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If you ever find yourself writing through uncertainty, you’ll likely feel uncomfortable. But, instead, thank your lucky stars you have a chance to write this way…
I met with a client just last week who was stuck in the messy middle of his book.
He’d been wrestling with it for several months without finding a solution, so he was doing what most of us do when faced with uncertainty — procrastinating.
Procrastination isn’t laziness — it’s fear
This is an incredibly common problem. Uncertainty goes with writing like salt with pepper and peanut butter with jelly. But while procrastination is a problem, it’s NOT a sign of laziness.
Instead, it’s a clear signal of fear.
- Fear of writing something that’s not nearly as good as we’d imagined.
- Fear of doing all sorts of extra, unnecessary work if we pick the wrong “solution.”
- Fear of looking stupid in front of others.
- Fear of being uncomfortable.
The hidden value of writing through uncertainty
Why do we have such an aversion to fear and discomfort?
In a recent book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, journalist Maggie Jackson argues there are many advantages to uncertainty. Uncertain people learn more easily, make better decisions, respond more effectively in a crisis, show improved mental health and have warmer social relationships.
But here’s the interesting point: Tolerance for uncertainty is both innate — something we’re born with or without — and situational. In other words, if we’re tired or overwhelmed or dealing with bad news, we tend to want an answer — any answer — right away.
7 steps to writing through uncertainty
If your tolerance for uncertainty is tanking, here’s a series of steps you can take to make yourself more comfortable:
1-Understand that writing through uncertainty is inevitable
Whether in life or in writing, there are all sorts of times during which we’re faced with not knowing. The job opportunity. The offer on a car or a house. How we’re going to end our damn book. Remind yourself that you don’t have to figure out all the answers right away and that uncertainty is always temporary. Eventually, you will figure out a solution. What you may need right now is a break.
2-Recognize that discomfort often leads to growth
Discomfort is actually a sign of progress and an opportunity to improve your writing ability. Neuroscience supports this approach: By adopting what’s called a “growth mindset,” you create neural pathways that reinforce resilience and adaptability.
3-Notice how creativity thrives in adversity
Not having everything you want or need — whether ideas, time or solutions — can push you to explore themes and concepts you might otherwise avoid. As Aesop said: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” And as author Simon Sinek reminds us, “Innovation is not born from the dream, innovation is born from the struggle.”
4-Write about your discomfort
You’re a writer. So use your fear or your frustration as a subject for your writing. This approach, called expressive writing, was developed by social psychologist James W. Pennebaker in 1986. Since then, more than 200 studies have demonstrated that writing about emotional upheavals for just 15 minutes a day over three or four days can improve both physical and psychological well-being.
5-Remember to breathe
When we become stressed, many of us forget to breathe or forget to breathe deeply enough. When you breathe inadequately, your parasympathetic nervous system assumes you may be in danger, which will make you feel even more uncomfortable. Whenever you face a problem or a stressor, always start by focusing on your breathing. Box breathing is a simple technique that can help immediately.
6-Understand that rejection rules the world
Writers who are comfortable with discomfort are better equipped to handle negative feedback, rejections from agents or publishers and critical reviews. Rejection is everywhere in this world! Instead of being discouraged, successful writers see negative experiences as opportunities for growth. Having a mindset like this is crucial for long-term success in any competitive field.
7-Learn to sit with discomfort
Every time you sit with discomfort — whether it’s staring at a blank screen, struggling with self-editing or submitting your work despite your fear of rejection — you strengthen your creative muscles. Writing isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions. It’s about writing anyway. The more you embrace discomfort, the more resilient, creative and productive you become.
A practical tool for writing through uncertainty
While uncertainty and discomfort sound miserable, they needn’t wreck your writing life. Expect them and learn how to deal with them. One of my favourite tricks is to use mindmapping.
For example, if you’re reluctant to resume your writing because you can’t decide between three competing ideas or solutions, then create two mindmaps for each option.
- First mindmap: “Why is this solution a good one?”
- Second mindmap: “What are the downsides of this solution?”
Do these mindmaps for each of the three competing ideas, and you’ll quickly discover which one is likely to work best for you. Best of all, this approach is fast. You should be able to do each mindmap in roughly one to five minutes.
By embracing uncertainty rather than fighting it, you’ll not only finish your current project but you’ll also develop the resilience that distinguishes successful writers from those who give up too soon.
If you liked this post, you’ll also like How to get unstuck from your writing obstacles.
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Need some help developing a better, more sustainable writing or editing routine? Learn about my three-month accountability program called Get It Done. There is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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My video podcast last week addressed the best way to paraphrase. You can watch the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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How do you cope with writing through uncertainty? We can all learn from each other, so please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the comments section, below. If you comment on today’s post (or any others) by March 31/25, I’ll put you in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the related posts links, below. You don’t have to join Disqus to post! Read my tutorial to learn how to post as a guest. (It’s easy!)
