days when I even feel positive about writing and could certainly happily write, then I find that, for no real reason that I can trace, I just don’t.

This is a fantastic article! I love how you pinpointed different root causes of writer anxiety & then addressed each one. Prioritizing personal well-being is such an essential (yet often overlooked) part of the creative life so thank you for sharing about it in such a practical way.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts :

Popular Resources

Book Writing Tips & Guides Creativity & Inspiration Tips Writing Prompts Grammar & Vocab Resources Best Book Writing Software ProWritingAid Review Writing Teacher Resources Publisher Rocket Review Scrivener Review Gifts for Writers

Books By Our Writers

You've got it! Just us where to send your guide.

Enter your email to get our free 10-step guide to becoming a writer.

You've got it! Just us where to send your book.

Enter your first name and email to get our free book, 14 Prompts.

Want to Get Published?

Enter your email to get our free interactive checklist to writing and publishing a book.

Writing Studio

Coping with writing anxiety.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Writing Anxiety Return to Writing Studio Handouts

Many of us become anxious or blocked because of negative or difficult experiences with writing, or because we place unmanageable expectations on ourselves.

Below are some suggestions to help you cope with anxieties about writing.

Techniques to Help Writers Cope with Anxieties About Writing

Write something.

This may sound like a silly suggestion to someone who is having trouble writing anything. But, if you get started early and write regularly (every day), the habit of writing may itself help you work through anxious moments. Be willing to try new tactics and to write without censoring yourself.

Talk about Your Paper

Brainstorm with your instructor, a friend, or a Writing Studio consultant, and write things down the way that you speak them. When you are trying to get words on the page, it’s important not to worry about correct usage or about sounding smart. Be sure that talking about your paper is accompanied by writing (even just note-taking, or lists, maps, outlines, pictures…); talking shouldn’t serve as a substitute for writing.

Break It Down

When a writing project seems daunting, separate the larger project into parts and create manageable tasks for each part. Set small goals with specific deadlines, and focus your energy by reviewing each task in your head.

Picture a Sympathetic Audience

Imagine an interested reader, someone who is looking for the best in your work rather than looking to find fault with it. Many professors may tell you to envision a reader who is intelligent, enthusiastic, and unfamiliar (or only somewhat familiar) with your topic.

Identify Your Strengths

Often, we are harsher critics of our own writing than anyone else might be. To quiet your inner critic, make a list of the things you do well.

• Do you explain things well?
• Do you notice interesting things about the texts that you read?
• Do you often see connections between texts or among various authors’ works?

List your strengths. and then use them to counteract the efforts of your inner critic.

Think of Yourself as an Apprentice

Sometimes we experience anxiety because the situations in which we are writing have changed. Maybe you are writing in a novel format, or for a different audience, or about subject matter that is new to you. Try to learn as much, and gain as many skills in that area, as you can without expecting yourself to have mastered everything in a short while.

Remember that Writing is a Process

There is always more to be said on a topic, and a writer will always be able to imagine new and more interesting ways of saying it. At any point in time, a writer offers readers her or his current insight into a topic.

Get Support

Choose a writing partner, someone you trust to help and encourage you. Share pieces of your writing for feedback, and talk to your writing partner about your ideas, your writing process, your worries, and the like. Ask your writing partner and other colleagues about what they do when they get stuck. Form or join a writing group to help keep deadlines and to get constructive and supportive criticism.

You can find writing partners and form writing groups at the Writing Studio. You might also talk with your academic advisor or your residence hall advisor, or schedule an appointment at the Psychological and Counseling Center to talk about anxieties and concerns that extend beyond writing.

The following resources were consulted to make this handout:

• The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina, the Purdue OWL, and the Writing Resources of the Princeton Writing Center.

Last revised: 07/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 02/2021

In order to access certain content on this page, you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader or an equivalent PDF viewer software.

Dealing with Obstacles and Developing Good Habits

Overcoming Writing Anxiety and Writer’s Block

You may be thinking, “All this advice is good, but sometimes I just get stuck! What I normally do just isn’t working!” That’s a familiar feeling for all writers. Sometimes the writing just seems to flow as if by magic, but then the flow stops cold. Your brain seems to have run out of things to say. If you just wait for the magic to come back, you might wait a long time. What professional writers know is that writing takes consistent effort. Writing comes out of a regular practice—a habit. Professional writers also know that not everything they write ends up in the final draft. Sometimes we have to write what Anne Lamott calls a “shitty rough draft.” One of my favorite writing professors, Duncan Carter, used to say that he was a terrible writer but a great reviser, and that’s what helped him write when inspiration wasn’t available. So how do writers get going when they feel stuck or uninspired? They develop a set of habits and have more than one way to write to get the words flowing again.

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You might associate the idea of writing anxiety or writer’s block with procrastination, and procrastination certainly can be either a cause or an effect of writing anxiety. You can learn more about  procrastination later in this section of the text.  But writing anxiety or writer’s block is more of a condition. We might even venture to call it an ailment. Uh oh. Do you have it? To aid you in self-diagnosis here, let’s take some time to figure out what it is. Then, if you find that you’re afflicted, we’ll help you to determine the best course of treatment.

What is Writing Anxiety and How Do You Know if You Have It?

Do you worry excessively about writing assignments? Do they make you feel uneasy or agitated? Do you have negative feelings about certain types of writing? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might suffer from writing anxiety. Writing anxiety simply means that a writer is experiencing negative feelings about a given writing task. The last of the questions above points out something important about this condition that has been afflicting writers everywhere for centuries: writing anxiety is often more about the audience and/or purpose for a given writing task than it is about the mere act of writing itself.

Let’s consider this situational nature of writing anxiety for a moment. Say you just bought a new pair of headphones. You brought them home, removed all the packaging, plugged them into your MP3 player, and they’re amazing!  So you decide to visit the company website, and you write a stellar review of the product, giving it a five-star rating and including descriptive details about the headphones’ comfortable fit, excellent sound quality, ability to cancel outside noise, and reasonable price.

Now, let’s say that the next day in biology class your instructor covers the topic of biomes, and you learn about animal habitats and biodiversity and the interrelation and interdependence of species within biomes. You find it fascinating and can’t wait to learn more. But then something terrible happens. Your instructor assigns a term project on the subject. As your instructor begins to describe the length and other specifications for the report, complete with formatting guidelines, citation requirements, and a bibliography at the end, your palms start to sweat, your stomach feels uneasy, and you begin to have trouble focusing on anything else your instructor has to say. You’re experiencing writing anxiety.

Writing anxiety is the condition of feeling uneasy about writing. Writer’s block is what you experience when you can’t manage to put words on the page. But your condition isn’t about the act of writing. Just yesterday you wrote a great review for those cool new headphones. So why do you suddenly feel paralyzed by the thought of writing the biology essay? Let’s consider some possible causes.

What Causes Writing Anxiety?

The causes of writing anxiety are many. Here are just a few:

• Inexperience with the type of writing task
• Previous negative experiences with writing (e.g. someone, maybe a teacher, has given you negative feedback or said negative things about your writing)
• Negative feelings bout writing (e.g. “I’m not a good writer”; “I hate writing.”)
• Immediate deadline
• Distant deadline
• Lack of interest in the topic
• Personal problems or life events

Level of experience may explain why you felt comfortable writing the headphone review while you break out in a sweat at the thought of the biology paper. If you’ve never written anything similar to a specific assignment, maybe you’re unsure about whether or not you can meet the assignment requirements or the teacher’s expectations. Or maybe the last time you turned in a written report for school you received negative feedback or a bad grade from the teacher. Maybe you procrastinated most of the term and now the paper is due next week and you feel overwhelmed. Or maybe it’s the second week of the term and the finals week deadline seems so far away that you’re not motivated to write.

Knowing the cause of your writing anxiety can help you move beyond it and get writing, even if you can’t completely eliminate the problem. If the topic doesn’t interest you or if you’re having problems at home, those probably aren’t issues that will just disappear, but if you try some of the following strategies, I think you’ll find that you can at least move forward with even the most anxiety-inducing of writing assignments.

Strategies for Overcoming or Managing Writing Anxiety

There are a number of strategies upon which you can draw to help you move past the feeling of being lost or stuck. Consider if some of the following tactics can help you to get writing again.

Just Start Writing

It might sound like it’s oversimplifying the matter, but it’s true. Half the battle is to just start writing. Try some strategies like freewriting or dialectic notetaking. (For more on freewriting, see “ Strategies for Getting Started ” in the “Prewriting” section of this text, and for more on dialectic notetaking , refer to the section on “Writing about Texts”). You should also believe in the importance of writing badly. Bruce Ballenger, a well-known writer and professor of English at Boise State explains why writing badly is an important part of the writing process:

Giving myself permission to write badly makes it much more likely that I will write what I don’t expect to write, and from those surprises will come some of my best writing. Writing badly is also a convenient alternative to staring off into space and waiting for inspiration.

Sometimes the biggest problem writers have with getting started is that they feel like the writing needs to be good, or well organized, or they feel like they need to start at the beginning. None of that is true. All you need to do is start.

Have you ever seen a potter make a clay pot? Before a potter can start shaping or throwing a pot, they have to bring the big wet blob of clay and slap it down on the table. It’s heavy and wet and messy, but it’s the essential raw material. No clay? No pot. “Bad writing” is a lot like that. You have to dump all the words and ideas onto the table. Just get them out. Only then do you have the raw material you need to start shaping the words into something beautiful and lasting. You can wait until the revision stages to worry about shaping your writing to be its best. For now, just get the ideas on the table.

Create Smaller Tasks and Short-Term Goals

One of the biggest barriers to writing can be that the task just seems too large, and perhaps the due date is weeks away. Each of these conditions can contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed or to the tendency to procrastinate. But the remedy is simple and will help you keep writing something each week toward your deadline and toward the finished product: divide larger writing tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks and set intermediate deadlines.

The process that the authors used for writing this text provides a good example. As authors, we had to divide the text into sections, but we also had to plan the process for a first draft, peer reviews, and revisions, along with adding images, links, and other resources, not to mention the final publication of the text online. Had we not divided up the larger tasks into smaller ones and set short-term goals and deadlines, the process of writing the text would have been overwhelming. We didn’t meet every single intermediate deadline right on time, but they helped move us along and helped us to meet the most important deadline—the final one—with a complete text that was ready to publish on schedule.

Imagine that you have a term paper that’s assigned during Week 1 of a eleven-week term, and it’s due during finals week. Make a list of all the tasks you can think of that need to be completed, from beginning to end, to accomplish all that the assignment requires. List the tasks, and assign yourself due dates for each task. Consider taking it a step further and create a task table that allows you to include a column for additional notes. Here’s an example:

Collaborate

Get support from a friend, family member, or classmate. Talk to your friends or family, or to a tutor in your college writing center, about your ideas for your essay. Sometimes talking about your ideas is the best way to flesh them out and get more ideas flowing. Write down notes during or just after your conversation. Classmates are a great resource because they’re studying the same subjects as you, and they’re working on the same assignments. Talk to them often, and form study groups. Ask people to look at your ideas or writing and to give you feedback. Set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting deadlines (a little friendly competition can be motivating!).

Talk to other potential readers. Ask them what they would expect from this type of writing. Meet with a tutor in your campus writing center. Be sure to come to the appointment prepared with a printed copy of the assignment and a short list of what you want to work on, along with a printed copy of your essay.

For more about getting help from a tutor see “Why Meet with a Writing Tutor?” and “Preparing to Meet with a Tutor” in the “ Giving and Receiving Feedback ” section of this text.

Embrace Reality

Don’t imagine the situation of your writing assignment to be any better or worse than it really is. There are some important truths for you to recognize:

• Focus on what you do best rather than fretting about your perceived weaknesses.
• Acknowledge that writing can be difficult and that all you need to do is do your best.
• Recognize what might be new or unfamiliar about the type of writing that you’re doing.
• Understand that confusion and frustration is a natural part of experiencing new things, and it’s okay; it’s part of the learning process.
• Remember that you’re a student and that you’re supposed to be experiencing things that are new and unfamiliar (new formats, new audiences, new subject matter, new processes, new approaches, etc.).
• Repeat the mantra, “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be DONE.”

