Life | Advice| Writing

How I Managed the Overwhelm When Starting

Keep this in check or it will make you give up

Pretender. Fake. Fraud.

That’s the way I felt in those first three months when I started writing here.

It took a long time to gain the courage to start to write and my inner critic seems to have become the loudest shout out of them all.

I started with an element of fear but with a hint of enthusiasm too.

Capturing moments where I was fired up. I would have ideas. And was full-out writing.

At first, it was flowing, then began to trickle.

Then the overwhelm kicked in.

The inner critic shouting much louder.

To help my writing I have been reading a lot since coming here.

But all this reading has also been at the root of my most overwhelming moments.

When I read, my inner critic creeps out, because I see everyone writing so uncomplicatedly.

My inner critic asks, “how do you think you are going to compete with that.”

When I read, I see enticing headlines, heartfelt content, and writers who produce stories like rabbits in season.

How can I even start to match that?

The talent on this platform is immense and feels like everyone seems to have found their voice. Creating great arguments with their content.

When I read my work, my inner voice still seems to be my harshest critic.

It judges and speaks to me in a way that no other would or should.

It is at times like that I feel like a fake. A fraud. A writing imposter.

Those are the times when I feel close to calling it quits.

So, I come away from this platform and have some time out.

I try to do something different. Something positive, and have time away from all the noise.

I find this lessens the overwhelm and feelings of inadequacy, one can feel.

I tell myself that we all have to start someplace, this is mine, and I need to accept it.

What To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed When Starting Something New

If you ever feel this sense of overwhelm when writing, stop writing and reading and give your inner critic a positive shout-out.

Here’s mine: -

“I’m at the start of my journey and I know I will improve, so don’t judge me so harshly, at least I started, take that you inner connoisseur.”

Do you ever feel this sense of overwhelm when writing here? What do you do to manage those unchecked thoughts? Please share your thoughts and tips and shut my inner critic up.

I do get overwhelmed from time to time, but I am enjoying my experience here, but I almost got distracted and it became addictive when I started out.

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