What To Do When Fear Shows Up

If you’ve ever felt a pull to write a children’s book — and then immediately felt fear rise up — I want you to know something important right away: you’re not doing anything wrong.

Fear often appears at the exact moment we step outside what feels familiar. Writing a book asks you to try something new, to label yourself as an author, and to imagine sharing your words with the world. That alone is enough to make even the most capable person pause.

I want to talk gently and honestly about why fear shows up for writers, especially children’s book authors, and how you can move forward without letting that fear take the wheel.

We’ll Cover:

• Why fear appears when you try something new
• The three-step framework I teach children & writers
• What I would tell a fearful writer today

Why Fear Appears When You Try Something New

Fear has a way of showing up whenever we stretch beyond our comfort zone. Our bodies are wired to notice unfamiliar situations and signal caution.

Writing a children’s book is no exception.

You’re learning a new craft. You’re imagining a future version of yourself as an author. You’re putting words on paper that feel personal and meaningful. Fear often arrives not because something is wrong, but because something new is beginning.

This is common. It’s human. It’s shared by nearly every writer I’ve ever met.

The goal is not to eliminate fear–the goal is to understand the fear well enough that it no longer stops you.

Three-Step Framework I Teach Children & Writers

When I first started visiting schools to read my book I Can Believe in Myself to students, I shared a simple framework with the children. Over the years, I’ve realized this same framework applies beautifully to adults who want to write.

Whenever you want to do something new, there are three steps.

The first step is belief.

Not perfect confidence, not knowing every answer—just the decision to say, “I can try.”

I often think of my daughter when she was in first grade. She wanted to do a cartwheel. The first time she tried, she fell and immediately said, “I can’t do it.”

We gently shifted the language to “I can.”

That small change mattered. Belief gave her permission to keep going.

As a writer, belief looks like this: allowing yourself to begin before you feel ready. If you wait to do something until you feel “ready”, you might never start it.

Belief does not mean the fear disappears, it just means you keep moving, even when fear is present.

When my daughter changed her words to “I can,” her cartwheel didn’t suddenly become perfect. She still fell. She still wobbled. What changed was her willingness to keep trying.

Writing works the same way. Your first draft is not meant to be your final draft. It’s just meant to exist.

Belief gives your story a starting place.

The second step is finding a mentor.

When my daughter wanted to learn that cartwheel, she asked our babysitter, who happened to be a gymnast, for help. Someone who had already done the thing she wanted to do could guide her with simple, clear instructions.

Writers need this too.

Confidence grows faster when you’re not doing everything alone. A mentor helps you see what’s possible, avoid unnecessary frustration, and stay grounded when doubt creeps in.

You do not need to know everything. You simply need the advice and guidance of someone who has walked the path before you.

If you want to be part of a community of authors, consider joining StoryMakers, my membership for authors just like you. Here, you’ll have a space to write and discuss your process with fellow authors, as well as get advice from those who have already been through the process. If you’re interested, you can visit the link below:

The third step is practice.

There is no way around this part. Skill grows through repetition.

My daughter practised her cartwheel again and again. She fell. She stood back up. She said, “I can,” and tried once more. Eventually, she landed it — and the pride on her face said everything.

Writing a children’s book works the same way.

Your first draft is a beginning. Each revision strengthens your story. Each attempt builds confidence you can feel, not just think about.

Practice is where fear starts to soften.

What I Would Tell a Fearful Writer Today

If I could sit across from you and offer one piece of guidance, it would be this:

Trust yourself.

You have been given a story to share for a reason. The right words will come, and your message will land where it needs to. Your story has the potential to make a difference in the life of a child.

Fear does not disqualify you. It simply means you care.

Everyone who writes feels fear — new authors and established authors alike. The difference is not the absence of fear, but the decision to carry it gently alongside you.

When you stop fighting fear and allow it to come with you on the journey, it often grows quieter. With each step forward, belief becomes steadier, writing becomes easier, and you become stronger.

Fear is not a sign you should stop–fear is often a sign you’re standing at the edge of something meaningful.

Children’s books shape how young readers see themselves and the world. If you feel called to write one, that calling matters. Your willingness to move forward, even slowly, can ripple far beyond you.

If you’re navigating fear while trying to write your children’s book, I invite you to come and be a part of our community of published and aspiring authors. StoryMakers is the perfect place for anyone who wants support from like-minded writers as they navigate the journey of writing their children’s story.

If StoryMakers sounds like the exact kind of community you need, you can join us at the link below:

You do not need to wait for fear to disappear before you begin.

You are allowed to bring it with you, take the next small step, and trust that courage grows through action.

I believe in you.