Seek Out Experts

If you can, find more experienced writers (especially related to the type of writing that you’re doing) and ask them questions. Sometimes, this might just mean a friend or family member who’s already taken a couple years of college courses. Maybe it’s a fellow student who has already taken the class you’re taking now. Also, the tutors in your college writing center can be a big help at any stage in the writing process. Give them a call and make an appointment. And don’t forget the expert you see all the time throughout any class that you take: your instructor. Ask your instructor for suggestions. That’s what she’s there for.

Another way to learn from the experience of others is to look at examples of other pieces of writing of the type that you’re working on. How is this piece organized? Does it make use of source material? What sort of tone does it use? If you don’t know where to find examples, ask your instructor. If he doesn’t have them at the ready, he’ll likely be able to give you some suggestions about where to find some.

The Word on College Reading and Writing Copyright © by Carol Burnell, Jaime Wood, Monique Babin, Susan Pesznecker, and Nicole Rosevear is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

How To Overcome Writing Anxiety

For many people, writing can offer tremendous solace and be a fun and creative way to explore a new world and exercise their creativity. But if you have any experience with writing, you’ve probably also encountered the frustrations of writing anxiety and writer’s block. Understanding the situational nature of writing anxiety can empower writers to employ tailored strategies for overcoming it.

How to overcome anxiety in the writing process

Whether you're looking to embark on a longer project or just want to get the words flowing, the following strategies for overcoming anxiety may help you rekindle your writing.

Free associate

When the words just aren't coming, it can be frustrating for it to seem like you'll never be able to come up with the right thing to say or the right idea to pursue. Instead of mulling over your setbacks, you may benefit from free associating. See what your unconscious mind comes up with and be sure to keep a notebook handy to jot down any interesting connections, phrases, or ideas. This is a great exercise to warm up your mind and get into a good writing mindset, and you might be surprised by what you come up with when you're not thinking about writing directly.

Keep a journal

From Sylvia Plath to Virginia Woolf, many renowned writers have been avid journal keepers. Journals can be a great way to instill a daily practice of writing in a less stressful environment; they can be a refreshing change of pace, allowing you to play around, explore your thoughts, and get into the habit of writing just for the pleasure of it.

A journal is like a garden, where the seeds of phrases, fragments, and ideas may one day flower into poems, stories, or essays. Since your journal is just for you, you don't have to worry about the quality of the writing or the expectation that someone might someday read it. You don’t even have to explain things that another reader might not understand. This is just for you to write as you like.

You may experience anxiety when writing life experiences that may have brought on negative feelings. Giving yourself a writing task that brings these negative or difficult experiences to the surface can be a great way to process what happened and how it may have affected you. That said, working with a mental health professional through online therapy may provide helpful structure and encouragement along your journaling journey, all from the comfort of your own home. 

Whether writing for work, school, or creative endeavors, there are  numerous benefits to writing by hand. Writing things down by hand often pushes you to be more concise and to think more carefully about your words. On the flip side, however, writing by hand also discourages editing and encourages the practice of completing an entire first draft before going back to reread your work.

Conversely, in writing situations where you’re typing, it's easy to get stuck on the first sentence, writing and removing the same words many times over. Writing by hand encourages you to continue on, even if things aren't perfect. You can always go back to it later with a little red pen and make things better.

Go for a walk

If you're stuck on writing deadlines — external or self-imposed — it can be tempting to force yourself to sit at your desk until you complete the assignment. However, staying in one place for too long isn't always good for creativity or productivity and may exacerbate your writing anxiety.

Walking can  help us think  better by letting our minds work through things at their own pace. Exercise also improves memory, attention, and cognition and has lasting positive effects both physically and mentally. Walking is also conducive to thought in that it lets our minds wander, freeing us up to follow new trains of thought or simply to dwell on thoughts, ideas, and sensations without the pressure of writing them down. Writers have long used walks to work through their thoughts before writing them down.

Create something physical 

Feel overwhelmed by writing? Try activating a different part of your brain by making something with your hands. Creating something physical rather than verbal can be a great way to engage your creative faculties without the pressure and anxiety that sometimes come with writing. Similar to walking, physical creation is also a great way to let the mind work through ideas and problems without focusing on them directly. Whether you're into knitting, baking, carpentry, or some other creative physical enterprise, switching activities can shake things up mentally and help you overcome writing roadblocks. 

What’s more, the finished product will be something tangible you can eat, wear, or hold, marking physical progress. So, when your mind is too burnt to write, or you're facing writing anxiety, start your palms on a different project.

Read widely and often

Some of the best writers in the world are also avid readers. Whether you write for work, school, or pleasure, it's common to find that your pieces become stale or repetitive after a sustained period of writing. Reading and writing only your own words is often a recipe for stagnation. If you're frustrated by your writing, try picking up a book or magazine and seeing how professional writers approach their tasks. For further reading about academic writing in particular, Oxford University Press offers a range of reference texts.

Reading widely in various genres and styles can help introduce you to new tactics and thinking methods that will inevitably improve your work. Reading works by authors with different backgrounds or opinions than you can be similarly fruitful — and books aren't the only things that will enrich your creativity. Other media like magazines, radio, TV, and games can also do the trick. When your creative mind feels like it's running on empty, be sure to fill it up with quality fuel.

Consider a challenge

Sometimes, the best way to break out of a creative rut and overcome writing anxiety is to set a challenge for yourself. One of the most popular creative writing challenges is the National Novel Writing Month, or  NaNoWriMo , which takes place each November, encouraging hundreds of aspiring writers to attempt to write a novel before December.

The key here is to break down the elements of your future novel into manageable tasks to complete for each of the 30 days in November. Goal setting like this is a great mechanism to avoid overwhelming and negative experiences with writing. You don’t have to write the whole novel today; perhaps you just have to map out the plotline — and suddenly, the project becomes lighter.

A similar project takes place during National Poetry Month in April, where poets from around the world set goals to write a poem a day for the month. Whether you're attempting fiction, poetry, or another genre, an ambitious goal can be the perfect thing to kick-start your activity and overcome writing anxiety.

Trying to make your writing perfect on the first try is tempting. Whether you're a writer by trade and inclination or are just trying to complete a writing assignment for work or school, a polished first draft is a common goal to have in mind. But first drafts are rarely perfect — they often take several drafts and a lot of sustained effort to emerge as a solid, finished product. Instead of focusing on perfection, try letting the first draft be a place to explore ideas, try out turns of phrase, and experiment with your writing. 

You can always go back later and smooth things over. For most writers, a couple of drafts are often necessary, so it's a great time to experiment, have fun, and get as many words down on the page as you can. After all, the first draft doesn't have to be perfect — it just has to be done.

Whether you're working on writing assignments for school or work, trying to hit the deadline for a call for submissions for creative work, or have told yourself for the past year that tomorrow will be the day you'll start writing the next great American novel, procrastination is a familiar beast to most. Procrastination also goes hand in hand with writing anxiety and often intensifies it. Many people first use procrastination as a tool to churn out high school papers and assignments the night before they're due, and it can be a difficult habit to break. 

Sometimes, it's easier to create under pressure — but procrastination can also result in lukewarm first drafts and not enough time to go back and edit. Instead of procrastinating, try to break up writing projects into chunks and complete a little bit at a time. If a time crunch helps you write, try instituting a self-imposed deadline several days before the work is due. That way, you can pull an all-nighter, sleep all afternoon, and edit with rested eyes the following day.

Once you've finished a draft or two of a project, it's tempting to read and edit it continuously until it's perfect. But at this stage, you're often too close to the work to do it justice. Whether you're having trouble getting the next chapter down or aren't sure how to polish a rough draft into something better, the best option is often to walk away. Take some time for yourself, work on other projects, and try to forget about the draft sitting in your desk drawer or computer drive. After enough time has passed, be it a few days or a few weeks, you can return to your work with fresh eyes and more accurately judge its merits and areas that could use improvement.

Edit courageously

Even if you're proud of your first draft writing, editing can provoke a whole new round of writing anxiety. Writing, rewriting, and editing take courage. It's good to remind yourself that even if your writing needs work, there are worthwhile things about your writing. Editing can often be like carving sculptures from marble or polishing gems from rough material. Beautiful things are waiting underneath the surface, but they need a little help to take their true form. 

Don't be afraid to edit your writing, and then send it off to others and see what they think, whether that means a close friend or family member, a beta reader, or a professional editor. When the process is through and you think it’s done, try not to fear stepping away and sending it out into the world.

Sometimes, a writer’s inner critic gets too difficult to ignore. When critiquing your own writing gets overwhelming, it may help to turn to a trusted writing buddy for constructive criticism. Alternatively, you might prefer to join a writing group whose focus is on workshopping drafts. Group settings can provide a place where you can learn from experienced writers of various ages and backgrounds.

If you are writing from campus, your college or university may offer a writing center, where an academic advisor or other colleagues of the school can help you with the writing process and formatting citations. This will help with meeting deadlines and avoiding getting negative feedback or a “bad” grade from your professor.

Collaborating on a writing project with a partner or partners serves as an effective strategy for managing writing anxiety and acquiring diverse skills. The process allows for the exchange of ideas, feedback, and insights, offering as many skills and learning opportunities as there are people involved.

How can you overcome creative stress?

Writer's block (i.e., feeling like you can’t write or move forward creatively) is an unfortunate part of the writing process, even for experienced writers. It can add frustration and discouragement to your writing life.  The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill states that writer's block or writing anxiety may be even more prevalent when you are shifting to a new kind of writing. However, there are strategies you can try to break through a creative standstill.

For example, the Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill recommends  finding a writing buddy to support you in your writing life. A writing buddy could be a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor you can go to discuss ideas and challenges you are facing in your writing process.

You might also try talking out ideas with others, not allowing your inner critic to interrupt your first drafts, and embracing self-acceptance.

Can writing help?

Writing can be an effective way to process negative feelings and situations that are triggering stress. Research shows that  expressive writing decreases intrusive thoughts  about past negative experiences.

What causes mental blocks?

There are numerous causes of writer’s block, a few of them including: 

• Writing for uncommon or new audiences.
• Working on an unusual or new type of writing task or writing assignment.
• Worrying about negative feedback from readers.
• Remembering negative experiences from previous writing tasks.
• Experiencing negative thoughts about your writing ability or skill.
• Worrying about getting a bad grade.
• Facing perfectionism.

How can you overcome stress?

The goal is not to push away feelings or never to feel stressed. You may start by acknowledging the presence of stress in your mind and body, as ignoring negative feelings will only allow them to resurface more strongly. 

Some coping skills you might try when feeling stressed include doing yoga, meditation, and mindfulness techniques or talking to a trusted friend or family. It may take trial and error to identify what works best for you in managing symptoms.

For individuals who are facing ongoing stress that impacts their daily functioning, further treatment may be required. Like any mental health condition, there is no overnight fix or cure, but psychotherapeutic and medical intervention can help individuals cope with symptoms and continue leading meaningful lives.

• Overcoming Extreme Anxiety: Treatment Options And Tips Medically reviewed by Majesty Purvis , LCMHC
• Overview Of Valerian Root Supplements For Anxiety Medically reviewed by Julie Dodson , MA
• Relationships and Relations

Are You In An Emergency?

Writing papers makes me anxious!

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) (Morningside)
• Counseling Services (CUIMC)

Cite this Response

Alice! Health Promotion. "Writing papers makes me anxious!." Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University, 24 Jun. 2022, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/writing-papers-makes-me-anxious. Accessed 24, May. 2024.

Copy Citation

Alice! Health Promotion. (2022, June 24). Writing papers makes me anxious!. Go Ask Alice!, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/writing-papers-makes-me-anxious.

Dear Alice,

I have terrible anxiety about writing papers. Because of this, I put them off, need to ask for extensions, and then have more anxiety about completing the assignment. In addition, when I start writing, I find it difficult to keep going, especially because I hit what may seem to others as small roadblocks, like uncertainty about citation format. I don’t experience nearly as much stress about other types of work (e.g., studying for and taking exams). What can I do to get over or at least cope reasonably with this fear?

Dear Reader,

Just thinking about writing anxiety made this answer more difficult to compose. You see, writing anxiety and writer’s block are concerns for both students and professionals of all ages and academic levels. In fact, even the most seasoned writers experience anxiety or writer’s block now and then. Fortunately, writing is a complex process that, with practice and patience, may be improved. Read on for some strategies for overcoming the roadblock you’re experiencing.

