How to Write and Publish Despite Fear, Doubt, and Overthinking

Almost every week, at least one aspiring author tells me they aren’t writing or publishing their work because they are stuck in fear, doubt, overthinking, perfectionism, Impostor Syndrome, lack of purpose, resistance, overwhelm, or some other emotional challenge. These are their reasons—excuses—for not writing or publishing consistently (or at all).

You can write despite emotional challenges.

I know this is true because I’ve done it.

Even Published Authors Have Doubt

Several months ago, I sent out a Sunday “Soul Note” email in which I mentioned having some doubt about my writing ability. One subscriber responded, “I doubt that you doubt your writing ability.”

It surprises me that someone would assume that even a published author like me wouldn’t have any doubt, fear, or other emotional challenge related to writing and publishing their work. I believe almost every writer struggles with emotional issues to some extent.

Published Authors Overcome Emotional Challenges

The difference between the writers who become authors and those who don’t is that they learn how to overcome their emotional challenges. They don’t let those emotional challenges stand in the way of writing and publishing their work.

I’m not special. Neither are the other authors out there who have managed to start and finish manuscripts, submit them to literary agents, sign publishing deals, or even self-publish their books. We may have more commitment to our writing, which keeps us moving toward our goals. We may have the tenacity to keep taking action until we hold our published books in our hands.

That said, any writer can overcome their emotional challenges and become an author. The caveat to that is that they must be willing to work on themselves—to engage in some sort of personal growth process that helps them overcome what could be seen as obstacles.

How I Lost My Self-Confidence

During most of my writing career, I have had confidence in myself and my ability to get published in magazines and to write and publish books. Yet every time I submit my work, I feel excitement and hopefulness mixed with doubt and fear of rejection.

I hesitate to send out my work because I am afraid someone will say I’m not good enough or that my work isn’t up to par. Maybe at this point in my career, rejection feels a little less personal, but it still impacts my self-esteem and self-confidence.

After parting ways with my literary agent in 2020, I had my first-ever writing slump. He had been trying to sell one of my projects for two years with no success.

I lost my confidence. I didn’t feel I was an attractive business partner for a publisher or that my ideas were good enough. I even doubted my writing ability, which had served me well since grade school. I was afraid to seek a new agent or even self-publish.

It took me four years to work up the courage to email a publisher I knew personally and who had been interested in the last project my agent tried to sell. It took me the same amount of time to submit a different book project to a new literary agent.

In both cases, I succeeded. The publisher offered me a contract for the book, [Change the World One Book at a Time,[(https://www.amazon.com/Change-World-One-Book-Time/dp/1963667298 ), which was published in January 2026. The agent agreed to work with me.

How I Got Out of My Writing Slump

That ended my writing slump. Since then, I’ve fired that agent and found another. I’ve also developed a new book project. Plus, I am currently working on a third edition of How to Blog a Book and have plans to revise one of my ebooks.

How did I get out of my writing slump?

I had a few impactful experiences—including breaking my ankle. That may sound like it has nothing to do with writing, but in my woo-woo world it did. It helped me realize I was going in the wrong direction with my work and provided the impetus to start writing and submitting again.

After that, a few other things happened.

Remembering My Purpose

I regained my sense of purpose. I know I’m here this lifetime to write my books.

Turning 64 reminded me that my time is running out. Sure, I could live well into my 90s like my mother, or I could die tomorrow.

I don’t want to die with regrets—especially regretting that I didn’t fulfill my purpose and write and publish the numerous books I still have inside me.

No One Can Make Me Feel Something

I realized I had let the experience with my former literary agent impact how I felt about myself and my writing. I am a Certified High Performance Coach and a Transformational Coach, so I coached myself through this.

I reminded myself that no one can make me feel a certain way about myself; I choose how I feel.

No matter what someone says or does, I get to decide if I react—and feel bad—or respond—and not let them impact me emotionally.

As an Author Coach, I coach clients not to take rejection personally. I also coach them to stand firm in their belief in themselves and their work. I took my own advice.

Proof of Former Success

Looking back at my career, I took an accounting of the success I had achieved.

Had I sold thousands and thousands of books? No.

Had I landed literary agents and traditional publishing deals? Yes.

Had my books earned back their advances? Yes.

Had agents and publishers been happy to work with me? Yes—except the most recent one.

Had my books landed on Amazon Top 100 (bestseller) Lists? Yes.

Had I published my work in magazines? Yes.

I saw the proof that I was a good writer, could publish and sell books, and that publishing professionals saw me as an attractive business partner. Those facts dissipated the self-doubt, fear, and other emotional challenges I had felt.

Overcoming Emotional Challenges

Deciding to restart my career still meant overcoming fear, doubt, Impostor Syndrome, and a lack of confidence.

I did that by seeing the emotional challenges for what they were: excuses.

That’s right…

What most writers call “emotional challenges” are simply excuses not to write.

Yes, the excuses—couched as “reasons”—may exist. You may feel fear, lack of purpose, or Impostor Syndrome. But you allow them to stop you from writing and publishing—just as I let my relationship with my past agent do the same.

You give the excuses power. They become your “conditions” or “circumstances.” And you feel powerless to change them—to stop feeling the way you do.

That makes you a victim of circumstance.

But you aren’t powerless. You can choose to do something different—write, submit, publish.

Stop Focusing on Your Excuses

Plus, if you focus on your excuses, they feel even more real. In your mind, they get larger and more powerful.

But they may also grow in real life. What you focus on expands. You create more of whatever you put your attention on.

That’s why the best advice I can offer is to stop focusing on your emotional challenges. Instead, write.

Write anyway. Write despite the challenges, circumstances, and excuses.

When you take action, they will disappear.

Train Your Brain to Write

Also, if you consistently think about the reasons you can’t write, you create a belief that you can’t write. That belief becomes an identity; you tell yourself, “I am someone who can’t write for __ reason.”

Think a thought often enough, and it becomes a belief. It also creates a neural pathway in your brain, making it even harder to write.

Instead of focusing on why you can’t write, think about all the reasons you can. Create a new belief about yourself—“I am someone who can and does write consistently.”— and a neural pathway. Then, you’ll find it easier to write.

Work on Yourself

Ultimately, if you aren’t writing and publishing and want to move past the emotional challenges you believe stop you, get involved in personal growth work. This can be working with a Certified High Performance Coach or Transformation Coach, reading and applying what you learn from books, joining a group coaching program, or even hiring a therapist.

You are in the way of achieving your writing goals.

It’s time to grow and stretch beyond who you are now. Because who you are now can’t write and publish consistently. You are someone who lets your reasons or excuses keep you stuck.

You need to become someone different—someone who writes and publishes no matter what.

Work on yourself so you stop getting in your own way. That’s when you will write and publish despite any emotional challenges that might arise.

Do you let your emotional challenges stop you from writing and publishing? Tell me in a comment below. Also, please share this post with a writer who would benefit from reading it.

Image courtesy of mhyimge.