AMA: How To Write When You’re Afraid No One Will Care About Your Story

Many writers, especially those who’ve lived through deep pain, quietly carry the same fear:

What if I’m not good enough? What if no one will care about what I have to say?

This Ask Me Anything came from a woman who wants to write a series about a little girl awakening to the world, even after trauma. Her voice is tender and wise. But like so many others, she’s wrestling with self-doubt — about her grammar, her structure, and her worth.

Here’s what I told her.

First: your story matters.
The way you describe it —a girl discovering beauty and compassion after harm —is already powerful. That’s already enough.

Second: don’t worry about punctuation.
That’s what editors and tools like Grammarly are for. You don’t have to be perfect. You have to show up for your story.

And when the voice comes — the one that whispers no one will care — I try to meet it gently. I remind myself:

I’m not writing to impress anyone. I’m writing to stay close to myself.

To honor what I’ve lived. To find meaning, even if it’s just between me and the page.

Some days, that’s more than enough. Some days, it’s everything.

If you’re afraid to write, try this:

These three small steps can help you begin:

1. Set a 10-minute timer.
   Write without editing. Let your voice spill onto the page. Let it be messy. Let it be yours.

2. Find one sentence of truth.
   Just one. It can be small. But if it feels real to you, it’s a seed. That’s where your story begins.

3. Bless the page when you’re done.
   No need to reread or judge it. Just say: Thank you for letting me write this today.

You don’t have to be fearless to write. You just have to be faithful.

Your story belongs. And so do you.

Ready to begin?

If this speaks to you…

If your story has been quietly waiting…

I’d love to support you.

Memoir mentorships at Woodbine Studio are open now. You don’t need to be polished. You just need to be present.

Explore mentorship options here.

Have a question for the next Ask Me Anything?

Submit your question here — anonymously or not — and I may answer it in a future post.