Writing anxiety comes in multiple forms such as an inability to form an idea, a physical struggle to manifest words on the paper, or a fear of not meeting expectations that hinders your progress. The four main causes of writer’s block include psychological, motivational, cognitive, and behavioral reasons. Psychological causes often include mood or stressors that affect cognitive processing. Motivation-related blocks often arise from a fear of failure. Similarly, those categorized as cognitive causes stem from perfectionism and obsession with details, much like you described in your uncertainty when formatting citations. Lastly, the most common cause of writing anxiety is behavioral changes such as procrastination. Procrastination may lead to a domino effect in which more work doesn’t get done and the pile-up becomes overwhelming. Writer’s block is different for everyone not only in its cause but also in its manifestation and how long it lasts. For some, it may occur for a few minutes and for others it may take decades to overcome, but it’s good to know that it’s possible.

It’s worth noting that more and more research has been dedicated to understanding the psychology behind writer’s block in order to help conquer it. Multiple studies have concluded that writer’s block is most effectively combated by giving the brain a break. This period of time is called the incubation period and could include activities such as going on a walk, playing a word game, or getting a full night’s sleep. When done for an appropriate amount of time, these mental breaks could help writers to think more creatively and find inspiration. Fortunately, writing anxiety is typically a product of a writer’s habits, and habits are changeable! You’ve already made a great first step by identifying a few things that don’t work for you — procrastination and obtaining deadline extensions provide you little or no relief. Now, the next step is to try out or adopt some new habits. To help relieve the anxiety and fear you feel about writing papers, implementing any of the following strategies may be useful:

• Stay on top of your reading assignments and do your best to attend classes — that way you won’t have to cram or teach yourself course material before writing your papers.
• Prior to writing, brainstorm ideas. Create a chart or write down topics of interest to refer back to while writing.
• Follow the guidelines your professor talked about in class or included in a syllabus or grading rubric. If you’re not sure about the guidelines, ask for clarification early.
• Start writing even before you envision your entire argument. Getting words down on paper may help you come up with the rest of your writing assignment. Try free writing or diagramming to inspire ideas.
• Compose different parts of your paper in whatever order feels easy. You’re not required to write in sequential order, as long as the final product is well-organized. Some find it helpful to start with the sections that come naturally and move toward the more challenging parts.
• Avoid stopping and editing each sentence as you write. This will slow you down. Instead, consider writing your paper in several whole drafts, and take breaks between editing. Remind yourself that the first draft is low-pressure and exploratory.
• Write your paper in several sittings rather than trying to crank it out in one marathon session. Attempting to write a paper in one sitting may overwhelm you, thereby distracting you from your task.
• Avoid distractions by turning off your internet and cellphone or writing a draft by hand.
• Get feedback from others. Many schools offer writing support services such as helping you develop and structure ideas, find research, connect thoughts, strengthen your understanding of grammar, and much more.
• Seek out additional support. If you’re wondering if your writing block is related to a learning disability, you can check to see if your school as an office of disability services that provides support to students. 

You can also reach out to instructors or a tutor to help implement these strategies for combating writing anxiety. Remember that writing anxiety is common — and you’re certainly not alone. However, if you continue to experience these feelings and need additional support, you might find it helpful to reach out to a mental health professional.

Additional Relevant Topics:

How do i implement time management strategies and avoid procrastination, struggling with stress and tools for managing it, help i struggle while classmates seem to breeze through coursework, how to find a therapist.

4 Overcoming Writing Anxiety and Writer’s Block

Carol Burnell; Jaime Wood; Monique Babin; Susan Pesznecker; Nicole Rosevear; Liz Delf; Rob Drummond; and Kristy Kelly

Carol Burnell, Jaime Wood, Monique Babin, Susan Pesznecker, and Nicole Rosevear Adapted by Liz Delf, Rob Drummond, and Kristy Kelly

You may be thinking, “You could give me all the writing advice in the world, but sometimes I just get stuck! What I normally do just isn’t working!” That’s a familiar feeling for all writers. Sometimes the writing just seems to flow as if by magic, but then the flow stops cold. Your brain seems to have run out of things to say. If you just wait for the magic to come back, you might wait a long time. What professional writers know is that writing takes consistent effort. Writing comes out of a regular practice—a habit.

Professional writers also know that not everything they write ends up in the final draft. Sometimes we have to write what Anne Lamott calls a “shitty first draft.” One of my favorite writing professors, Duncan Carter, used to say that he was a terrible writer but a great reviser, and that’s what helped him write when inspiration wasn’t available. So how do writers get going when they feel stuck or uninspired? They develop a set of habits and have more than one way to write to get the words flowing again.

You might associate the idea of writing anxiety or writer’s block with procrastination, and procrastination certainly can be either a cause or an effect of writing anxiety. But writing anxiety or writer’s block is more of a condition or state of being. We’ll start by defining the term—so that you can figure out if you have it—and then cover some ways to work through it.

What Is Writing Anxiety and How Do You Know If You Have It?

Do you worry excessively about writing assignments? Do they make you feel uneasy or agitated? Do you have negative feelings about certain types of writing? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be dealing with writing anxiety. Writing anxiety simply means that a writer is experiencing negative feelings about a given writing task.

Writing anxiety is often more about the audience and/or purpose for a given writing task than it is about the mere act of writing itself. Say you just bought a new pair of headphones. You brought them home, removed all the packaging, and connected them to your phone, and they’re amazing! So you decide to visit the company website, and you write a stellar review of the product, giving it a five-star rating and including descriptive details about the headphones’ comfortable fit, excellent sound quality, ability to cancel outside noise, and reasonable price.

Now let’s say that the next day in biology class, your instructor covers the topic of biomes, and you learn about animal habitats and biodiversity and the interrelation and interdependence of species within biomes. You find it fascinating and can’t wait to learn more. But then something terrible happens. Your instructor assigns a term project on the subject. As your instructor begins to describe the length and other specifications for the report, complete with formatting guidelines, citation requirements, and a bibliography at the end, your palms start to sweat, your stomach feels uneasy, and you begin to have trouble focusing on anything else your instructor has to say. You’re experiencing writing anxiety.

Writing anxiety is the condition of feeling uneasy about writing, and writer’s block is what you experience when you can’t manage to put words on the page. But these conditions aren’t about the act of writing. Just yesterday, you wrote a great review for those cool new headphones. So why do you suddenly feel paralyzed by the thought of writing the biology essay? Let’s consider some possible causes.

What Causes Writing Anxiety?

The causes of writing anxiety are many. Here are just a few:

• Inexperience with the type of writing task
• Previous negative experiences with writing (e.g., someone, maybe a teacher, has given you negative feedback or said negative things about your writing)
• Negative feelings about writing (e.g., “I’m not a good writer,” “I hate writing”)
• Immediate deadline
• Distant deadline
• Lack of interest in the topic
• Personal problems or life events

Your level of experience may explain why you felt comfortable writing the headphone review yet broke out in a sweat at the thought of the biology paper. If you’ve never written anything similar to a specific assignment, maybe you’re unsure about whether you can meet the assignment requirements or the teacher’s expectations. Or maybe the last time you turned in a written report for school you received negative feedback or a bad grade from the teacher. Maybe you procrastinated most of the term, and now the paper is due next week, and you feel overwhelmed. Or maybe it’s the second week of the term and the deadline seems so far away that you’re not motivated to write.

Knowing the cause of your writing anxiety can help you move beyond it and get writing, even if you can’t completely eliminate the problem. If the topic doesn’t interest you or if you’re having problems at home, those probably aren’t issues that will just disappear, but if you try some of the following strategies, I think you’ll find that you can at least move forward with even the most anxiety inducing of writing assignments.

Strategies for Overcoming or Managing Writing Anxiety

There are a number of strategies that you can draw on to help you move past the feeling of being lost or stuck. Consider the following strategies to help you start writing again.

Just Start Writing

It might sound like it’s oversimplifying the matter, but it’s true. Half the battle is to just start writing. Try some strategies like freewriting or note-taking to get your writing muscles moving. Give yourself permission to write badly at this stage! Bruce Ballenger, a writer and professor of English at Boise State, explains why writing badly is an important part of the writing process: “Giving myself permission to write badly makes it much more likely that I will write what I don’t expect to write, and from those surprises will come some of my best writing. Writing badly is also a convenient alternative to staring off into space and waiting for inspiration.”

Sometimes the biggest problem writers have with getting started is that they feel like the writing needs to be good or well organized, or they feel like they need to start at the beginning. None of that is true. All you need to do is start.

Have you ever seen a potter make a clay pot? Before a potter can start shaping or throwing a pot, they have to bring the big wet blob of clay and slap it down on the table. It’s heavy and wet and messy, but it’s the essential raw material. No clay? No pot.

“Bad writing” is a lot like that. You have to dump all the words and ideas onto the table. Just get them out. Only then do you have the raw material you need to start shaping the words into something beautiful and lasting. You can wait until the revision stages to worry about shaping your writing to be its best. For now, just get the ideas on the table.

Create Smaller Tasks and Short-Term Goals

One of the biggest barriers to writing can be that the task just seems too large, and perhaps the due date is weeks away. Each of these conditions can contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed or to the tendency to procrastinate. But the remedy is simple and will help you keep writing something each week toward your deadline and toward the finished product: divide larger writing tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, and set intermediate deadlines.

The process that the authors used for writing this text provides a good example. As authors, we had to divide the text into sections, but we also had to plan the process for a first draft, peer reviews, and revisions, along with adding images, links, and other resources, not to mention the final publication of the text online. Had we not divided up the larger tasks into smaller ones and set short-term goals and deadlines, the process of writing the text would have been overwhelming. We didn’t meet every single intermediate deadline right on time, but they helped move us along and helped us meet the most important deadline—the final one—with a complete text that was ready to publish on schedule.

Imagine that you have a term paper that’s assigned during Week 1 of an eleven-week term, and it’s due during finals week. Make a list of all the tasks you can think of that need to be completed, from beginning to end, to accomplish all that the assignment requires. List the tasks, and assign yourself due dates for each task. Consider taking it a step further, and create a task table that allows you to include a column for additional notes. Here’s an example:

Collaborate

Talk to your friends or family or to a tutor in your college writing center about your ideas for your essay. Sometimes talking about your ideas is the best way to flesh them out and get more ideas flowing. Write down notes during or just after your conversation.

Classmates are a great resource because they’re studying the same subjects as you and working on the same assignments. Talk to them often, and form study groups. Ask people to look at your ideas or writing and to give you feedback. Set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting deadlines (a little friendly competition can be motivating!).

Talk to other potential readers. Ask them what they would expect from this type of writing. Meet with a tutor in your campus writing center. Be sure to come to the appointment prepared with a printed copy of the assignment and a short list of what you want to work on, along with a printed copy of your essay.

Embrace Reality

Don’t imagine the situation of your writing assignment to be any better or worse than it really is. There are some important truths for you to recognize:

• Focus on what you do best rather than fretting about your perceived weaknesses.
• Acknowledge that writing can be difficult and that all you need to do is do your best.
• Recognize what might be new or unfamiliar about the type of writing that you’re doing.
• Remember that you’re a student and that you’re supposed to be experiencing things that are new and unfamiliar (new formats, new audiences, new subject matter, new processes, new approaches, etc.).
• Repeat the mantra “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be done .”

Seek Out Experts

If you can, find more experienced writers (especially related to the type of writing that you’re doing) and ask them questions. Sometimes, this might just mean a friend or family member who’s already taken a couple of years of college courses. Maybe it’s a fellow student who has already taken the class you’re in now. Also, the tutors in your college writing center can be a big help at any stage in the writing process. Give them a call and make an appointment. And don’t forget the expert you see all the time throughout any class that you take: your instructor. Ask your instructor for suggestions. That’s what they’re there for.

Another way to learn from the experience of others is to look at examples of other pieces of writing of the type that you’re working on. How is this piece organized? Does it make use of source material? What sort of tone does it use? If you don’t know where to find examples, ask your instructor. If they don’t have them at the ready, they’ll likely be able to give you some suggestions about where to find some.

