Of all the different things that cause writer’s block, fear can be the most difficult one to hurdle. It’s not something you can get over in an afternoon. It’s not something that passes with a mood. It can be very real and paralyzing, and it can prevent you from ever starting your book, let alone finishing it.

Sometimes we freeze when we start thinking about what happens next. What will people think of me? Will anyone read this? How can I let myself be judged?

Being authentic is scary, and opening your soul to the world—whether you write fiction or non—requires some degree of bravery. Unless you are a narcissist, you likely care about what people think of you and your writing.

So how do you get over this seemingly insurmountable hurdle?

Start small by showing people who you know will support you and be gentle and helpful with their comments. This means that you have to write something to show them, so get excited about showing a friend or family member a new part of you. Talk to them about it first if you have to. Tell someone that you want to write a book, and let them encourage you. Let them get you excited about it. They will probably be so happy that you chose them because they know how personal writing can be.

Not to scare you, but you must understand that people judge you all the time, and you don’t worry about it all. Everyone has the potential to judge you for what you say or do, how you dress or walk, etc. (Sorry if that makes you paranoid.) But you know what? Most people aren’t paying attention to what you’re doing. And if they are paying attention, how many of them actually say something negative to you? At least from my experience, I’m more likely to get a random compliment than a random insult.

You can expect positive and negative criticism with a book as well, BUT take the negative for what it is. Some people just don’t care for your characters or writing style or whatever. Those people aren’t your ideal audience, so you will want to market to those who do like those aspects of your work. And people who are rude or mouthy don’t deserve a second thought anyway. Focus on the positive. Your book isn’t for everybody, but those who it is for will enjoy it!

Remember, too, there is a difference between critique and criticism. If someone is criticizing your work, it reflects on what they are like as a person or their mood at the time. In fact, criticism sometimes comes from people who have no idea what they are talking about! I once wrote a piece for my corporate job and was told over the phone that it was so poorly written that it would have to be completely redone. (Imagine my self-esteem after that.) When I received the notes, I discovered that they just didn’t care for my analogy. Seriously.

Author Suzanne La Voie Sammon had the most beautiful inspiration for the writer suffering from fear: “When I am working on a project, like my book, I sometimes question whether what I am composing is going to make a difference or be well-received. Then I go back to some wonderful advice from a friend where she stated if my words positively affected even one person, it was worth it. Belief in what I am putting out there helps combat writers’ block for me.” Brilliant!

This is actually one of the first steps in the writing process anyway. When I work with authors, I have them write down who their audience is. I want them to know the reader before they pen their book. Who is this person? What are they like? What do they want to learn or discover? Before you write your story, write down some information about your audience, and keep the notes somewhere that you can easily find them.

If you find yourself struggling with fear of being judged or criticized, pull out those notes and think about the person you want to reach. Won’t it be worth it to write your story for them?