Writing Fear: How To Describe Fear In Writing — Pawners Paper

Writing fear. Ways on how to describe fear in writing and fear of writing and other exclusive way to overcome fear of writing signatures. Scared.

What is Writing Fear: How To Describe Fear In Writing

Writing Fear! Being a writer comes with a lots of challenges. Aside having trouble on maintaining the trend on a particular niche whether gothic or crime, comedy, romance etc., competition, low-self confidence are other causes of writing fear.

The style used in description and narration is something peculiar to each writer. While this might appear quite simple, in some instances, it's actually hard to figure out.

Description in writing is one of the most cherished skills of a writer. The ability to recreate the imagery in writing and make readers feel as if they're could watch what was happening as the events enfolds.

Writers often battle with the appropriate words to use in order to describe fear in Creative writing, pain, guilt, emotions and so on. As said earlier, despite it's peculiarity, there's a magic around it. 

One might argue that pictorial representation of fear is better than using words to describe fear in writing. This is not actually true. Infact, writing does the job better and even more appealing to the readers.

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How to Describe Fear In Writing

Describing fear in writing appears to be something tasking but it's actually not. Fear like all emotions, has calibers and their description defines them in writing.

Thus, to describe fear in writing, here are some steps to follow. 

Types of fear in writing

1. Anxiety
2. Nervousness
3. Horror 
4. Panic
5. Dread

1. Anxiety: Anxiety is defined as an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event. In short, anxiety is a feeling of worry.

To describe anxiety in place of fear while writing, think of what people often do when tensed or uneasy. Most people bite their nails and fingers, play with and squeeze their fingers, eyeballs drawn together,foot-tapping, leg-tapping, being irritable, panic attack, laughing a lot etc.

For instance, Janet stood before the the board, uneasy, as she momentarily taps his foot and bit her nails.

Here is an example of how to describe fear in writing, using an example of anxiety.

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2. Nervousness: Nervousness is simply a state of being nervous. Hence, nervous is defined as " being easily agitated or alarmed; tending to be anxious; highly strung". 

This phase of fear often occurs more when the outcome of a circumstances or something is unknown, thus , one become agitated, tensed.

Difference between anxiety and nervousness

Although, anxiety is closely related to nervousness, there is a slight difference between both types of fear.

Nervousness is the typical fear of the unknown whereas anxiety is the fear of a bad outcome.

Example of nervousness is stomach upset and some other examples enlisted under anxiety. The latter can also be used to describe fear in writing.

3. Horror: Another type of fear is horror. It's an an intense distressing emotion of fear or repugnance. Horror is fear mixed with disbelief or shock: for example, a scene after a shooting on the news might horrify somebody.

 An example of a sign of horror is shock, gasping for breath, inability to move or act, sweating profusely and many other examples. 

4. Terror is closely similar to horror but compared to the latter, terror is an unfiltered or undiluted fear. 

Examples of horror is also applicable to terror. Other examples are wide eyes, paleness, crying etc.

5. Dread: It simply means, to anticipate with fear.

 Example of dread in a sentence is,

I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.

Dread is similar to anxiety, but heavier even than that, because the feeling implies that you already know the outcome is not good, whereas anxiety expects a bad outcome but isn't sure.

6. Panic: Panic is a sudden or overwhelming fright which often occurs due to wildly unthinking behaviour. This type of fear is attributed to the ancient Greeks to the influence of Pan.

Examples of panic are hyperventilating, crying, speech problems (word vomiting, especially calm speech, or repetition. These can be resourceful when writing fear.

Hence, to describe fear in writing using the aforementioned examples, endeavour to identify the category such fear falls into. If it's panic, you can use one of the examples cited above or use something much better.

And if it's not, panic, find something closely related to the reaction and emotion of the character while describing fear.

The most important thing is that your readers get the message of fear.

It's noteworthy however, that the usage of the above examples to describe fear in writing shouldn't appear too dramatic or unrealistic as it may be make the content look watery. 

It's true every readers wants something captivating, interesting, thrilling, funny, or a little bit of touch in a story but all these expectations are sustained based on the style of the writers, the usage of diction and expressions, and specifically in description such as fear in writing as we have disclosed above.

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Fear Of Writing: Overcoming The Writing Fear

Writing Fear or simply put, fear of writing may be resuscitated due to many factors.

Fear of writing might occur due to low self confidence, competition, anxiety etc.

While fear in writing might most times be something that are not visible, they often times reflect in the writing or works of the writer, mostly unpublished writers.

Hence, here are some way to conquer your fear of writing

1. Believe more in yourself.
2. Don't copy other people's style of writing. Each writer has his own unique style of writing and that makes him different.
3. It's good to be different, but the better.
4. Learn to write at least more than 1000 words every day. Stephen. King, the most acknowledged horror author affirmed this.
5. Don't discouraged.
6. Always edit, re-edit the first draft. First draft are often times an undiluted stream of thoughts.
7. Read more books. Learn from other writers.
8. Build more on yourself.
9. Attend seminars if necessary.

Also, aside the aforementioned, helpful ways to conquer fear of writing is by submitting often to magazines, writing contests, volunteering, engage in public submissions etc. This works more in overcoming the writing fear with time. It instills confidence.

You can also become a freelance writer.(learn more about freelance writing and definition of freelance writing)

Under freelance, as a writer, you can become a content writer, copywriter, creative writer and many more

Also, while you might not get accepted by the magazines or might not win a particular contest, don't be discouraged. This prepares you more often.

How To Express Fear In Writing 

 You can express fear in writing by using the following words:

1. Scared out of my wits
2. My heart skipped a beat
3. Shaking in my boots
4. Afraid of my own shadow
5. Frightened to death
6. Petrified with fear
7. My blood ran cold

Words Used To Describe Scared In Creative Writing

The following words can be used to describe scared in creating writing: 

1. Petrified
2. Scared 
3. Fearful
4. Disquieted 
5. Apprehensive

Also Read: "Broken" A Poem By Miapeh

Fear Of Writing Signatures.

While this might appear unrelated to the above topic, it's not exactly unimportant.

Definition Of Signature? Signature can be simply defined as an act of signing.

However, on a broad term, signature can be defined as a person's name, written by that person, used as identification or to signify approval of accompanying material, such as a legal contract.

Signatures are often appended to signify approval or consent. And each signature has its peculiarity to the appender.

There's nothing wrong with having a family pretty signature. Honestly, it doesn't count. 

Based on my experience, signatures are often ugly. 

Thus, there's no reason to have fear of writing signatures or be scared of letting people see your signature.