The original chapter, Overcoming Writing Anxiety and Writer’s Block by Carol Burnell, Jaime Wood, Monique Babin, Susan Pesznecker, and Nicole Rosevear, is from The Word on College Reading and Writing

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever felt anxious about writing? How did you get through it?
• How might the audience or context for writing impact how it feels to write it?
• What are some low-stakes kinds of writing that you could do to build up to a high-stakes assignment?
• What is the value of “bad writing” or “shitty first drafts”? What is the risk of trying to write a perfect first draft?
• Freewrite about your paper topic for ten minutes. Set a timer and don’t stop writing. Don’t worry about spelling or clarity—you won’t be turning it in. After the timer rings, sit back and see how much you have written. How did it feel? How did this approach impact your feelings around writing? Was it easier or harder than starting a paper? How might you use this approach in the future?
• Create a detailed timeline for your next essay assignment. Break it down into smaller tasks and assign a deadline for each. Notice: is this helpful for you? In what way?
• Write three hundred words every day for a week. This can be on any topic! Then reflect on the experience. How did you feel about writing at the beginning of the week and at the end? What changed in your speed or fluency of writing? What did you learn about yourself as a writer or your process?

Overcoming Writing Anxiety and Writer’s Block Copyright © 2022 by Carol Burnell; Jaime Wood; Monique Babin; Susan Pesznecker; Nicole Rosevear; Liz Delf; Rob Drummond; and Kristy Kelly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

47 Overcoming Writing Anxiety and Writer’s Block

You may be thinking, “All this advice is good, but sometimes I just get stuck! What I normally do just isn’t working!” That’s a familiar feeling for all writers. Sometimes the writing just seems to flow as if by magic, but then the flow stops cold. Your brain seems to have run out of things to say. If you just wait for the magic to come back, you might wait a long time. What professional writers know is that writing takes consistent effort. Writing comes out of a regular practice—a habit. Professional writers also know that not everything they write ends up in the final draft. Sometimes we have to write what Anne Lamott calls a “shitty rough draft.” One of my favorite writing professors, Duncan Carter, used to say that he was a terrible writer but a great reviser, and that’s what helped him write when inspiration wasn’t available. So how do writers get going when they feel stuck or uninspired? They develop a set of habits and have more than one way to write to get the words flowing again.

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You might associate the idea of writing anxiety or writer’s block with procrastination, and procrastination certainly can be either a cause or an effect of writing anxiety. You can learn more about  procrastination later in this section of the text.  But writing anxiety or writer’s block is more of a condition. We might even venture to call it an ailment. Uh oh. Do you have it? To aid you in self-diagnosis here, let’s take some time to figure out what it is. Then, if you find that you’re afflicted, we’ll help you to determine the best course of treatment.

What is Writing Anxiety and How Do You Know if You Have It?

Do you worry excessively about writing assignments? Do they make you feel uneasy or agitated? Do you have negative feelings about certain types of writing? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might suffer from writing anxiety. Writing anxiety simply means that a writer is experiencing negative feelings about a given writing task. The last of the questions above points out something important about this condition that has been afflicting writers everywhere for centuries: writing anxiety is often more about the audience and/or purpose for a given writing task than it is about the mere act of writing itself.

Let’s consider this situational nature of writing anxiety for a moment. Say you just bought a new pair of headphones. You brought them home, removed all the packaging, plugged them into your MP3 player, and they’re amazing!  So you decide to visit the company website, and you write a stellar review of the product, giving it a five-star rating and including descriptive details about the headphones’ comfortable fit, excellent sound quality, ability to cancel outside noise, and reasonable price.

Now, let’s say that the next day in biology class your instructor covers the topic of biomes, and you learn about animal habitats and biodiversity and the interrelation and interdependence of species within biomes. You find it fascinating and can’t wait to learn more. But then something terrible happens. Your instructor assigns a term project on the subject. As your instructor begins to describe the length and other specifications for the report, complete with formatting guidelines, citation requirements, and a bibliography at the end, your palms start to sweat, your stomach feels uneasy, and you begin to have trouble focusing on anything else your instructor has to say. You’re experiencing writing anxiety.

Writing anxiety is the condition of feeling uneasy about writing. Writer’s block is what you experience when you can’t manage to put words on the page. But your condition isn’t about the act of writing. Just yesterday you wrote a great review for those cool new headphones. So why do you suddenly feel paralyzed by the thought of writing the biology essay? Let’s consider some possible causes.

What Causes Writing Anxiety?

The causes of writing anxiety are many. Here are just a few:

• Inexperience with the type of writing task
• Previous negative experiences with writing (e.g. someone, maybe a teacher, has given you negative feedback or said negative things about your writing)
• Negative feelings bout writing (e.g. “I’m not a good writer”; “I hate writing.”)
• Immediate deadline
• Distant deadline
• Lack of interest in the topic
• Personal problems or life events

Level of experience may explain why you felt comfortable writing the headphone review while you break out in a sweat at the thought of the biology paper. If you’ve never written anything similar to a specific assignment, maybe you’re unsure about whether or not you can meet the assignment requirements or the teacher’s expectations. Or maybe the last time you turned in a written report for school you received negative feedback or a bad grade from the teacher. Maybe you procrastinated most of the term and now the paper is due next week and you feel overwhelmed. Or maybe it’s the second week of the term and the finals week deadline seems so far away that you’re not motivated to write.

Knowing the cause of your writing anxiety can help you move beyond it and get writing, even if you can’t completely eliminate the problem. If the topic doesn’t interest you or if you’re having problems at home, those probably aren’t issues that will just disappear, but if you try some of the following strategies, I think you’ll find that you can at least move forward with even the most anxiety-inducing of writing assignments.

Strategies for Overcoming or Managing Writing Anxiety

There are a number of strategies upon which you can draw to help you move past the feeling of being lost or stuck. Consider if some of the following tactics can help you to get writing again.

Just Start Writing

It might sound like it’s oversimplifying the matter, but it’s true. Half the battle is to just start writing. Try some strategies like freewriting or dialectic notetaking. (For more on freewriting, see “ Strategies for Getting Started ” in the “Prewriting” section of this text, and for more on dialectic notetaking , refer to the section on “Writing about Texts”). You should also believe in the importance of writing badly. Bruce Ballenger, a well-known writer and professor of English at Boise State explains why writing badly is an important part of the writing process:

Giving myself permission to write badly makes it much more likely that I will write what I don’t expect to write, and from those surprises will come some of my best writing. Writing badly is also a convenient alternative to staring off into space and waiting for inspiration.

Sometimes the biggest problem writers have with getting started is that they feel like the writing needs to be good, or well organized, or they feel like they need to start at the beginning. None of that is true. All you need to do is start.

Have you ever seen a potter make a clay pot? Before a potter can start shaping or throwing a pot, they have to bring the big wet blob of clay and slap it down on the table. It’s heavy and wet and messy, but it’s the essential raw material. No clay? No pot. “Bad writing” is a lot like that. You have to dump all the words and ideas onto the table. Just get them out. Only then do you have the raw material you need to start shaping the words into something beautiful and lasting. You can wait until the revision stages to worry about shaping your writing to be its best. For now, just get the ideas on the table.

Create Smaller Tasks and Short-Term Goals

One of the biggest barriers to writing can be that the task just seems too large, and perhaps the due date is weeks away. Each of these conditions can contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed or to the tendency to procrastinate. But the remedy is simple and will help you keep writing something each week toward your deadline and toward the finished product: divide larger writing tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks and set intermediate deadlines.

The process that the authors used for writing this text provides a good example. As authors, we had to divide the text into sections, but we also had to plan the process for a first draft, peer reviews, and revisions, along with adding images, links, and other resources, not to mention the final publication of the text online. Had we not divided up the larger tasks into smaller ones and set short-term goals and deadlines, the process of writing the text would have been overwhelming. We didn’t meet every single intermediate deadline right on time, but they helped move us along and helped us to meet the most important deadline—the final one—with a complete text that was ready to publish on schedule.

Imagine that you have a term paper that’s assigned during Week 1 of a eleven-week term, and it’s due during finals week. Make a list of all the tasks you can think of that need to be completed, from beginning to end, to accomplish all that the assignment requires. List the tasks, and assign yourself due dates for each task. Consider taking it a step further and create a task table that allows you to include a column for additional notes. Here’s an example:

Collaborate

Get support from a friend, family member, or classmate. Talk to your friends or family, or to a tutor in your college writing center, about your ideas for your essay. Sometimes talking about your ideas is the best way to flesh them out and get more ideas flowing. Write down notes during or just after your conversation. Classmates are a great resource because they’re studying the same subjects as you, and they’re working on the same assignments. Talk to them often, and form study groups. Ask people to look at your ideas or writing and to give you feedback. Set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting deadlines (a little friendly competition can be motivating!).

Talk to other potential readers. Ask them what they would expect from this type of writing. Meet with a tutor in your campus writing center. Be sure to come to the appointment prepared with a printed copy of the assignment and a short list of what you want to work on, along with a printed copy of your essay.

For more about getting help from a tutor see “Why Meet with a Writing Tutor?” and “Preparing to Meet with a Tutor” in the “ Giving and Receiving Feedback ” section of this text.

Embrace Reality

Don’t imagine the situation of your writing assignment to be any better or worse than it really is. There are some important truths for you to recognize:

• Focus on what you do best rather than fretting about your perceived weaknesses.
• Acknowledge that writing can be difficult and that all you need to do is do your best.
• Recognize what might be new or unfamiliar about the type of writing that you’re doing.
• Understand that confusion and frustration is a natural part of experiencing new things, and it’s okay; it’s part of the learning process.
• Remember that you’re a student and that you’re supposed to be experiencing things that are new and unfamiliar (new formats, new audiences, new subject matter, new processes, new approaches, etc.).
• Repeat the mantra, “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be DONE.”

Seek Out Experts

If you can, find more experienced writers (especially related to the type of writing that you’re doing) and ask them questions. Sometimes, this might just mean a friend or family member who’s already taken a couple years of college courses. Maybe it’s a fellow student who has already taken the class you’re taking now. Also, the tutors in your college writing center can be a big help at any stage in the writing process. Give them a call and make an appointment. And don’t forget the expert you see all the time throughout any class that you take: your instructor. Ask your instructor for suggestions. That’s what she’s there for.

Another way to learn from the experience of others is to look at examples of other pieces of writing of the type that you’re working on. How is this piece organized? Does it make use of source material? What sort of tone does it use? If you don’t know where to find examples, ask your instructor. If he doesn’t have them at the ready, he’ll likely be able to give you some suggestions about where to find some.

English Composition Language Lab Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones and Monique Babin, Carol Burnell, Susan Pesznecker, Nicole Rosevear, Jaime Wood is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

• Skip to content

Writing With Anxiety

Productivity tips, support, and encouragement for writers with anxiety.

Symptoms of writing anxiety and how to overcome it

Mental Health / June 20, 2022 by Allaya Cooks-Campbell

Is there anything scarier than a blank page?

No matter how inspired you feel when you decide to start writing, a blank page seems to suck all the ideas out of you. Or you want to write, but that inner critic kicks in. Every word seems wrong somehow, and you just can’t seem to put the words on the page.

This is one of the classic, tell-tale symptoms of writing anxiety, and I don’t think there’s a single person who hasn’t experienced it. Keep reading to learn what writing anxiety is, how to recognize it, and ways to beat it.

What is writing anxiety?

Writing anxiety is the feeling of apprehension, tension, and fear that occurs when a person is about to write — or is currently writing. The feelings can be physical, emotional, and mental. It’s usually not a fear of writing itself, but fear related to the outcome of the work. Writers might be worried that their work isn’t good enough, they don’t know enough, or that they don’t have enough time to finish the project.

With severe writing anxiety, you might feel intense dread when you’re about to write, or even about writing. This might be because of perfectionism, fear of failure, or lack of confidence in one’s writing skills. The symptoms of writing anxiety overlap with generalized anxiety disorder . If you already experience anxiety or panic attacks, the symptoms might feel very similar.

Symptoms of writing anxiety

The symptoms are different for everyone, but they can be mental, emotional, physical, or behavioral. Here are some of the different ways to spot writing anxiety:

Physical symptoms:

• Stomach problems, like issues with digestion, cramps, or queasiness
• Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat
• Tension in the body, particularly the jaw, face, shoulders, and back
• Panic attacks
• Sweating or clammy palms
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Headaches 
• Shakiness, like shaking hands

Mental & emotional:

• Negative self-talk or harsh inner voice
• Feeling frozen when it’s time to write
• Trouble concentrating or remembering; brain fog
• Negative feelings or thoughts, especially when trying to write
• Feeling on-guard or irritable
• Lack of confidence
• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Excessive fear of judgment or negative feedback from others

Behavioral:

• Snapping at others
• Avoiding feedback or communication
• Sitting down to write, but not writing anything
• Getting distracted easily
• Difficulty finishing writing projects
• Comparing oneself to other writers
• Extremely critical of one’s own work

Writing anxiety doesn’t just affect new writers. It can make it difficult for even professional writers finish their work. When writing anxiety gets out of control, it can seep into every area of your life and tank your career.

Some people think that even feeling symptoms of writing anxiety means that they’re not cut out to be a writer. In fact, the exact opposite is true. You can get good at recognizing your triggers and developing positive coping skills to deal with them. This helps to build mental and emotional resilience — a key skill for any writer.

What causes writing anxiety?

Writing anxiety is a common problem among writers. Usually, the fear of writing is connected to some future fear. Writers are often afraid of rejection, not being good enough, or being judged for one’s work. 

At its heart, fear of judgment is usually one of two things: low self-esteem or lack of experience. Both of these translate to a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities as a writer. 

This is part of the reason many people think that writing anxiety only affects new writers. The truth is, everyone can be subject to feeling insecure or stressed about their writing. New writers might worry about whether they can really make money as a writer, land a job with no experience, or be good enough to be published. Experienced writers might worry about meeting deadlines, submitting work for publication, or hung up on past negative experiences.

A number of writers are very comfortable working within their niche, but get nervous when trying something new. For example, a skilled technical writer might worry about writing white papers. On the other hand, a competent marketing writer might be anxious about publishing their first book. Students are often worried about being judged by other students or teachers.

Procrastination and writing anxiety

The uncomfortable feelings of anxiety and stress can lead to procrastination, which is the act of putting off an unpleasant or difficult task. This might look like not starting on a project or avoiding turning it in. 

Procrastination and anxiety create a vicious cycle. Anxiety leads to avoidance and putting off the task at hand. Procrastination steals the time you have to work on the task, making you more and more anxious about doing a good job with it. After a while, you get down to the wire and the extreme pressure forces you to get the project done. Tim Urban calls this the Panic Monster in his TED talk on procrastination .

What’s the problem with relying on the Panic Monster? Inevitably, you’re stressed out, you don’t have time to do your best work, and you start a habit that’s hard to break. The next time a project comes around, you won’t feel good about it, because you know that there’s months of anxiety — followed by a panic-fueled all-nighter — in your near future.

The best way to overcome writing anxiety is through practice and exposure to different types of writing situations. The more you learn to recognize emotional sticking points in your writing process, the more comfortable you’ll get with moving past them.

Writer’s anxiety vs. writer’s block

Writer’s anxiety and writer’s block are a little different from each other. However, both conditions can have a negative impact on one’s writing life and professional writing career.

Writer’s anxiety is the feeling of stress, panic, and fear that a writer experiences before they start a writing task. It can be caused by any number of factors, such as perfectionism, self-doubt, and lack of confidence.  People with writing anxiety often feel self-doubt and fear before writing. While writer’s anxiety can stop you from coming up with ideas or feeling inspired, it can happen even when you know what to write.

Writer’s block is the inability to produce words for a piece of writing or produce any content at all. It might be due to a lack of inspiration, frustration, exhaustion, or burnout. Even when you want to write, nothing comes to mind. It feels like something is stopping you from ‘going’ or generating ideas.

How to deal with writing anxiety

Dealing with writing anxiety requires two parts. The first is managing the symptoms of writing anxiety. That means, elimninating the queasiness, tension, and brain fog that often accompanies anxiety attacks. The second part is to find strategies that keep you moving forward, even when you’re stressed.

Here are a few tried-and-tested ways of overcoming writing anxiety:

1. Take a break

It might feel counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to combat writing anxiety is to take a break. Try taking a walk, eating a snack, or going for a coffee (decaf if you have the jitters!). 

When you’re up against a deadline, stepping away from the computer can sometimes trigger a bit of separation anxiety. You might feel like any time spent away from your project is time wasted. But the exact opposite is true. Many writers swear by the power of a short break to clear their minds and get the creative juices flowing again.

2. Structure before you start

Sometimes, putting full sentences together seems overwhelming. Instead of trying to craft a perfect paragraph, a cohesive piece, and a compelling narrative simultaneously, break it into parts. Start by outlining your piece, then doing some free writing around a section. This can help break up the overwhelming task of the entire writing project. Small sections can help focus your attention on what’s happening in the moment.

3. Set a timer

You know that miraculous state of flow you get into at the eleventh hour? Harness that creative power by giving yourself a little time pressure. Set a timer (you can decide for how long you want) and focus on word count, not great ideas. Don’t edit, and try not to stop. Everything’s good as long as you keep writing.

If you’re feeling particularly anxious, start with just five or ten minutes, then take a break. Doing this will help you build momentum and get past that blank page.

4. Change your format

If there’s a particular writing style you feel very comfortable with, try imagining your work from that perspective. For example, you could think of a blog post as a social media post (with a couple hundred extra words).

There’s no wrong way to do this exercise. The trick is to approach your writing from your strengths, no matter what they are. If you have to write an essay but you deal exclusively with fanfiction, put your creativity to the test. Try writing your essay as your main character, and see how many subtle references to your plot you can work in.

5. Make writer friends

I might be a little biased, but writer friends are the best friends. Not only do they love what you love and laugh at all your jokes, but they understand writing anxiety better than anyone else.

Whether you’re dealing with publishing jitters, writer’s block, or wondering if you can really make money writing full-time, you’ll benefit from a supportive community. Join a writing group in your area or connect with other writers through social media. You’ll find that you are not alone in your struggle. Having a writing buddy to chat with about the ups and downs of being a writer can make the stress feel much easier.

The symptoms of writing anxiety can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to stand in your way. Learning to recognize them — and having strategies in place to overcome them — is a key skill for any writer.

About Allaya Cooks-Campbell

Allaya Cooks-Campbell is a blogger, web developer, professional copywriter, and content strategist who began publishing content online over fifteen years ago. Since then, her writing has been featured in publications such as Huffington Post, Today, Readers’ Digest, Motherly, Romper, Well+Good, Scary Mommy, and The Kitchn. She works as a news editor for Health Digest and is a regular contributor to the Wellanin Collective blog. Allaya is currently a full-time staff writer and editor, and runs a boutique content agency, Alaya Media.

Anxiety about academic writing: I'm afraid

• Am I the only person who feels like this?
• I never have enough time
• I'm a bad writer
• I don't know enough
• Writing is too hard

You might be feeling:

• I'm afraid that I'm not as smart or capable as other students.
• I'm feeling overwhelmed and I don't even know where to start.
• I'm already struggling in my class, and I'm afraid I'm going to fail this essay. If I don't pass the essay, I'll fail the course. If that happens, I may have to quit my program, and then I'll have failed myself and the people who support me.

What can you do right now?

Emotional strategies

• Consider your fear from a rational perspective and ask yourself these questions:  What are you actually afraid of? How realistic is the outcome you're afraid of? What can you do to protect yourself from that outcome?
• Pay attention to where you're feeling the fear in your body. Now try a few long, slow, deep breaths. How does that part of your body feel now?
• Try facing your fear straight on by setting yourself a small writing goal and then do it.
• Ask for help from the Counselling Centre, the Writing Centre, and your instructor to give yourself the best opportunity to feel supported. 

Writing strategies

• Listen to a pep talk about the anxieties typically experienced by new graduate students: Gradschoolitis.
• If you're feeling overwhelmed, start at step one ("Understand the Assignment") in " How to write an undergraduate-level essay " or " How to write a graduate-level essay ". Use the 12-step process provided in each guide to help you move step-by-step through the process. of completing your document.
• Make an appointment to speak with your instructor to learn more about what you need to do to ensure you pass the essay. Once you have that information, book an appointment to speak with us in the Writing Centre so we can provide suggestions and information to help you succeed.

Creative Commons

Where can you learn more?

Counselling Services

• "A guide to fear mastery"

Writing Centre

• " I'm a new graduate student at RRU and I'm terrified by academic writing. Can you help me? " 
• " How to write an undergraduate-level essay "
• " How to write a graduate-level essay "  

Ask for help

[email protected] (250) 391-2600 ext. 4515   Book an appointment

[email protected] (250) 391-2600, ext. 4353 or 1-800-788-8028 Book an appointment

• << Previous: Am I the only person who feels like this?
• Next: I never have enough time >>
• Last Updated: Sep 9, 2023 2:11 PM
• URL: https://libguides.royalroads.ca/anxiety

How to Deal with your Writing Anxiety: 6 Smart Tips that Work

by Adela Belin

Editor’s note: This article on writing anxiety is part of our KISS series of articles. If you missed the first one, you can find it here . KISS stands for ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’. It’s not meant to be derogatory, as the first article in the series explains. One of the ways we fail to keep it simple, is by putting the horse before the cart. What do I mean? well, on Write to Done we publish a lot of great advice on writer’s block for instance, but to even reach the stage of having writer’s block, you may have to overcome writing anxiety…

Writing is required in almost every sphere of our lives. From writing essays and research papers in college to blog posts, press releases, emails and reports for work –even writing novels.

Writing is a vital skill to have.

It all boils down to how articulate you are in expressing yourself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come as easily to some as to others.

If the thought of writing makes you nervous and you spend hours staring at a blank page, not knowing how to start, you might be suffering from writer’s anxiety.

Let’s get one thing straight – writer’s block and writing anxiety are two very different conditions. Writer’s block is when the writer cannot produce “new work”. On the other hand, writing anxiety is more deep-rooted and reflects certain personality traits.

A study published in the Higher Education Research & Development journal revealed that self-efficacy showed a significant negative association with writing anxiety – people with higher self-efficacy demonstrated lower writing anxiety.

Don’t let this condition dampen your performance. Here are 6 smart tips to free yourself from your writing anxiety and get writing –

• Find the true cause of your anxiety

It helps to know what is triggering your anxiety, so you are better prepared to tackle it.

Was your writing harshly criticized in the past? Do deadlines make you nervous? Are you afraid how people will perceive what you write? Do you suffer from poor confidence and self-esteem issues? Are you too focused on the outcome? Do you fear failure? Does a particular topic or type of writing induce anxiousness?

People have different reasons for suffering from writing anxiety. Dig deeper and ask yourself what’s stopping you from writing?

Usually people spend too much time thinking about what people will say about their writing which adds to the pressure and paralyses them. Regardless of the cause, know that the only way to improve your writing is to write more.

• Organize your thoughts

You know the feeling when your mind is buzzing with ideas but when it comes down to translating your thoughts into words, you break into a sweat?

At such times, it’s a good idea to organize your thoughts and ideas before rushing on to the writing stage. You can brainstorm ideas, develop an outline and roughly mention what you plan to write about in bullet points. This outline serves as the skeleton which you can refer to while writing.

• Practice free writing

Most people suffering from writing anxiety are unable to just start writing. Free writing is an effective technique to cross that hurdle.

Free writing involves writing whatever comes to your mind, at a stretch. No judgements, no stopping to second-guess yourself, no polishing – just plain writing. It’s also a great way to generate ideas and write the way you think.

So, the next time you are not motivated to write or are too focused on the outcome, practice free writing. It might just give you that much required push and break your inhibitions.

4. Set short-term goals

One of the biggest causes of writing anxiety is getting overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the task. Do you know what can help overcome that?

Breaking down the writing process and setting short-term goals for yourself. For instance break the process down into conducting research, writing the actual content, editing and proofreading among others and set a realistic deadline for each.

The trick is to take baby steps and concentrate on one step at a time as you go. Before you know it, you will be done writing, with a much calmer state of mind. That’s great for starters, isn’t it?

5. Ask for constructive feedback on your writing

Sometimes all you need is a little help or nudge from someone to make you change your perspective. Join a writing community or ask a trusted family member or friend to offer feedback.

Not only will this help you improve your writing, but it will also help you see your strengths and gain confidence.

