So You Want to Write? Yes, You Can.

Part 1 – Five Common Mistakes Made by Aspiring Writers 

During my recent job search, I met psychiatrists of all ages and in all types of practice.  One thing that surprised me along the trail is that several psychiatrists wanted to talk about something personal— developing their own writing.  

Both of the psychiatrists in question were struggling.  They each wanted to share something, yet both felt unable to move beyond their private scribblings into the larger world.  

I’ve therefore devoted my next two blogs to the topic of creative writing for health professionals.  (While some of these ideas can be applied loosely to the process of scholarly writing, I do not address important topics such as research that are essential to scholarly work.) 

What was getting in the way of these psychiatrists writing?  Here are a few possible obstacles: 

1. Trying to do it alone.  In medicine, we are taught to figure things out on our own, and to some extent, to not ask for help.  Writing, like any creative pursuit, does require time spent alone. However, it also requires the support of others—to provide feedback, encouragement, and wisdom from experience. 
2. Perfectionism.  Those detail-oriented, obsessive personality traits which have been useful as a physician can also be helpful when it comes to editing and refining your work. But only to a point.
3. Self-criticism.  If you are prone to self-criticism, it can be difficult to write something, decide you have finished editing it, and let it go.  A writer friend of mine—a clinical psychologist who has now published two books in her retirement—tells me that she never reads her published work, in order to avoid self-criticism.
4. Fear of censure.  In an age of internet trolls, this is a valid concern. No one wants to be vilified or shamed for expressing themselves!  On the other hand, creating dialogue is part of what writing is about. If people took the time to respond, it means that they read and reflected upon (hopefully) what you wrote. Luckily, you can manage whether you allow comments on the Web—and from whom.
5. Too-high expectations.  One psychiatrist I met had a great idea for a book, an idea he had been toying with for many years but had never followed through with. With the recent advent of self-publishing companies, publishing a book is now quite feasible. However, starting such a big project can feel overwhelming.  Also, remember that writing essays or fiction is different than writing progress notes. It may take time to adjust to a different style of writing. 

If you want to write, I encourage you.  The process of writing is its greatest reward, although sharing that work is wonderful, too.  During this time of great change in healthcare, we need many voices sharing their perspectives from the front lines. 

A number of wonderful books exist that provide wisdom on the messy art of writing.  One of my favorites is Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, which is very funny and very real. Ranier Maria Rilke wrote the epistles that became Letters to a Young Poet a century ago, yet they continue to inspire and encourage beginning writers today.Although not expressly about writing, Kitchen Table Wisdom by pediatrician Rachel Naomi Remen provides meaningful insights on doctoring and life. Finally, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron provides a step-by-step guide for getting your creative juices flowing. 

Are you a psychiatrist or other mental health professional who writes, or who wants to?  What challenges have you faced with your writing?  I’d love to hear your experiences. 

Stay tuned for my next blog—six tips on how to beat the writing blues. 

Leigh Jennings, MD recently completed her residency training in adult psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where she served as Associate Chief Resident for Scholarly Activity.  Follow Dr. Jennings on Twitter at @leighjenningsmd.

The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the blog post author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Psych Congress Network or other Psych Congress Network authors. Blog entries are not medical advice.