How to Write Your Way into the Unknown (and Out the Other Side)

You're not procrastinating — you don't know what you don't know

Art by Mariam Chagelishvili

Every Friday this month, we’re targeting a different Horseman of the Procrastinocalypse so you can get out of your own way, tell writer’s block to go screw itself, and start writing something.
Catch up here »

Ok pumpkins, here’s my theory.

The common denominator in all the many reasons we might feel stuck about our writing is really just a fear of the unknown.

Because there’s a lot to be scared of in that vast void of things we don’t know, right?

• Not knowing which direction to go (see: The Horseman of Decision Paralysis).

• Not knowing if you’ll ever be good enough (see: The Horseman of Perfectionism).

• Not knowing where to begin. Or how to begin. Or if you even know enough to try.

• Not knowing if you can pull this off at all. Or what people will think if you do…

So many unknowns — so very scary and intangible. It’s enough to stop you from even starting.

Except, this is one of those situations where your brain is creating hypothetical dangers that don’t actually pose any kind of threat when you’re armed with a limitless capability for creativity.

Because the unknown is not a barrier. It’s not a hard stop. It’s a gleeful invitation to find out more stuff and come up with more ideas — two things that writers are innately excellent at doing.

So let’s turn the unknown into the totally knowable and make it a whole lot less scary.

The Third Horseman of the Procrastinocalypse:
✨ The Unknown ✨

Notice how a lot of those unknown examples above are pretty abstract and psychological? Fear of failure. Fear of trying (and failing). Fear of taking risks.

Well, to fight those big unknowns, we have to tackle the small, practical ones first.

And that means making your unknowns much more specific.

---

Step 1: