25 Drafts Later: How I Overcame the Fear of Writing
Years ago, I was met with a soul-crushing blow to my ego. I was told that I possessed “terrible writing skills” by someone whose opinion I held in high regard. The words stung like acid on an open wound, and I found myself questioning my abilities as a writer.
The comment reverberated in my mind, causing self-doubt and anxiety to creep in.
Until that moment, I had never given much thought to my writing. It was just something I did, an activity I engaged in when I needed to communicate my thoughts or ideas. But suddenly, everything changed. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of my perceived shortcomings, haunted by the specter of failure and inadequacy.
Fast forward three years, and I was in the midst of my PhD program when my mentor suggested that I write the first draft of a manuscript. I was paralyzed with fear at the thought of putting pen to paper, but I soldiered on and submitted the first draft.
The manuscript came back with more corrections than I had ever seen in my life, and I felt like I had failed.
But my mentor saw something in me that I didn’t, and he encouraged me to keep at it, reminding me that mistakes were a natural part of the process.
And so it went, paper after paper, draft after draft, correction after correction. But each time, I grew a little bit more, learned a little bit more, became a little bit better. The number of drafts gradually reduced with each paper, and I finally submitted a paper without any corrections.
🔥And I never heard that comment ever again.
My mentor’s unwavering support and guidance allowed me to develop my writing skills to a level I never thought possible. Only because, I was given a chance — to make mistakes and to learn, without being judged. And sometimes, that is all we need !!
It made me realize that we all need someone in our lives who is willing to take a chance on us and invest in our growth. My mentor took a chance on me, and that one act of kindness changed the trajectory of my life.
Looking back on it all now, I realize that those words, that criticism, were the best thing that ever happened to me. They forced me to confront my fears, to face my weaknesses, and to grow beyond them. And in doing so, they taught me a lesson that I will carry with me always: that no matter what anyone else might say, we should never let their opinions define our lives.
More importantly, we should seek out people who can help us unlock our potential, who are willing to take a chance on us, and who believe in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves.
