Many writers are held back by the fear of the unknown. They speak it in a dozen different ways, but in talking to writers, I’d say the comments can be distilled down to one thing. . . trying something different is intimidating.

There is the fear of submitting to a traditional press. Most writers I advise are asked why they haven’t considered traditional publishing, and they usually cannot really say other than they want to be more in charge. Many still haven’t grasped the complexity of indie publishing, but they know more people who have done it. They usually haven’t even looked at the details of traditional.

There is the fear of speaking to groups. They say they don’t know how, don’t enjoy it, don’t know where to do it, and don’t think speaking matters. As someone who once published The Shy Writer Reborn, I can tell you that you can go from being shy and intimidated into someone who can talk to a crowd.

There is the fear of entering contests. They might be scams. They charge entry fees. The odds are against them. Well, someone has to win these things, and the gymnastics of entering contests are incredibly beneficial.

Doing something new is supposed to feel abnormal. It’s supposed to cause some anxiety. You are supposed to doubt abilities you haven’t mastered. But it is in this unfamiliar space, in the effort of trying something new, that growth occurs. You might not be good at it, but you just started it. You just tried it. You just decided to divert from your comfort zone.

But this new thing could lead to doing great, too. Dare to be scared.