Writing is hard. It’s risky, too, because it is an act that exposes ourselves–who we are–to others.

Thus writing puts one at high risk, evoking great potential for anxiety. As George Herbert Mead (1962) and other social thinkers have noticed, the response of the other is central to our processes of identity formation and perception of ourselves as social actors.

Charles Bazerman

You ever lie in bed, remembering something stupid you said five years ago? Writing is like that, only it’s in your face, ALL THE TIME. Instead of just a bad memory, you can see the awkwardness of your writing, right there.

And so can everyone else. If you say something dumb, people might remember it. But if you write something dumb, people see it, read it, have it in front of them, and can criticize it a lot more than a word that disappears as soon as it’s said.

PLUS, so much of our writing is evaluated in school, and there’s nothing like a grade to create anxiety.

Thus putting ourselves “on the line” with writing creates psychological resistances, opportunities for failures of courage, backing away from our statements, insecurities and uncertainties, and general lack of clarity of thought.

Charles Bazerman

No wonder writing is so hard!