Writing Frustration

Let’s face it: writing is scary. Putting your thoughts down on paper for other people to read is personal. As a writing teacher and a writer, I am very familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of sharing my thoughts, and frankly, it still scares me.

Every year, I find myself handing out tissues or placing a supportive hand on a shoulder to let a student know that the frustrating, uncomfortable, scary emotions are okay. My toughest athletes, brightest academics, and artistic writers find themselves in this moment. No one is immune to the fear of sharing their thoughts and the uncertainty of how they will be received. So, if we know that any writer can find themselves hitting a wall of frustration, what can we do about it?

1. Lead with empathy. Look at the writer and tell her that it is okay. Offer a tissue or squeeze a shoulder.
2. Once the writer is calm, offer one compliment. Make sure it is genuine. (Kids always know when we are placating them.) For example: “Your descriptive setting makes it so easy for the reader to picture where you are!” “Your lead includes action and dialogue.”
3. Offer one and only one teaching point. For example: “Let me show you one way writers generate ideas.” “Let’s look at how other writers use dialogue.” “I want to show you how I am going to add facial expressions to my draft, and then you can try it out.”
4. Remember, if you don’t panic when a writer cries or balls up a paper, then your writer won’t panic . . . Well, not as frequently or as severely!

So if there are tears, let them fall, offer a tissue, and then move forward with your plan.