Get into the habit of sharing your work so you’re no longer shy about it and are open to receiving constructive feedback which toughens you in the long run.

6. Overcome perfectionism

A lot of times we don’t realize that our biggest enemy is perfectionism and our ‘all or nothing’ approach in life.

No one’s a perfect writer – stop being hard on yourself. The only thing you can control is your effort. So, give it your best, be realistic and stop obsessing over your writing being perfect.

The day you set this notion aside and immerse yourself in the process, you are likely to enjoy writing more and become a better writer.

Do you suffer from writer’s anxiety? Let me know your favourite tip for overcoming it below.

RECENT POSTS

Blogging ideas for beginners: over 25 inspirational prompts to use today.

Identifying blogging ideas for beginners is one of the most open-ended, arguably enjoyable, tasks you will have as a new writer. Blogging ideas span all topics, nichés, and fields, so wherever you are in your journey, you can find your own best starting point.  If you...

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

Many creatives want to launch a writing career, but taking the steps to do so is a frequent roadblock. The good news is, if you want to launch a writing career and are committed to doing so, you’re likely to succeed.  Of course, the definition of success is...

6 Book Introduction Examples: Helpful Secrets To Compelling Intros

The topic of book introduction examples is vital to dive into due to their influence on readers’ mindset. How a reader feels when he or she starts chapter one and page one of your manuscript impacts how they respond to your writing. When you’ve spent weeks, months, or...

5 Tips To Write Faster: Finish Your Book In Record Time

Did you know that if you want to write faster than the average typist (40 words per minute) there are actionable steps you can take to do so? Whether you are working on typing out your debut novel or have been in the game for years, there’s always an opportunity to...

Vision Boards For Writers: 3 Ways To Achieve Your Dreams

Vision boards are more than just a fun activity to engage in at the start of a new year or season. While vision boards are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing and can be a relaxing activity, they actually can be more helpful to your writing dreams than you...

JOIN OVER 2 MILLION READERS

by Sarah Rexford

About The Author

Adela belin, latest posts.

by Sarah Rexford | Creating Author Websites , Freelancing , How to Write Copy , Tips For Writers

by Sarah Rexford | Become a Top Blogger , Freelancing , How to Write Copy , Motivation , Tips For Writers

by Sarah Rexford | Fiction , How to Write Copy , Non-Fiction , Resources for Writers

by Sarah Rexford | Enjoy Creative Exercises , Motivation , Tips For Writers

by Sarah Rexford | Be Productive , Enjoy Creative Exercises , Motivation , Tips For Writers

The 7 Best Pens For Writing

by Sarah Rexford | Be Creative , Motivation , Resources for Writers

Did you know that you can purchase some of the best pens for writing without breaking the bank? Yes, pens can definitely be a costly purchase, but if you’re looking for both a comfortable and affordable writing tool, we have you covered.  In addition to the...

How to Find Freelance Writing Work (2024 Guide)

by Guest | Be Productive , Tips

Freelance writing is a great way to earn some extra money on the side. But as you may discover once you get a foothold in the industry, it’s more than possible to turn it into a full-time job and lifelong career. There are some hurdles that you have to overcome,...

Hero’s Journey In Nonfiction: 4 Steps To Spectacular Writing

by Sarah Rexford | Be Inspired , Non-Fiction , Tips For Writers

The hero’s journey is a classic story structure that has been used for centuries. This timeless storytelling technique encompasses the three core aspects of a protagonist’s journey. Using it in fiction often seems like common sense, but the secret is to use it in...

How To Find A Good Reading Chair + 7 Of Our Favorites

by Jackie Pearce | Tips For Writers

When you first become a passionate reader, you might not understand the importance of a good reading chair. It will only take a few weeks or months of reading for your body to figure out that sitting in something comfortable that supports your posture is essential to...

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

by Leo Babauta | Be Inspired

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London No matter how much you love writing, there will always be days when you need inspiration from one muse or another. In fact, I would argue that inspiration is not just a desirable...

25 Writing Prompts For St. Patrick’s Day

by Sarah Rexford | Be Productive , Enjoy Creative Exercises , Resources for Writers

Prompts are a great way to get your creative juices flowing, and what better option than to take advantage of writing prompts for St. Patrick’s Day? Whether you celebrate the man after whom this holiday is named, or celebrate the pride of the Irish, below are...

How To Write A Bedtime Story: 4 Tips To Make A Magical Impact On Readers

by Sarah Rexford | Create a Book , Fiction , How to Write Stories , Tips , Tips For Writers

If you want to learn how to write a bedtime story, you have a great goal. From children to adults, bedtime stories are a loved pastime.  Whether it’s the three-year-old asking you to read their favorite one, or a sleep app for adults with a slow, sleepy voice...

Your Best College Essay

Maybe you love to write, or maybe you don’t. Either way, there’s a chance that the thought of writing your college essay is making you sweat. No need for nerves! We’re here to give you the important details on how to make the process as anxiety-free as possible.

What's the College Essay?

When we say “The College Essay” (capitalization for emphasis – say it out loud with the capitals and you’ll know what we mean) we’re talking about the 550-650 word essay required by most colleges and universities. Prompts for this essay can be found on the college’s website, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application. We’re not talking about the many smaller supplemental essays you might need to write in order to apply to college. Not all institutions require the essay, but most colleges and universities that are at least semi-selective do.

How do I get started?

Look for the prompts on whatever application you’re using to apply to schools (almost all of the time – with a few notable exceptions – this is the Common Application). If one of them calls out to you, awesome! You can jump right in and start to brainstorm. If none of them are giving you the right vibes, don’t worry. They’re so broad that almost anything you write can fit into one of the prompts after you’re done. Working backwards like this is totally fine and can be really useful!

What if I have writer's block?

You aren’t alone. Staring at a blank Google Doc and thinking about how this is the one chance to tell an admissions officer your story can make you freeze. Thinking about some of these questions might help you find the right topic:

• What is something about you that people have pointed out as distinctive?
• If you had to pick three words to describe yourself, what would they be? What are things you’ve done that demonstrate these qualities?
• What’s something about you that has changed over your years in high school? How or why did it change?
• What’s something you like most about yourself?
• What’s something you love so much that you lose track of the rest of the world while you do it?

If you’re still stuck on a topic, ask your family members, friends, or other trusted adults: what’s something they always think about when they think about you? What’s something they think you should be proud of? They might help you find something about yourself that you wouldn’t have surfaced on your own.  

How do I grab my reader's attention?

It’s no secret that admissions officers are reading dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of essays every day. That can feel like a lot of pressure to stand out. But if you try to write the most unique essay in the world, it might end up seeming forced if it’s not genuinely you. So, what’s there to do? Our advice: start your essay with a story. Tell the reader about something you’ve done, complete with sensory details, and maybe even dialogue. Then, in the second paragraph, back up and tell us why this story is important and what it tells them about you and the theme of the essay.

THE WORD LIMIT IS SO LIMITING. HOW DO I TELL A COLLEGE MY WHOLE LIFE STORY IN 650 WORDS?

Don’t! Don’t try to tell an admissions officer about everything you’ve loved and done since you were a child. Instead, pick one or two things about yourself that you’re hoping to get across and stick to those. They’ll see the rest on the activities section of your application.

I'M STUCK ON THE CONCLUSION. HELP?

If you can’t think of another way to end the essay, talk about how the qualities you’ve discussed in your essays have prepared you for college. Try to wrap up with a sentence that refers back to the story you told in your first paragraph, if you took that route.

SHOULD I PROOFREAD MY ESSAY?

YES, proofread the essay, and have a trusted adult proofread it as well. Know that any suggestions they give you are coming from a good place, but make sure they aren’t writing your essay for you or putting it into their own voice. Admissions officers want to hear the voice of you, the applicant. Before you submit your essay anywhere, our number one advice is to read it out loud to yourself. When you read out loud you’ll catch small errors you may not have noticed before, and hear sentences that aren’t quite right.

ANY OTHER ADVICE?

Be yourself. If you’re not a naturally serious person, don’t force formality. If you’re the comedian in your friend group, go ahead and be funny. But ultimately, write as your authentic (and grammatically correct) self and trust the process.

And remember, thousands of other students your age are faced with this same essay writing task, right now. You can do it!

BE Brussels Capital

Recently viewed courses

Recently viewed.

Find Your Dream School

This site uses various technologies, as described in our Privacy Policy, for personalization, measuring website use/performance, and targeted advertising, which may include storing and sharing information about your site visit with third parties. By continuing to use this website you consent to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

   COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. For full details, please click here.

Enter your email to unlock an extra $25 off an SAT or ACT program!

By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 10 ways to overcome test anxiety.

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve been studying hard for your chemistry midterm, but when you walk into your exam, your mind goes blank. As you sit down to start your test, you notice your sweaty palms and a pit in your stomach. 

If these classic signs of test anxiety sound familiar, your grades and test scores may not reflect your true abilities. Learn ways to manage test anxiety before and during a stressful test.

What is Test Anxiety?

While it’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous before a test, some students find test anxiety debilitating. Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, or feelings of dread can combine with physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or nausea. Whether it’s the ACT , an AP exam , or an important history final, test anxiety has the power to derail weeks and months of hard work. 

Test Anxiety Tips

According to the ADAA , causes of test anxiety may include a fear of failure, lack of adequate prep time, or bad experiences taking tests in the past. You're not alone! Here's what you can do to stay calm in the days leading up to and during your test.

Free SAT Practice Tests & Events

Evaluate and improve your SAT score.

1. Be prepared.

Yes, this seems obvious, but it bears repeating. If you feel confident that you’ve prepped thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident walking into the test. Need help reviewing tough concepts or question types? The test prep experts at The Princeton Review can provide that extra boost you need to feel cool and collected.

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Cramming is never the answer, and pulling an all-nighter can exacerbate your nerves. Having adequate rest (9–10 hours per night) is likely to be more beneficial than rereading a text until dawn (But if you ARE up late studying and have a question, our on-demand tutors are there for you.)

3. Fuel up.

Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test and pack smart snacks for ongoing energy. Look for foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.

4. Get to class—or the testing site—early .

Feeling rushed will only amp up the anxiety. Pack everything you need for the exam the night before and set the alarm, so you can get out the door on time.

5. Have a positive mental attitude .  

Bring a picture of your happy place or come up with a morale-boosting mantra like “I can do this” or “I worked hard and deserve this.” Peek at your picture or recite your mantra, right before the test begins.

6. Read carefully.

Read the directions thoroughly and read all answers before making a choice or starting the essay. There is nothing worse than putting time into a question and realizing you are not solving for x, or the essay is off target. Slowing down can help you stay focused.

7. Just start.   

The blank page can maximize your anxiety. After you’ve read the directions, dive right in by making an outline for an essay answer. Or, find some questions you can ace to build up your confidence and momentum. You can always go back and change things later if needed, but a few quick answers can get the ball rolling.

Read More: 5 Signs You Need a Tutor

8. Don’t pay attention to what other people are doing.

Everyone else is scribbling away? Ack! What do they know that you don’t? It doesn’t matter. Pay attention to your own test and pace, and forget about the other students in the room.

9. Watch the clock .

Realizing that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard to do anything useful in those final minutes. Stay on pace by scoping out the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better.

10. Focus on calm breathing and positive thoughts .

Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practice these techniques at home. The very act of concentrating on breathing and thinking can biometrically alter those anxious feelings.

Sometimes just remembering that some  test-taking anxiety is a normal part of school can help make it easier to handle. If you need a confidence boost, try a session with an online tutor. From PhDs and Ivy Leaguers to doctors and teachers, our tutors are experts in their fields, and they know how to keep your anxiety at bay.

Stuck on homework?

Try an online tutoring session with one of our experts, and get homework help in 40+ subjects.

Try a Free Session

• College  

Explore Colleges For You

Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.

Career Quiz

Take our short quiz to learn which is the right career for you.

Get Started on Athletic Scholarships & Recruiting!

Join athletes who were discovered, recruited & often received scholarships after connecting with NCSA's 42,000 strong network of coaches.

Best 389 Colleges

165,000 students rate everything from their professors to their campus social scene.

SAT Prep Courses

1400+ course, act prep courses, free sat practice test & events,  1-800-2review, overcome your test anxiety with our new test-success course.

