If you have ever been hiking on a trail in the woods, you have seen the markers that show your distance and keep you headed in the right direction. The purpose of those signs is to keep you from getting lost and guide you along the way.

There are similar signs in the writer’s life. These markers indicate our direction, but they’re not always obvious as trail markers.

One of the signs is fear. What are you afraid to do? Is it outlining that book? Is it contacting that author whom you want to meet? Maybe it’s setting up your website or sharing your writing with beta readers.

Your biggest writing-related fear is a huge indicator of the direction you should go. Your fear is usually a sign pointing to what you should focus on.

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it best. He said, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” Most of us do the exact opposite. We let fear push us away from what we should be doing.

You don’t need to be afraid of fear. Fear can be your best friend—a friend that gently guides you toward a creative calling that will bring you greater success and fulfillment.

Today’s Challenge: Think about the scariest thing you have to do today. What would it feel like to face your fear head-on and do what you need to do anyway?