Hey E. C.! Thanks for your comment and thoughtful question! It’s a good one, and I’ll try to be brief in my response.

Firstly, I love the theme for your story. It is an increasingly important message that we as Christians can be providing to others, the hope and comfort and peace that we have in Christ despite our struggles.

Secondly, this article was really geared a bit more towards clinical anxiety (in other words, there is something going on in a person’s body/brain that affects their ability to process stressful situations). If your character is dealing with worry only, then we are talking about slightly different things.

Thirdly, my biggest recommendation for you would be to dig deep into your protagonist’s past if you haven’t already. People don’t tend to worry for no reason. In MOST cases, something about their past or childhood influenced them in such a way that worry becomes their norm. It doesn’t have to be a traumatic instance or even anything abusive. For example, it could be that your protagonist’s father was anxious and worried while she was growing up. Perhaps he had a traumatic experience. As a result, he as a parent worries about everything – is their home safe, does his family have enough food, what if he fails to provide, or what if he becomes as cruel as his own parents. He worries constantly.

Your protagonist, since she was a little child, grows up with a parent who was always worrying. Kids learn and adopt lifestyles and beliefs of their parents despite how hard a parent may try to shield them from it. Perhaps she bore the anxiety of her parents. Or maybe her parents were never outright abusive, but instead made remarks to her growing up that shattered her confidence. Destroying the confidence and security of a child, whether it be intentional or not, can have drastic results – like anxiety.

That was a long explanation to say: your protagonist needs to have a reason that she struggles with worry and anxiety. Maybe she doesn’t know what’s causing it at the beginning of the story. But the path to healing includes identifying the root cause. Did she feel safe as a child? Did her parents always worry? Why is she so anxious? Why?

I’m sorry for the lengthy response! I hope this is at least a little helpful! Good luck in your writing, and don’t give up!

This sounds worth trying, though I’m worried I would use a gazillion post it notes. How many do you use for a novel?

Thank you for writing this, it’s so helpful!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad it helped, Sara! A lot of these are mistakes that I made in past writing and trying to avoid now!

Thank you, Joshua! These are some very helpful points to keep in mind.

Excellent article! Just what I needed to come up with my country’s anthem. Thanks! 🙂

This is an interesting article. I LOVE writing songs for my stories, and this advice will help me to place them better within the plot.

Awesome timing! Good luck as you start incorporating some epic songs into your writing!

Mmm, this is awesome.

My sickly brain cells are blessing you for these words of wisdom. My characters are blessing you for not having to inherit their author’s lacking intellect. This is a fabulous article. 🎉