Here’s a reblog of something I posted in 2011 about writer fear. Thought it might be useful to hear what happens inside my head in that moment. 
Ebooks
Click to Buy The Six Train to Wisconsin Ebook
Paperbacks
Click to Buy The Six Train to Wisconsin Paperback
Authorgraph–Request Ebook Autograph
Six Train’s Biggest Fan Giveaway!
Blog Schedule
Starting March 4, 2013, new posts will appear on Monday and Thursday.
Kourtney’s Recent Tweets
- @emmiemears Thanks so much Emmie! :) Hope you enjoy it! 4 hours ago
- RT @stansley26: I'm craving @KourHei 's delicious guacamole 😍 1 day ago
- @WeatherlyR @AmazonKindle Thanks Rich! You can enter my giveaway for #taylorswifttickets -if you haven't already- bit.ly/ZKuCn7 1 day ago
Top Posts
- How A Bad Pedicure Can Derail Your Life
- How to Calm Red Bumpy Skin
- Where in The World Has Kourtney Been?
- Coleen Patrick Dishes on Her Indie Journey
- Mala Handmade--A Handmade Jewelry Review
- Author Swag Bags and Giveaways--What Do Readers Want?
- Taylor Swift Concert Experience
- Wonderful Happenings in Kourtneyville
- Product Review--Incredible Bra
- Pink Taco: Restaurant Review
Search Kourtney’s Blog For:
Tags
41st annual international scbwi summer conference in LA
agents
Backspace
book review
changes
character development
characters
crimebake
death
dog
editing
failure
family
fear
feedback
friends
goals
grandma
grandma h
Hong Kong
humor
inspiration
Killer Nashville
letting go
loss
love
memories
MWA
Mystery
New Year's Resolutions
new york
Paige Shelton
perspective
pitching
querying
revising
revision
Shanghai
stress
word count
writer's digest
Writer's Digest Conference
Writing
writing conference
Xi'an
Categories
All About Kourtney
Authors I Enjoy Reading
- A.S. King
- Alice Sebold
- Ally Carter
- Amanda Quick
- An Na
- Andrea Cremer
- Audrey Niffenegger
- Bente Gallagher
- Brad Meltzer
- Cassandra Clare
- Cate Tiernan
- Charlaine Harris
- Chris Crutcher
- Harlan Coben
- Heather Webber
- Jay Asher
- Jenna Bennett
- Jennie Bentley
- John Green
- Karen Cushman
- Kristan Higgins
- Laurell K. Hamilton
- Lisa Gardner
- Madelyn Alt
- Mary Janice Davidson
- Paige Shelton
- Randy Susan Meyers
- Ruta Sepetys
- Sophie Jordan
- Stephenie Meyer
- Sue Monk Kidd
- Suzanne Collins
Conferences
Getting Published
Kourtney's Favorites
Organizations to Join
Writing
YA writing
Community
Archives
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
Awards
Goodreads
No data found
8 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
Main Street Musings Blog
So normalizing to learn it’s not just me! I suppose it comes with the territory.
July 13, 2012 at 10:21 am
Kourtney Heintz
And it happens to me on every book. Three books multiple times throughout the drafting and editing process.
I think it’s rooted in the same self-doubt and uncertainty that comes from rejection. This is just during the writing process.
July 13, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Audrey Kalman
Thanks for reposting. I wasn’t following you yet for the original post. I was just chatting last night with my husband about the doubt, the doubt, the doubt. Even after 4 completed novels, one published, another drafted–I get the self doubt. Nothing to do but keep going. Squash the little voice as best you can and do the f*ing work.
July 14, 2012 at 10:55 am
Kourtney Heintz
Glad you liked it. I’m only reposting stuff from when I had a handful of followers. So all the “reposts” should be new to most people.
The doubt is awful. I was reading JM’s post about it and thought I remember writing something about this fear. And I thought it made a timely repost. I think is is very normal and the mark of writers who want to put out their best work. 
LOL. Love your advice! It’s really the best thing to do!
July 14, 2012 at 8:42 am
susartandfood
Kourtney, good read. There are days when I look at the blank page and nothing, and other times when I’m writing in mind 24 hrs a day. Guess it is what it is and even if the dry times we need to learn to trust it.
July 14, 2012 at 10:57 am
Kourtney Heintz
Thanks! Yup those feast and famine moments come without any rhyme or reason. Having a schedule and sticking to it helps me during the famine times. Pacing myself and setting word count goals keeps me writing even when the gears are squeaking and turning painfully slow.
July 14, 2012 at 10:51 am
Lisa Ann Hayes
I don’t experience that fear anymore but I did for years in my songwriting. After a decade or so, I realized that we’re always growing, changing, etc., so there’s always something to write about!
July 14, 2012 at 10:58 am
Kourtney Heintz
That’s wonderful to hear! Maybe after years of writing it might abate.
Something to look forward to. 