61. Is Fear Keeping Your Story Invisible?

In this episode I dive into the quiet, hidden fear that holds so many writers back — the comfort of invisibility. 

Whether you’ve told yourself “I’m not ready yet” or “this isn’t good enough,” chances are it’s not your story that’s the problem. It’s fear dressed up as perfection, safety, or self-doubt. Let's unpack why staying unseen feels deceptively comfortable, and how taking small, brave steps toward visibility can shift everything. If you’ve been hiding your work, this one’s for you.

Website | Substack

Transcript

STEPS TO STORY EP 61 - Is Fear Keeping Your Story Invisible?

[00:00:00] Nicole Meier: Today we're talking about something that so many writers carry quietly, and it might just be the one thing, keeping your story from reaching the world, the comfort of invisibility, because whether you've been telling yourself, I'm not ready yet, or This isn't good enough yet, I'm willing to bet it's not your story, that's the problem.

[00:00:20] Nicole Meier: It's fear. So let's start here. The psychological safety of staying unseen.

[00:00:35] Nicole Meier: Welcome to Steps to Story. This season I'm focusing on helping you grow as a writer and as an author. I am Nicole Meier, multi published author and certified book coach here to guide you on strengthening your story and getting it out into the world. This season we'll explore ways to overcome the challenges that hold writers back from breaking through creative blocks to fine tuning your story structure and navigating the publishing world with confidence.

[00:01:03] Nicole Meier: Wherever you are in your journey, consider this your supportive space to find clarity, direction, and encouragement. Let's take the next step in your story together.

[00:01:18] Nicole Meier: Hey there, writers and welcome. Today we're talking about something that so many writers carry quietly, and it might just be the one thing, keeping your story from reaching the world, the comfort of invisibility. I know that sounds a little strange, right? Comfort and invisibility, but stick with me because whether you've been telling yourself I'm not ready yet, or This isn't good enough yet, or who would even wanna read this?

[00:01:43] Nicole Meier: I'm willing to bet it's not your story. That's the problem. It's fear and sometimes fear puts on its coziest disguise safety. So let's start here. The psychological safety of staying unseen. As humans, we are wired to avoid risk. And for writers, there's nothing riskier than letting the world see the stories that matter the most to us.

[00:02:11] Nicole Meier: Sharing your work can sometimes feel like walking outside without any clothes on. So what do we do? We tuck our manuscripts into a drawer. We keep revising the first three chapters on an endless loop. We convince ourselves we'll share it when it's close to perfect. Perfection is often fear in disguise and perfection.

[00:02:34] Nicole Meier: It never shows up, does it? Because the real work is not in polishing something until the world approves. It's in allowing yourself to be seen, even when the work is still a little messy, a little unfinished, a little raw. It's the vulnerability paradox. The more imperfect and human your work is, the more likely it is to connect with someone, but showing your imperfect work, that's the hard part, and it gets even harder when you layer in the cultural scripts many of us grew up with, such as don't take up too much space.

[00:03:12] Nicole Meier: Stay humble. Don't get too big for your britches, especially for women, especially for anyone raised in an environment where ambition was quietly. Or not so quietly discouraged. So let me say this, if you've been shrinking your dreams, it isn't because you lack discipline or talent. I'm gonna say that again.

[00:03:36] Nicole Meier: If you've been shrinking your dreams, it isn't because you lack discipline or talent. It's because you've been trained in one way or another to equate visibility with risk. But here's the truth. Private, creative nurturing is necessary. That early stage where your ideas are fragile, where your characters are still finding their voices, that is sacred.

[00:04:02] Nicole Meier: But, but, but, but if you stay here too long, it can quietly slip into fear based hiding. And when that happens, your growth stops, your confidence plateaus and the story you've been carrying inside you, it stays locked away. So how do you break free from the comfort of invisibility? You don't do it all at once.

[00:04:26] Nicole Meier: You take it with baby steps. For example, let's say you've been working on a novel for a while, but only your laptop has seen it. One small step might be this, choose a single paragraph, not the whole chapter, not the whole draft. Just one paragraph that feels meaningful to you and share it. Maybe with a trusted writing friend or in a private writing community, or even in a caption on social media or substack paired with a note about what inspired it.

[00:04:56] Nicole Meier: That's it. One paragraph, one act of visibility. And the world doesn't end your writing. Life doesn't implode. In fact, you might find that someone else says, this line really spoke to me. That is the beginning of shifting the story you've been telling yourself from, I can't to maybe I can. Visibility is a muscle.

[00:05:20] Nicole Meier: The more you use it, the stronger it gets. And here's something I want you to really hear. You don't have to wait until you feel ready to be visible. Visibility creates readiness. When you let your work be seen, even in small and perfect ways, you build proof for yourself that you can handle the discomfort and growth always lives on the other side of that.

[00:05:48] Nicole Meier: Isn't that reassuring? Alright. I've seen this play out so many times with the writers I coach. The moment they push past fear and start sharing their work, whether it's in a writing workshop, a query letter, or even an Instagram caption, their confidence blooms, their writing sharpens, their creative life expands.

[00:06:10] Nicole Meier: And suddenly the world doesn't feel quite so scary anymore. And I'll tell you, I know this from experience too. I'm gonna share something personal here. I almost let fear talk me out of writing my debut novel. It was inspired by the real life house of Ray Bradbury, a literary icon. I loved the story, but I was terrified of what his devoted fans might think.

[00:06:36] Nicole Meier: Still, I wrote even as fear, sat in the passenger seat all the way to the end. I held my breath when his family read the manuscript. I held it again when the books hit the shelves and the question lingered. Who was I to tell this story? And then you guys, the letters came, notes from his friends and fans full of kindness, full of heart.

[00:07:06] Nicole Meier: Today, nearly a decade later, a piece of Bradbury's Yellow house hangs on my office wall. It was a gift from one of his longtime friends, and she sent a thank you for keeping the little yellow house alive. I can't tell you how much that meant to me as a creative the lesson, let fear ride along, but never let it drive.

[00:07:31] Nicole Meier: So if you've been hiding, I want you to know you are not alone, but staying small won't protect you. It'll only keep you stuck. Take one tiny step towards visibility today, just one, and then do it again tomorrow because the stories you carry deserve to be heard and so do you. That's it for today of the short but sweet episode of Steps to Story.

[00:07:58] Nicole Meier: If this episode hit home for you, I'd love to hear about it. Send me a message on my website@nicolemeier.com or come find me on substack at Nicole Meier writes, remember I'm cheering you on always. Until next time, keep writing forward everyone.

[00:08:21] Nicole Meier: If you want to check out my coaching programs for fiction writers, visit nicole meier.com. That's M-E-I-E-R. And if you like this episode, I'd love you to take a minute to leave a rating and review for this podcast. This will help more writers like you to discover the show. And to get going on their writing journey.

[00:08:41] Nicole Meier: Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, happy writing everyone.