There is probably no subject more fraught with peril and anxiety than creative writing. For those who have always wanted to write a book or whosoever want to enter the realm of novel writing, this is a daunting and terrifying prospect. For those who have taken the leap and are making the necessary efforts to create a creative piece of text, nerves might be jangling and hands perhaps sweating as they venture into a manuscript for the first time. For experienced writers, the stress and anxiety of getting a manuscript right – especially a lengthy one – can be deeply frustrating and debilitating.
What might surprise you is just how much this anxiety and nervousness can be manifested in your face. Whether you’re experiencing an emotional response to a particularly harrowing scene or just fiddling with a pencil because you’re worried about making a typo, your facial expressions will give you away. Your best friend – or worse, your mom – will be able to tell if you’re stressed or not, just by looking at you. Even your fellow writers will be able to tell if you’re not being genuine, just by observing your behavior in general.
Because of this, it’s essential that you learn how to control your facial expressions while writing. You don’t want to give the game away just yet. You don’t want to seem too eager or too cold. You want to give the impression that you’re both a competent and relaxed writer who simply happens to be passionately engaged in the act of creation.
Why Smiling Is A Bad Idea
For those who are unfamiliar, the grimace is a face contortion that can be produced by involuntarily clamping down on the muscles of the mouth. Most people grimace when they’re feeling pain or discomfort of some kind, which is why it often accompanies a facial reaction to physical stimuli like heat or cold. For instance, you might feel the urge to grumble when you’re tasting something extremely sour or bitter. To produce the sound, you would clench your teeth and contort your face into a frown.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with expressing yourself through your facial gestures, it’s worth noting here that writers should generally avoid smiling whenever possible in a work of fiction. For starters, you don’t need to. Your characters should generally avoid smiling, too. If they do happen to grin or chuckle, then that’s fine, but it’s definitely not necessary for the narrative. Smiles can be funny, but they’re also oftentimes used to indicate that something is funny or amusing. If you do want to use a smile in your narrative, then try to avoid doing so when your characters aren’t meant to be amused by it. Otherwise, you risk derailing the emotional impact of what you’re writing. You don’t want to do that.
Why Try To Impress Your Friend With A Fancy Restaurant?
Another common cause of stress and anxiety among writers is the fear of not living up to their friends’ and family’s expectations. For those who are blessed with extremely high standards, this fear can be paralyzing. You might feel like you’re not good enough to satisfy your friends with your writing, so you don’t want to risk disappointing them by not treating them to a nice lunch or dinner. This is especially common among those who are hoping to get literary praise from their friends for their creative work. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re just doing this as a hobby, because the last thing you want is for your friends to think you’re not capable of doing something worthwhile. Your hobby might actually be capable of turning into something valuable, but you have to start from somewhere.
The solution to this problem is fairly straightforward. Instead of trying to impress your friends with your writing, show them that you’re a person who takes their opinions seriously. If they ask you what you’re working on, don’t just tell them that you’re writing. Instead, say something like:
“I’m actually plotting my story for a competition at uni. The theme is ‘finding your voice’ and the prizes include publishing deals and prizes for writing workshops. Would you like to hear what I’m doing?”
Instead of just offering them a cool story about a boy named Jack and his adventures in a forest, you’re now giving them something to commiserate with. If they love to write, but aren’t sure if they have what it takes to be a professional, you’ve given them the perfect opportunity to find out. You’ve encouraged them to dream big, which is exactly what you should be doing.
Why Is Noise Detrimental To Creativity?
Noise is another potential cause of stress and anxiety among writers, especially those who are trying to get some inspiration. Everyone is potentially affected by noise, but it’s especially problematic for those who are either pursuing or engaged in creative activities. The problem is that noise – particularly in combination with other stresses – can interfere with the process of creative thought, which is why it’s better to avoid or minimize it when you’re trying to get something done. This is why those who work in open-plan offices might find themselves spending more time trying to concentrate than those who work in quiet spaces. It’s worth noting that even those who work in relatively silent environments are affected by noise in some way, albeit to a lesser degree. This is because our brains are naturally attuned to pick up on and react to noises, even those that are seemingly unconnected to our senses. It’s a form of brain noise, if you will.
You might find that some noises – like the sound of a particular bird or the crackle of a fire – can intensify the process of creative thought, while others – like the shriek of a drill or the roar of a train – might have the opposite effect. This is something you’ll have to discover for yourself through experimentation. You might want to try playing some white noise or nature sounds through headphones to see if this helps you concentrate. You can also try experimenting with different keyboards or changing your seating position to see if this makes a difference. There are lots of solutions available, but you have to find what works best for you.
How Do You Feel About Boring Subjects?
Another potential cause of stress and anxiety among writers is dealing with boring or uninteresting subjects. We’re all capable of relating to topics that are interesting or important to us in some way, but it’s worth noting that we can also become frustrated or disheartened by subjects we feel aren’t worth discussing or aren’t interesting enough to discuss about. While it’s good to learn about and discuss various issues, biases and prejudices, you might find yourself struggling with anxiety when it comes to topics you consider unimportant or boring.
The solution to this problem is relatively straightforward. Instead of feeling powerless or frustrated because you can’t change what you feel is boring or unimportant, change what you can. Instead of just accepting or trying to understand the way things are, try to find a way of making things better. This might mean learning more about the issue, getting involved, or even changing how you feel itself. It’s important to keep in mind that this anxiety and stress is totally normal and something you’re entitled to feel, just like your characters are entitled to feel emotions. It just so happens that right now, you’re in a bit of a sticky situation, but that will change. You’re working through it, and that’s what’s important.
To return to the main theme, you should avoid all of these things when you’re writing – noise, bright lights, smoking, and especially, smiling. Writers must appear calm, cool, and collected in order to convey believability, and this cannot be contorted into a fake smile. You might also want to try using a jiggling finger to tap a foot or hand on the desk to create an idle chatter that will occupy your mind, so that you don’t have to worry about upsetting yourself with worrisome thoughts about your piece of prose. Just write, write, and write. Eventually, you’ll find the rhythm that helps you switch off from your anxieties and worries. This is called ‘flow’ and it means you’re tuned into the process of creating rather than your surroundings, something you might not have felt free to do when you were plagued by anxiety.