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How to Keep Writing When You Can’t See the Path Ahead
And why uncertainty stops writers in their tracks
A few days ago, I found myself walking through thick fog — the kind that makes it impossible to see more than a few steps ahead.
I hesitated. Should I turn back? Wait for it to clear? Find another route where everything was certain?
Instead, I kept walking.
And as I did, I realised: this is exactly what writing feels like.
Why Uncertainty Stops Writers in Their Tracks
Most of us want a clear plan before we begin. We tell ourselves things like:
- I need to outline the whole book before I start writing
- I’ll begin my project when I feel confident about it
- If I don’t know where this piece is going, what’s the point of writing?
But here’s the truth: writing isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about finding them as you go.
If you wait until the path is clear, you’ll never start. And if you stop every time doubt creeps in, you’ll never finish.
This isn’t just a creative struggle — it’s backed by psychology. The Zeigarnik Effect, a well-known psychological principle…
