The first time I decided to self-publish, I felt a mixture of excitement and dread in my stomach. While I’d shared some of my writing with others before (mainly in college with other students who shared my anxiety), this time was different. This time, I’d publish work that my family and closest friends would read. So, while I was excited to get my work into the world (my very first poetry anthology), I faced the fear of judgment and even some terror, wondering what others would think—more specifically, what they would think of me when they read my poetry.
My poetry is very personal. It doesn’t beat around the bush. It doesn’t hide away or glaze over traumatizing moments in my life. Instead, it’s raw. It’s honest. It’s even sometimes vulgar. I put my heart and soul into my poetry, and I don’t hide away pieces of myself. These are true emotions that I feel, moments in my life that have broken, shaped, and mended my heart.
I’m willing to bet that many others feel the same way. Maybe you’re thinking about sharing your work with others, or maybe you already have, and you obsessively check reader comments, reviews, and book sale statistics. As someone who has self-published two books and shared other pieces of writing with countless others, I can tell you one thing with certainty: the anxiety of sharing your work never completely disappears.
Fortunately, I have learned some strategies that can transform the paralyzing fear and anxiety into something a bit more manageable, allowing me to share my work despite the discomfort. So, here are some tips for overcoming anxiety when sharing your writing with others that I’ve learned along the way and may be helpful for you.
My Personal Journey with Creative Anxiety
For a period of time, my fear of judgment kept some of my best work hidden away. I’d spend months perfecting articles, poetry, and manuscripts that no one would ever read, convinced they weren’t “ready” for public consumption. My computer hard drive became a graveyard of half-finished projects—potential that remained unrealized because I couldn’t bear the vulnerability of sharing.
Initially, the anxiety manifested in ways I didn’t recognize:
- Endless revisions to postpone the moment of truth
- Checking reader reviews and my sales dashboard more than once a day after releasing new work
- Focusing exclusively on negative feedback
Many of these reactions come from imposter syndrome—the idea that you doubt your abilities despite hard evidence of your accomplishments and success for fear of being exposed as a fraud. I feel this in most areas of my life, but especially when it comes to my writing.
To illustrate, there is actually a poem in my second book titled “I hate my poetry (shh! don’t tell anyone!).” This poem came from the idea that I don’t truly feel like my poetry is that great, even though many others have enjoyed it. In fact, my constant fear is that my second book is not nearly as good as my first one or that my first book is not even well-written.
I’ve since learned these reactions are normal and not personal failings. Instead, it was important for me to understand that recognizing these reactions was the first step toward overcoming them. I may still have imposter syndrome, but I also have ways to cope with it.
How to Overcome Creative Anxiety
Here are a few strategies for overcoming creative anxiety that I find helpful.
1. Build a Trusted Circle of People
One reason I became comfortable sharing my work with others in college was the idea that many of us were in the same boat. I met classmates who loved writing fiction and poetry just as much as I did.
It’s easier to feel accomplished and proud of something when you have a close circle of trusted individuals who understand you. Our writing workshops created a safe space for sharing works-in-progress. Their constructive feedback helped me distinguish between genuine areas for improvement and my own excessive self-criticism.
Your trusted circle may include a myriad of individuals—friends, family, colleagues, and others. I found that the best people to surround yourself with are those who can offer unbiased feedback. While I’m thankful for friends and family who have read my work, I sometimes doubt whether they actually enjoyed it or if they are just being nice.
Of course, this is another example of imposter syndrome, and just because your family and friends tell you they like your work doesn’t mean they are lying to you. At the end of the day, surround yourself with people you know will tell you the truth.
2. Separate Yourself from Your Work
One thing I’ve learned in sharing my poetry is to understand that even though it’s something I’ve created, it isn’t who I am as a person. While I write honest poetry about my life experiences, I also write about others who have touched my life. I write about situations others have gone through. I write about things I’ve read online or poetry from someone else’s perspective and not mine. So, while my work reflects aspects of my abilities and perspectives, it doesn’t define my entire worth.
When I release my writing into the world, I practice this mental reframing: I’m not sharing everything about myself; I’m sharing something I made. This subtle distinction has reduced the personal stakes of feedback and the negative self-talk.
3. Embrace Incremental Exposure
Sometimes, it helps to develop a graduated exposure approach. For example:
- Start by sharing outlines or concepts as a strategy for overcoming creative anxiety. For me, this typically looked like posting previews on social media or sending certain poems to those in my trusted circle before releasing my completed work.
- Release certain excerpts to get used to others reading your work.
- Release complete books that already incorporate initial reader feedback.
Each of these steps can help you build confidence while gradually desensitizing yourself to the anxiety of sharing your writing.
4. Focus on Growth, Not Validation
I’ve trained myself to shift my mindset from seeking approval to seeking growth. Before releasing anything, I ask myself: What do I hope to learn from reader feedback? This question reorients my focus toward improvement rather than validation.
Writing workshops are a great place to learn how to distinguish between validation and growth. When other readers offer feedback, take it as constructive criticism rather than a personal attack. Sometimes, these are the pieces of feedback you need the most. After all, no first draft of anything is perfect, and seeing what others truly think of your work in its early stages gives you a clear path forward for how to improve.
5. Recognize That All Writers Feel This Way
Whenever my anxiety spikes, I remind myself that every creator experiences creative anxiety. I guarantee you that every single writer can identify with some level of nervousness in putting their work into the world.
It’s important to remember that even the most successful authors likely feel this way. Understanding that other authors and writers face these same struggles has normalized the experience for me and reduced any intimidation I might feel.
6. Practice Self-Compassion
Your writing won’t be for everyone—and that’s okay! Instead of allowing your harsh inner critic to take over, practice speaking to yourself with more compassion.
Give yourself encouragement and some perspective. Nothing will ever be perfect; instead, remember that you’ve done your best with the information and skills you have, and that is enough.
Final Thoughts for Overcoming Creative Anxiety When Sharing Your Writing
Remember that work shared imperfectly has infinitely more impact than work perfected but never revealed. Your creations—with all their beautiful imperfections—deserve to be seen. The world needs your unique perspective, and sharing is the bridge that connects your creative gifts with those who will benefit from them.
The next time anxiety strikes, acknowledge the feeling, take a deep breath, and remember: this discomfort is the price of growth, connection, and, ultimately, of making your mark on the world. I know because I’ve lived it—and the journey beyond that fear is worth every anxious moment.
Learn more about me and my work here.
