Fear of Submitting?

By: Katie Nelson

Many aspiring writers are apprehensive about submitting their work, whether held back by self-doubt, perfectionism, or fear of rejection. The bottom line is that writing is something truly personal. Coming from your individual mind, sharing it with others can be intimidating. I know firsthand how daunting the first submission can be, but it is something all writers must confront.  

WHY? 

Why do you hold yourself back? As a writer, you may experience feelings of self-doubt, questioning whether your writing is good enough for submission. You may worry that your work will not resonate with others, that your authentic voice might be misunderstood, or simply that your writing is not good enough. Perfectionism also commonly nips at writer's heels, potentially trapping you in an endless spiral of revisions. Whatever is holding you back as a writer, the reality is that there is no perfect beginning, and you will never know your full capacity and potential as a writer without trying. The act of that first submission will be the first of many towards achieving your goals as an author.  

The Inevitable Rejection 

Rejection is something all writers will face in their careers, so it is best to come to terms with it now. Keep in mind that rejection is not a bad thing. It is not only a sign of growth, but it is one step closer to being successful. Notable authors such as J.K. Rowling and Stephen King have faced immense rejection before publication, but they kept trying. Writing is unique to the author, as the author’s work is unique to its place of publication— one publisher may not find a home for your work, but that does not mean your writing is not valuable. Rejection should motivate you to work harder. Maybe your first submission wasn't your best work, so take the rejection, apply yourself, and try again. 

Overcome 

The key is to take action to overcome the struggle of taking those first steps to submit your work, whether to a literary magazine or journal, book publisher, contests, etc. 

1. Set yourself a personal deadline to submit your work and COMMIT. If you are waiting for “the right moment” or the “feeling” that you are ready, it will never come. 

2. STOP nit-picking every little thing about your writing. At some point, you will make it worse. Perfectionism is the enemy. Allow yourself the space to make mistakes so you can grow. 

3. LET GO of the fear of judgment and rejection because it will make you a better writer. Feedback does not belittle your literary merit; it gives you insight into improvement.  

4. BE CONFIDENT! You have worked hard to finish your work, so be proud of yourself. 

Do it, Anway 

It is easy to get caught up in self-doubt, personal criticism, and fear of rejection, but every submission is considered an advancement despite the outcome. With submission experience and received feedback, writers improve their skills and develop their voice. Aspiring writers are not promised success, but growth comes from it all. Do not let fear stop you. The only way to truly fail is by not trying, so give your writing a chance and SUBMIT.