Free MCAT Practice Test

I already know my score.

MCAT Self-Paced 14-Day Free Trial

Enrollment Advisor

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 1

1-877-LEARN-30

Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM ET

Sat-Sun 9AM-8PM ET

Student Support

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 2

Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM ET

Sat-Sun 8:30AM-5PM ET

Partnerships

• Teach or Tutor for Us

College Readiness

International

Advertising

Affiliate/Other

• Enrollment Terms & Conditions
• Accessibility
• Cigna Medical Transparency in Coverage

Register Book

Local Offices: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM

• SAT Subject Tests

Academic Subjects

• Social Studies

Find the Right College

• College Rankings
• College Advice
• Applying to College
• Financial Aid

School & District Partnerships

• Professional Development
• Advice Articles
• Private Tutoring
• Mobile Apps
• Local Offices
• International Offices
• Work for Us
• Affiliate Program
• Partner with Us
• Advertise with Us
• International Partnerships
• Our Guarantees
• Accessibility – Canada

Privacy Policy | CA Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | Your Opt-Out Rights | Terms of Use | Site Map

©2024 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University

TPR Education, LLC (doing business as “The Princeton Review”) is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China.

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Anxiety — How to overcome anxiety disorder

How to Overcome Anxiety Disorder

• Categories: Anxiety Anxiety Disorder

About this sample

Words: 560 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 560 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

• Self-help information in the Recovery Support area of our website.
• Personal coaching/counseling/therapy program delivered by experienced and professionally trained therapists who have personally experienced and successfully overcame problematic anxiety in their own lives.

Works Cited

• Anxiety Centre. (n.d.). Overcome Anxiety Disorder: Self-Help Information, Coaching/Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.anxietycentre.com/
• Bourne, E. J. (2015). The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (6th ed.). New Harbinger Publications.
• Clark, D. A., & Beck, A. T. (2010). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: Science and practice. Guilford Press.
• Craske, M. G., & Barlow, D. H. (2013). Mastery of your anxiety and panic: Workbook for primary care settings (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Hofmann, S. G., & Otto, M. W. (Eds.). (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: Mastering clinical challenges. Routledge.
• Leahy, R. L. (2017). Cognitive therapy techniques for anxiety: A practitioner's guide. Guilford Press.
• Norton, P. J. (2012). Group cognitive-behavioral therapy of anxiety: A transdiagnostic treatment manual. Guilford Press.
• Rapee, R. M., & Spence, S. H. (2008). The etiology of social phobia: Empirical evidence and an initial model. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(6), 836-864.
• Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, F. L. (2015). Anxiety: A Brief History. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Tyrer, P., & Baldwin, D. (2006). Generalised anxiety disorder. The Lancet, 368(9553), 2156-2166.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Nursing & Health

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 578 words

5 pages / 2463 words

2 pages / 834 words

7 pages / 3095 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Anxiety

Anxiety disorders can be treated in many different ways. Although some methods appear to be more effective than others, is that to say that the other methods are wrong and will not give people the help that they are seeking? [...]

In the study of Psychology, particularly human behaviour, both aggression and fear are hotly debated topics among theorists. Aggression and fear are both inherent in our world and both serve different functions. Fear refers to a [...]

The exploration of arousal, stress, and anxiety in sports performance serves as a crucial endeavor in understanding the multifaceted nature of athletic achievement. This paper embarks on a comprehensive analysis, aiming to [...]

In Canto XIII of Dante’s Inferno, those who committed suicide are punished. Like in the other circles of the inferno, the punishments for those who committed suicide is directly linked to the nature of their sin. In the case of [...]

It is not uncommon for the pain of physical trauma to transcend into mental trauma as well. This can be seen in Alice Sebold’s memoir Lucky, in which she describes the aftermath of a brutal rape. Although she was physically hurt [...]

The special needs population that has been considered in this case include mentally ill within the criminal justices system. Case management focuses on incorporating key elements that focus on improving the wellbeing of [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

There’s more than one type of anxiety. Here are tips to cope.

This state of alertness and rigid thinking can dominate our lives, making it hard to feel settled and keeping us in a constant state of worry.

Key takeaways

Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.

• Anxiety can be overwhelming, affecting thoughts and sleep.
• Different forms include social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic attacks and phobias.
• Strategies include self-acceptance, exposure hierarchy and reframing thoughts.

Did our AI help? Share your thoughts.

Anxiety can be overwhelming and all-consuming. One patient with severe anxiety told me, “Nothing feels safe, and I feel there are no grown-ups left in the world.”

Another patient would feel terribly anxious whenever she thought anyone said something critical about her. She compared it to someone “poisoning” her mind, as she would replay the words over and over, making it impossible to do or think about anything else. This led to her isolating and calling out from work until her mind would settle.

Get Well+Being tips straight to your inbox

If certain cues set off a cascade of worry and stress , we may fixate on them and magnify their meaning, keeping our mind and body on overdrive. This can make it hard to think our way through situations. Our thoughts can be emotion-driven, negative, repetitive and hard to change (what has been termed “ perseverative cognition ”).

Neurobiologically, during anxiety, the “emotional brain” (including areas such as the amygdala, which determines the quality and strength of our emotional reactions) is overactivated, overriding the “thinking brain” (which includes areas within the prefrontal cortex or PFC, responsible for limiting amygdala activity).

As anxiety increases, we have less access to the prefrontal cortical areas that would allow for flexible thinking. In such instances, the amygdala takes over, stimulating other areas to release stress hormones such as cortisol and noradrenaline, preparing the body and mind for the perceived threat.

Anxiety can also disrupt sleep since it is hard to shake off these troubling thoughts at night. When sleep is limited or fragmented, the brain may prioritize consolidating negative experiences and fear memories during the sleep we do achieve. This can strengthen pessimistic outlooks.

Many patients report their anxiety peaks upon awakening, feeling dread about the day ahead.

There are many ways in which anxiety can manifest, and oftentimes people’s experiences don’t fit neatly into a certain category. Here are some common ways in which anxiety can be felt.

1. Social anxiety

In social anxiety we might be concerned about being judged, imagining others are scrutinizing us. Such beliefs can be fueled by a “ negativity bias ,” which impairs recognition of people’s actual intentions and mind-set, reinforcing skewed beliefs.

As a result, we may behave in ways that limit our exposure to others, minimizing social interactions and situations that would direct too much attention onto us. When the fear of shame or embarrassment is great, we may go to extremes to avoid any social engagements. Several patients struggling with social anxiety have shared their relief at being afforded opportunities to work remotely.

2. Generalized anxiety

In generalized anxiety, there may be several recurring situations or stressors constantly driving anxiety (such as work and home obligations, deadlines and bills), leading to a persistent state of worry. Generalized anxiety is also marked by body-related symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue and restlessness.

While other forms of anxiety are often attributed to specific stressors, generalized anxiety can feel more diffuse, with an ongoing feeling of unease that may not be attached as readily to any one thing. Patients who have generalized anxiety often report that “everything, anything” is cause for worry, making it hard to find satisfying coping strategies.

3. Panic attacks

One of the most distressing forms of anxiety is a panic attack, marked by a surge of intense fear or discomfort that can peak within minutes, as well as strong effects on body and mind — for instance, a fear of dying or losing control, chest and abdominal pains, shaking, increased breathing, heart pounding, sweating and feeling lightheaded.

Panic is so overpowering that brain activation can go into “survival mode,” stimulating areas such as the periaqueductal gray , which drives behavioral responses along the fight-flight-freeze spectrum, such as paralysis or freezing, or escape strategies.

Some panic attacks are linked to situations or circumstances; however, if someone has had one before, there may be significant concern about having another, given how distressing they are. The person may have a panic attack driven by the worry about having a future panic attack.

The idea of engaging with objects or environments that cause us fear or worry can lead to life choices that are dictated by “negative reinforcement” strategies (behaviors aimed at removing or avoiding unpleasant feelings).

For instance, someone with a phobia of needles or seeing blood may refuse to seek medical care, given the possibility of lab work. Or, someone with a fear of busy roads may turn down a promising job because the commute would require driving on the highway. These behaviors may limit anxiety, but there can be significant trade-offs.

Helpful coping strategies

When anxiety takes over, try these methods:

Give yourself a break: There is no way to fully control our reactions to our environments. We all have limitations and individual responses to situations. Respecting how our minds operate, as opposed to trying to change them at all costs, can help us nurture self-acceptance.

Lean in, as you can: As self-acceptance grows, we may find small, sustainable ways of “inviting” anxiety and sitting with it, as opposed to avoiding or getting rid of it. Creating an “exposure hierarchy” can help map the pattern of our anxious responses and find acceptable ways to engage with distressing cues. For instance, someone with a fear of elevators may have “standing outside a building with an elevator” first on the list and “entering a packed elevator” last, with several intermediate steps.

Find a middle space: Anxiety-driven thinking is hard to redirect, keeping us stuck in unchanging thought loops. Finding ways to view thoughts as just that (“thoughts”) instead of absolute reality can create distance from our troubling mind-set. We can write down our “automatic thought records” — responses to stressors (including anxiety-driven cognitions) — and alternative ways of thinking about the situation (for instance, what we would tell a friend who was having anxiety and negative thoughts in similar circumstances). That perspective can serve as an “inner compass” we can access when we are anxious, helping reframe rigid cognitions amid difficult circumstances.

Christopher W.T. Miller, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He is the author of “ The Object Relations Lens: A Psychodynamic Framework for the Beginning Therapist .”

We welcome your comments on this column at [email protected] .

Read more from Well+Being

Well+Being shares news and advice for living well every day. Sign up for our newsletter to get tips directly in your inbox.

Diabetes, air pollution and alcohol consumption could be the biggest risk factors for dementia .

Dairy vs. plant milk : Which is better?

Why is my gas so smelly ? Gender, diet and plane rides can play a role.

Quitting can be a superpower that helps your mental health. Here’s how to quit smarter .

Our relationships with pets can be strong and uncomplicated.

9 Steps to Panic-Proof Your Life and Conquer Anxiety

• Instead of forcing your way through a panic attack, ride the wave of anxiety.

Posted May 19, 2024 | Reviewed by Tyler Woods

• What Is Anxiety?
• Find a therapist to overcome anxiety
• Panic is driven by a surge of adrenaline, which usually metabolizes within 3 to 5 minutes.
• Facing panic, riding the wave, self-reassurance, and allowing time to pass reduces the impact of panic.

I have repeatedly seen with my counseling clients that resisting panic symptoms can often exacerbate them, making the situation worse. This is a common observation among mental health professionals and physicians, who have noted a concerning rise in the prescription of anxiety medications. While medication can be essential and life-saving for many, behavioral interventions are also crucial and often underutilized in addressing widespread anxiety.

It's important not to tense up or attempt to suppress panic symptoms. Although taking action is necessary, fighting the panic itself can be counterproductive. Here are four steps for coping with panic, along with additional strategies to enhance your coping toolkit:

1. Face It, Don't Run

Attempting to run away from panic or convincing yourself that you can't handle a situation often amplifies the problem. For example, if Jodi feels a panic attack coming on during a meeting, she might instinctively want to leave. However, by staying and telling herself, "I’m feeling anxious, but I’ve handled this before and can do it again," she takes a mindful approach. Acknowledging her anxiety without trying to escape can help reduce the intensity of her symptoms.

2. Ride the Wave

Instead of forcing your way through a panic attack, ride the wave of anxiety. Claire Weekes, a pioneer in treating anxiety, distinguished between "first fear " (the initial physiological reaction) and "second fear" (the fear of the symptoms themselves). For instance, when John starts to feel his heart race, he might think, "I can't handle this," which adds to his anxiety. Instead, by saying, "This is just my body reacting, and it will pass," he can flow with the symptoms rather than fight them.

3. Make Reassuring Statements

Reassure yourself with calming affirmations . When Emily feels a panic attack starting, she tells herself, "This too shall pass," or "I've handled this before and I can handle it now." These statements help her focus on the temporary nature of her anxiety and reduce the fear of her symptoms.

4. Allow Time to Pass

Panic is driven by a surge of adrenaline, which usually metabolizes within three to five minutes. If you allow this reaction to occur without adding secondary fear, you will start to feel better soon. For example, when Mike feels a panic attack beginning, he reminds himself that the intense feelings will peak and subside shortly. By not reacting with additional fear, he can let the adrenaline metabolize naturally, which helps the panic pass more quickly.

