What Writers Often Feel After They Push the Publish Button

Imagine you're a writer and you've just pushed the publish button on your latest story. What would you do then? Do you break out in a sweat, wring your hands, circle your chair, pace the floor, drop to your knees, or just sit calmly and wait for the inevitable?

I usually jump up and bake cookies, do some laundry, or rearrange some dust — anything to take my mind off the fact I’ve just dropped my precious baby down that crazy rabbit hole — again.

Writers deal with word-induced fear every day. Let’s examine a few of the reasons why.

Lack of confidence — No matter how much we write, how often we publish, or how well each story does, we sweat with renewed anxiety each time we send another story out into the world for others to read?
Comments and feedback — Writers have fragile egos. It’s part of our creative genetics. The world we live in is not known for tactfulness, kindness, or acceptance of strangers. And what can be stranger than a writer who’s just published a new story?

“I don’t care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book.” ~Roald Dahl

The publish button — We can never be sure of what lies below the surface of the publishing waters. It could be the ecstasy of success that blesses a tiny few or the VOID. (The void is the nothingness that happens after you publish which leaves you wondering if your article was jettisoned into another dimension.)

Like Alice and her proverbial rabbit hole, lots of adventures can only be experienced once you take the leap. So a word of encouragement to all who are currently writers or want-to-be writers. Stay positive and take the plunge!

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