Get wired to write: welcome writing anxiety - it's a good thing

Yesterday, when I was working on a newsletter for a client, I suddenly became aware that I was feeling very anxious. This is nothing new, the creative part of the writing process is a right-brained activity, which means that it often triggers feelings of anxiety - and sadness. (See the transcript of the Catalyst Left Brain Right Brain to experiment with this yourself.) I've become accustomed to writing anxiety: I know it will pass, and that it's a GOOD thing.

Anxiety is a GOOD thing when you're writing

Feeling anxious when you're writing can mean that you're using your right brain, which is (theoretically) the more creative side of your brain. So if you feel anxious when you write, the very worst thing you can do is take this is a signal that you should stop writing - as some new writers do.

Take a few deep, slow breaths, and focus on your tummy as you do so.

Inhale, and exhale, through your noise, feeling the sensations in your tummy and throughout your body. Take ten slow breaths. This easy technique works. Creativity master Eric Maisel has formalized this in his book, "Ten Zen Seconds: Twelve Incantations for Purpose, Power and Calm".

Think of this breathing as a way to focus your creativity, and relax back into writing.

If you keep in mind that anxiety equals right brain activity, you'll be able to write more, and you'll definitely enjoy writing more.

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