Tips for Writers Who Overthink Everything

Overthinking is both a writer’s secret weapon and their greatest obstacle. The same mind that crafts layered characters and vivid worlds can also spiral into doubt, second-guessing every sentence. If you’re a writer who overthinks everything, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not stuck. With a few intentional habits, you can turn that mental noise into creative clarity.

First, separate writing from editing. Overthinkers tend to do both at once, which slows everything down. Give yourself permission to write messy drafts. Think of your first draft as a brainstorming session, not a final product. You can’t refine what doesn’t exist yet.

Second, set limits. Endless possibilities fuel overthinking, so create boundaries. Use timed writing sessions—20 or 30 minutes works well—and commit to writing without stopping. When the timer ends, step away. Constraints force decisions and reduce the urge to endlessly reconsider.

Third, trust your instincts. Your initial phrasing or idea is often more authentic than the version you arrive at after excessive tweaking. If something feels right, keep it. You can always revisit it later, but don’t assume your first thought is wrong.

Another helpful strategy is to lower the stakes. Not every piece you write needs to be brilliant or publishable. When you treat everything as high-pressure, your brain naturally overanalyzes. Give yourself space to write “just okay” work—ironically, it often turns out better than expected.

It also helps to create a clear stopping point. Overthinkers struggle to know when something is “done,” so define that ahead of time. For example, decide you’ll revise a piece twice, then move on. Done is better than perfect.

Finally, get out of your own head by sharing your work. Feedback from others can ground your perspective and remind you that readers don’t notice every tiny detail you obsess over.

Overthinking doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer—it often means you care deeply. The goal isn’t to eliminate overthinking entirely, but to manage it so it works for you, not against you. With practice, you’ll learn when to lean into it—and when to let go.

Thank you so much for your support and your continued readership. Have a blessed new week!

© Rhema International 2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rhema International.

Notes To Writers Who Are Trying

If you are trying to write—really trying—you are already doing something difficult and worthwhile. The word trying might sound small, but in the life of a writer it carries enormous weight. Trying means showing up when the page is blank. It means writing sentences that feel clumsy, unfinished, or uncertain, and continuing anyway.

Many writers believe that the real ones write effortlessly, that stories appear fully formed, and that doubt never interrupts their work. But the truth is simpler and more comforting: most writing begins in confusion. Drafts wander. Characters behave unpredictably. Ideas that once seemed brilliant collapse halfway through a paragraph. This is not failure; it is the process.

Trying also means allowing yourself to write badly for a while. Early drafts are not supposed to be perfect. They are supposed to exist. A page full of awkward sentences is far more valuable than a blank document waiting for the “right moment.” Writing improves through motion, not hesitation.

Another quiet truth: comparison is one of the fastest ways to drain the joy from writing. When you read work that feels brilliant or effortless, it is easy to assume you are behind or lacking something essential. But what you are seeing is the polished result of many unseen revisions. Your messy draft is simply at a different stage of the same journey.

Persistence matters more than sudden inspiration. Writers who finish things are not always the most talented; they are often the ones who return to the work repeatedly, even when excitement fades. A paragraph today, a page tomorrow—these small acts accumulate into chapters, essays, and stories.

It also helps to remember that writing is a conversation with time. Ideas that feel unclear today may sharpen tomorrow. A scene that seems weak may become powerful after a few careful revisions. Growth happens quietly, sentence by sentence.

So if you are trying to write, keep going. Protect your curiosity. Be patient with your imperfect drafts. The act of trying—of sitting down and shaping words despite uncertainty—is not a sign that you are struggling to be a writer. It is evidence that you already are one.

Thank you so much for your support and your continued readership. Have a blessed new week!

© Rhema International 2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rhema International.

For Writers: Handling Rejection Letters from Literary Journals

Do you submit short stories or poetry to literary journals like me? If so, you must know the effect a rejection letter can have. But rest assured, you are not alone. Everyone receives a rejection letter. It's just part of the business of being a writer. I'm focusing here on short story or poetry submissions, but the same applies to novels and other work, such as magazine articles or non-fiction journals.

http://nicksnicholas.com/2024/06/25/for-writers-handling-rejection-letters-from-literary-journals/

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Writers - how's your author mindset going? There's a great online conference this weekend (free if you sign up before it starts). It's run in conjunction with the Alliance of Independent Authors and there will be 24 sessions over 24 hours with speakers including Jane Friedman, Joanna Penn and more. I'll be hosting a panel on global mindset with some authors who just blow my mind with how they are connecting with readers from around the world. More info:
https://annafeatherstone.com/need-an-author-mindset-boost/

#joannapenn #jessicafriedman #authors #authormindset #indieauthor #indieauthors #amwriting #writingcommunity #writingconference #tipsforwriters #writinginspiration #selfpublishing #publishing