Additional Strategies for Managing Panic

Practice Deep Breathing: When researching my book, The Anxiety, Depression , & Anger Toolbox for Teens , I learned more extensively how deep, slow breathing can help calm your nervous system —for all ages. For instance, Jane uses the 4-7-8 breathing technique: inhale for four seconds, hold for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds. This helps her reduce her heart rate and feel more in control during a panic attack.

Grounding Techniques: Grounding techniques can help you stay connected to the present moment. Mark uses the 5-4-3-2-1 method: he identifies five things he can see, four things he can touch, three things he can hear, two things he can smell, and one thing he can taste. This method shifts his focus away from panic symptoms and back to his surroundings.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and then slowly releasing different muscle groups. Lisa finds this helpful, as it shifts her focus from the panic to the sensations in her muscles, promoting relaxation.

Stay Physically Active: Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety levels. Tom incorporates a daily walk into his routine, which not only helps him stay fit but also reduces his overall stress and anxiety.

Seek Support: Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist can provide comfort and perspective. Rachel finds that discussing her feelings with her therapist helps her feel understood and supported, making it easier to manage her anxiety.

In summary, while panic attacks are intense, they are also time-limited. By facing them, riding the wave, making reassuring statements, and allowing time to pass, you can manage and reduce their impact.

Additional strategies such as deep breathing, grounding techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, physical activity, and seeking support can further enhance your ability to cope with anxiety. Behavioral interventions like these are valuable tools that can complement medication and provide effective relief from anxiety.

To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory .

Rabasco, A., McKay, D., Smits, J., Powers, M, Meuret, A. McGrath, P (2022). Psychosocial treatment for panic disorder: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, ISSN 0887-6185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102528 . ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618522000019 )

Ziffra, M. (2021) Panic disorder: A review of treatment options, Annals of Clinical Psychiatry ;33(1):e22-e31 doi: 10.127788/acp.0014

Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D. , is a psychologist and the author of seven books, including 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

LAFCU essay winners: How my environment molded me into the person I am today

Here are the four winners of LAFCU's Write to Educate essay contest. The students were tasked with answering this question: How has the place you have grown up molded you into the person you are today and impacted your life?

The winners each received a $5,000 college scholarship and another $500 was donated to each winner's designated charity.

My community shaped and expanded my worldview

Nature vs Nurture. How much does the environment a person is placed into have an effect on their character versus how they were born?

I have contemplated this question many times when it comes to myself and how much I have allowed myself to be changed by the people around me. From a young age I have always had a strong sense of self. I have known who I am and what I need to do to accomplish my goals of becoming smarter and stronger. I have had little care for the judgments from my peers.

This has been an asset because it has allowed me to reach heights beyond what I thought was possible but that does not mean I always know my path forward. That doesn’t mean I have not changed. As much as I, and every other human on the planet, resists change, it is impossible to grow without changing.

Becoming older means expanding one’s view of the world from a simplified version to a messy one. A world full of complexity and inconsistency which each and every one of us must navigate and find our own path through the shroud known as our future. The community that I have grown up with are my paddles allowing me to navigate the treacherous river, giving me advice and a wider world view of things I never thought existed.

My morality is the first thing that was shaped by my community. Every person has the basics of morality sewn into them from birth but when it comes to more complicated situations, my community has changed my view.

My younger self was much more cut and dry where I would label something as wrong no matter what, with no exception. My community has taught me to view these situations with more context to make more informed decisions.

For example, a kid beats another kid because he was being bullied by him. My old self would say the kid who got into the fight should be punished because he laid his hands on another person and should have taken other outlets to resolve the problem. The way I see it now is that even though his decision was wrong to hurt the other kid, no one was able to stop the bully from bullying him and the system itself has failed the kid by allowing the bullying to happen. I have no wish for anyone to get hurt, but I see that situation as much more nuanced than I once did.

These ideas have been shaped by my own experiences and by the people around me who have been put into tough situations. I have learned from the diverse community around me that the choices people make are rarely simple ones.

My political views have also been shaped by my community. I am growing up in a community that largely has different political views from my own. Having different people to communicate with that have grown up in ways different from my own, has allowed me to find where I stand on certain issues.

Within my community I have been able to find people that I respect, and I take note of the things they believe and challenge their ideas versus my own. Even if in the end our ideas of how the world should be run may differ, I have been able to find common ground with tons of people and I have been able to refine my views into a more well-rounded, multi-faceted, diverse view of the world.

My community is full of people from all different races and cultures, and by combining perspectives from all those different people, we can find a way to have a more united world with the basic necessity of finding common ground and understanding which can unite us all. Where I have grown up has shaped the way I think and how I act. Even though I have always had a strong sense of self, there are parts of my personality that have been changed and molded by my experiences, and my community has influenced the way that I view different situations. Without my community I would not be as accepting and open-minded as I am today.

— Antonio Rojas of East Lansing High School is headed to the University of Michigan. Chosen charity: Cristo Rey Community Center

Lansing Hmong community encouraged my success

Many things in life are taken for granted. During my childhood, I was very active in the Hmong Lansing community. The community would occasionally hold multiple annual events for gatherings. I would meet many new people there and hear their stories, advice or opinions on life. The younger me at the time didn’t know what to take from these experiences and failed to appreciate these moments.

As I matured, I understood what these opportunities meant when I grew around the community. It was the experience of learning from others. The learning experiences growing up in the Hmong Lansing community have molded me to become a person of ambitions, someone who gives back, and the love of cooking for others.

In the Hmong community, the place has molded me into a person of ambitions. I am a first-generation Asian American coming from Hmong immigrants. My parents came to America for a better opportunity. Within my community, most do not have a college education. People from the Hmong community had to adjust to the culture, language, and way of life in America. Born in America, I adjusted to the culture there easily compared to my community.

I felt the need to carry their dreams of being successful. I wanted to take the opportunity that wasn’t given to my community and achieve greater heights. I want to strive for success within the Hmong community.I have grown into a person who gives back to their community. I can always remember the events that brought the community together all over Michigan. It was a yearly cultural event called the Lansing Hmong New Year. It was an event of celebration, bonding, and opportunity to connect with others. I wanted to help continue thisongoing tradition. I started doing community service to involve myself.

Even though it may not have been much, I felt a sense of accomplishment in giving back to the community. Seeing the joy of others is what truly motivates me to give back to my community.

The place I had grown up in created a love for cooking. I vividly remember the times when my parents would have a barbecue for various occasions for the community. I would always ask my dad to teach me how to grill. It was until one particular day that pestering led my dad to teach me how to grill. It was my brother’s graduation event.

Graduation from high school was important in the Hmong community; it was the time for people to gather for the success of one’s education. My dad guided me in the process of grilling until he thought I was ready by myself. I took my first step in grilling, and it was a success. People in the community for my brother’s graduation thought my cooking was delicious. I was filled with joy and pride. I liked having that feeling and having others enjoy what I make. Learning that skill gave me a passion for cooking for others.

Throughout my life in the Hmong Lansing community, it has taught me many valuable lessons in life. Whether it was basic knowledge or insights, these life lessons were appreciated. Without the love, guidance, and support from the community, I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am now. The Hmong Lansing community holds a special place in my heart.

— Elvis Vue of Waverly High School will attend Ferris State University. Chosen charity: Hmong Family Association

Rural upbringing influenced my career choice

Did you know that rural students are now officially recognized as an under-represented group in colleges?

For decades, rural students have faced unique barriers in getting into the best colleges, but in recent years, people have started to realize that the lack of rural representation in academia is a problem. From my own experiences growing up in a small, rural town, I have gained skills vital to my future career as a plasma physicist, allowing me to collaborate with my peers in the scientific community to better the world.

One of the key things that Napoleon has offered me is a close-knit community, which has given me social skills that I would not otherwise have, allowing me to effectively collaborate with others when the time comes to work as a group. These skills will serve me well in my future career, where I will be collaborating with scientists both in my own field and related disciplines.

As a smaller, rural school district, Napoleon had not always had the resources of larger schools. Despite this, my teachers have helped me to develop creative ways to solve problems when not all the tools are available, allowing me to effectively function in situations where I do not have the same opportunities as other students.

For instance, though my school doesn’t offer advanced physics education, I was able to seek out opportunities like the Academically Talented Youth Program at Western Michigan University or Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (PING) at Michigan State University, which allowed me to gain knowledge I would not otherwise have, and I was supported in this endeavor by my school.

As a student in ATYP, I had to leave school early once a week in order to gain an accelerated honors education in English − not only was my school able to accommodate my periodic absences, they were also willing to accept my ATYP credits in lieu of the school’s English classes. This flexibility let me have more time at school to pursue other modes of education such as dual enrollment.

Similarly, my upbringing in a more rural area has given me a perspective on the world and how it works that is beyond what my more urban peers are familiar with. Growing up in a forest, I have always been surrounded by nature, and I have a deep love for the woods around my home. This has spurred my intention to enter the field of plasma physics, where I can make a difference by working towards the end goal of nuclear fusion energy, a clean and safe source of electricity that will keep the woodlands I have loved safe for centuries to come.

Already, I am able to apply this perspective to the community around me. In my role for the Jackson Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, I have had an incredible opportunity to serve as a mediator, helping to resolve issues that occur in my group of students working towards a better future for the youth of Jackson County.

— Thomas Hays of Napolean High School will attend Michigan State University. Chosen charity: Jackson Community Foundation

Success comes from overcoming rural limitations

Livingston County has always been my home. Despite continuing development, the area where I live remains rural. Growing up in a rural area is equal parts wonderful and frustrating. Rural means fewer people per square mile with smaller communities and less diversity.

My school is not known in the area for its diversity. There is not much variety when it comes to everything from what grocery store your family shops at to what school you attend.

My education has been limited by my rural community because my school has fewer class selections and availability. For example, both last year and this year I signed up to take classes (AP English Literature and Pre-Calculus) my school offers but I was unable to attend these classes because the only availability conflicted with my other classes. To combat this struggle, I committed to learning these classes online through a virtual education platform with whom my school partners.

One of my other choices, AP biology, did not have enough student interest to schedule the class and I had to change selections. This has been a limiting challenge for me as well as other students in my district. To broaden options, many students participate in dual enrollment classes with community colleges in the area. Limited variety and availability has encouraged me to stretch my idea of traditional school to take the classes that will help shape my future.

Activities like archery and horseback riding are local to me. I attended horse camp at age 6 and have been involved with horses ever since. Currently I am a member of my school’s equestrian team and own my own horse, Gingersnap. Horsemanship has taught me selflessness, hard work, responsibility, and perseverance. Without access to local barns and camps I would have missed out on developing important life skills.

My school’s archery team was started by another student in my grade who had a passion for archery, the outdoors, and hunting. I joined immediately. In addition to memories and friendships, archery has taught me how to set and achieve realistic goals, that practice makes progress, and teamwork. I am grateful for my community being in an area that supports and fosters growth in clubs such as these.

Despite the lack of variety, I strive for excellence in every opportunity to reach my full potential. My classmates and l help encourage each other in many areas from academics to sports and clubs. A friend of mine created the Environmental Club, of which I was a member, to help promote recycling and decrease wastefulness. She also created Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Our club not only recognizes diversity but we find solutions to problems in our community every day. We spread awareness at school through bulletin boards displaying achievements by a variety of groups in hopes to foster change and inspire others in our community and the world beyond.

With a smaller school population, there is less diversity but we do have an inclusive program called Peer to Peer. Neurotypical students are paired with neurodivergent students (called “links”) to assist them with participation and making friends. These “links” are often the only friendships these students have at school. I helped encourage my “link” to communicate with me by starting conversations, asking questions, and playing games.

Our school is small enough that our Peer to Peer class was able to meet and play Braille Uno during lunch. The more intimate setting including our whole group may not be possible in a larger district. While we may not have the diversity of a larger school, I embrace any available opportunities to learn about others.

I would not trade growing up in a rural area as I feel I made the most of my opportunities and developed skills that will support my transition to a larger college community and beyond.

— Vivian Hansen of Pinckney High School will attend Eastern Michigan University. Chosen charity: Bountiful Harvest Pantry