Rules for writing anxiety-free

What follows is a post from my other blog that dates back to August 2012.

In the advent of going back to school, I am terrified I will not be up to par. While trying to write a very short essay to qualify for a scholarship, I realized how long it has been since I last had to write anything at all. I've procrastinated for days before getting started, and came up with some of my long-lost writing strategies from my university days. I thought I'd share my two-cents with you in case anyone was feeling the same way and needed a bit of encouragement. So without further ado, here are my rules for writing anxiety-free:

- There is never an obligation to start from the very beginning.

 - Writing by hand with a real pen and paper helps your mind keep up with your writing and gives you time to construct sentences that actually mean what you're trying to say. So leave that laptop at home guilt-free.

- Embrace changes and scratch out words even if it looks ugly. You can't always get it right he first time and corrections only want what's best for you!

- Drafts are a necessary step. Be patient with them.

- The thesaurus is your best friend; take it with you.

- Attack your blank page with a plan, no matter how simple.

- It's ok to not write if you're not feeling inspired. Wait until it hits you.

- Sometimes deadlines trigger inspiration. Visualize one if you need to.

- Swallow the pill and re-read yourself slowly, more than once.