Writing is scary for pretty much everyone. For example, I as I write this sentence, I can’t help but worry that…
- My words are orphans; I am not there to clarify their meaning or defend their honor. They must speak without me.
- Printed words stand as public monuments to my imperfection in this moment.
- I can never be sure how my writing will be received. As far as I know, no writer has figured out the magic formula for how to always predict with accuracy how an audience will respond to the words on the page.
- Writing can be easily compared. Once set down, my words can be instantly compared with every author that has come before.
The bulk of our students likely face these same fears, and a great many of them also likely face other fears, ranging from worries that they don’t measure up to their classmates, to anxiety over whether mistakes will lower their grades, to generalized fears born from previous bad experiences with writing papers for school.
Continue reading “How to Make Writing Less Scary for Students”