There is a constant push and pull to the writer’s life. On the one hand, we want to have control over every aspect of our writing and creativity. We want to share our voices. We want to publish in the way that suits our goals. We want control over distribution and marketing. We want to avoid being under the thumb of any entity or force that would limit our options.

On the other hand, there is something to be said for giving up control, isn’t there? When we try to maintain too much control, it hampers the creative process. We lose the ability to get into a state of flow. After all, creativity is not a force that wants to be tightly controlled. It’s a little bit wild, which is a key part of the mystery of creativity.

This is why dealing with writer’s block is such an important concern for writers. When we try to exert too much control, the creative force stalls out. Natalie Goldberg said, “Our ideas and intentions can mask and cover up a story; there is a life force that will declare itself if you let it. Get out of the way.”

Are you standing in the way of the life force that wants to express itself in your writing? Is it possible, even a tiny bit, that your own best efforts to control the outcome are actually counterproductive?

If so, don’t feel bad. We are all prone to do this. All writers are control freaks to some extent. It’s part of our identity. But if we can manage to step aside and let creativity do its work, we will find many treasures that would otherwise be lost.