{"id":28315,"date":"2024-05-07T03:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T10:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=28315"},"modified":"2024-05-02T07:19:43","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T14:19:43","slug":"how-to-train-the-four-horsemen-of-the-writers-apocalypse-by-kirsten-mcneill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/07\/how-to-train-the-four-horsemen-of-the-writers-apocalypse-by-kirsten-mcneill\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Train the Four Horsemen of the Writer\u2019s Apocalypse by Kirsten McNeill"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back Kirsten McNeill<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cHow to Train the Four Horsemen of the Writer\u2019s Apocalypse\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

I love talking about confidence and mindset to help writers publish their stories without second guessing themselves.<\/strong> That passion has led me to create an analogy that I\u2019m really excited about.<\/p>\n

Your brain is a generator of ideas, and some of those ideas are thoughts that don\u2019t serve you in a positive way. Each thought can be labeled under one of Four Horsemen of the Writer\u2019s Apocalypse.<\/p>\n

These horsemen run around a racetrack<\/strong>, each with their own set of thoughts trailing behind. There is no exit on this track. That is, not unless you create one for them.<\/p>\n

Who are the horsemen?<\/h2>\n

1 Doubt:<\/strong> This one likes to make you wonder if you\u2019re good enough at writing. It makes you question if you should keep pursuing your dream.<\/p>\n

You second guess every decision you\u2019re making when it comes to plot, characters, and your overall ability to be successful in your writing goals.<\/p>\n

2 Criticism:<\/strong> This one critiques every little thing you do. It examines it under a microscope, and offers ideas on how to change it or make it \u201cbetter\u201d, which is such a subjective term.<\/p>\n

It brings out your perfectionist side and takes away all the joy of writing. Criticism is not constructive, because all it wants to do is stop you from writing.<\/p>\n

3 Stress:<\/strong> Are you always feeling like you\u2019re falling behind?<\/p>\n

Worried about meeting your self-imposed deadlines?<\/p>\n

Kicking yourself when you don\u2019t keep to your schedule?<\/p>\n

Struggling to balance writing with other areas of your life?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s stress. Stress enjoys chaos.<\/p>\n

4 Fear:<\/strong> This horsemen is all about vulnerability and holding you back from sharing your words and stories with the world.<\/p>\n

It wants to keep you squished inside a little box, surrounded by a dark cloud of thoughts on the many ways other people could potentially judge you.<\/p>\n

How can you train these horsemen to treat you better?<\/h2>\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Identify one thought and which horsemen is in control of it.<\/p>\n

For example, \u201cI don\u2019t have enough time to write. I\u2019m always falling behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

That thought belongs to Stress.<\/p>\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Write that thought down in a journal. If you\u2019re feeling particularly whimsical, you could even draw the horseman.<\/p>\n

Once the thought and the horseman is on the page, that means you\u2019ve taken it out of its closed-loop track in your mind. You\u2019ve increased your power over it and can now view it objectively.<\/p>\n

Step 3:<\/strong> Analyze if there\u2019s any truth behind your thought and what it\u2019s trying to tell you.<\/p>\n