Submit Your Writing Win to the Courage Files for Season 4! 

Can we find more play in writing by lowering the stakes? This episode explores how perfectionism, pressure, productivity culture, and the need to “get it right” can slowly drain the joy out of creativity.

I talk about where play naturally exists in the writing process—daydreaming, brainstorming, messy drafting—and why reconnecting with those moments might matter more than forcing constant productivity. Sometimes the path back to creativity isn’t pushing harder. Sometimes it’s lowering the stakes enough to let yourself explore.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck in drafting or revision, overwhelmed by expectations, burned out by productivity culture, or guilty because writing hasn’t felt fun lately… this one’s for you.

There’s also a quick season update and information about the new Courage Files segment coming in Season Four.

Timestamps:
 00:00 When expectations block creativity
 00:24 Welcome to Write It Scared
 01:21 Season update + Courage Files
 03:48 What “play” means in writing
 04:43 When writing starts to feel heavy
 07:23 Lowering the stakes
 08:33 Reflection prompts
 09:21 Closing thoughts

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To get in touch with Stacy:

Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co

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