By Jessica Berg
When it comes to our narratives, we all feel the weight of an invisible audience on our shoulders.
An esteemed editor lurking in the shadows, shaking their head at your em dash misuse. Your rockstar agent, sipping espresso, silently judging your lack of “marketable stakes.” That one future reader who will absolutely roast you on Bluesky for using “all of a sudden” instead of “suddenly.”
And let’s not forget the person in the front row of your future book reading, furiously side-eyeing your overuse of ellipses. Or the panelist who “respectfully disagrees” with your entire creative philosophy.
Ah, three adverbs when two would have been fine. Bold move.
Or: Wow, look at all those dialogue tags. She must think we can’t tell who’s talking.
My personal favorite: Did she seriously just describe a character’s eyes as “orbs”? (It’s a valid description, okay?)
It’s tempting, and frankly terrifying, to imagine how our words will land, who might heap praise or hurl critiques, and whether this is the moment we finally ascend to the lofty, glittering title of “real writer.”
But here’s the truth: that kind of thinking is a one-way ticket to creative burnout. You can’t write authentically if you’re obsessing over what everyone else might think. So what if you could silence that invisible audience? What if, for once, you could write like no one would ever read it?
The Experiment: Writing Without a Filter
Let’s try something right now. Grab a piece of paper, open a blank document, or even type into your Notes app. Write one single sentence you would never, under any circumstances, want anyone else to read. Make it messy. Embarrassing. Raw. Strange. Maybe a little too revealing.
Done?
Look at it. How does it feel?
Awkward? Like you just typed out your search history by accident? If yes, then you’re on the right track.
And if it feels thrilling, like you’ve finally let out a secret that’s been inside your heart? That exhilaration, that sense of invigoration, is what writing without fear can bring.
This isn’t about breaking rules for the sake of it. What we’re aiming for is allowing yourself to go to the deepest, weirdest, strangest parts of your creative mind. Writing without a filter means stepping away from the imaginary audience, the judgment, and the need to “get it right.” It’s about finding the spark that makes your writing feel alive, messy, and uniquely yours.
Let the Draft Be the Dumpster Fire It Needs to Be
Think of your drafts as a proving ground. Not everything you write will—or should—make it to the final cut, but the magic happens in the chaotic, no-holds-barred process of getting it down. Drafts are meant to be messy. Overwrite. Underwrite. Go on tangents. Let your metaphors run wild. In these “too much” moments, you often discover the voice, character, or plot twist you didn’t even know your story needed.
For example, I once wrote a scene where a character spent three pages monologuing about a peach pie. (Full disclosure: I don’t even like peach pie.). It was absurd and way off-brief for the project I was working on. But hidden in those pages was a single line that transformed how I understood that character’s motivations. The peach pie monologue never made it into the final story, but I wouldn’t have written the version I did without it.
The trick is to write like no one’s watching … because they aren’t. (Not yet, at least.)
Now that You’ve Started, What’s Next?
Think of this as your moment to reclaim your writing voice. You’ve met the raw, messy part of yourself that doesn’t care about the rules. Now it’s time to invite that part to help you break through the fear of the blank page. This is your opportunity to write with confidence, to feel self-assured in your own voice.
1. Create a Ritual of Permission
Before you even pick up a pen, unlock your phone, or open your laptop, take a moment to shut out the imaginary critics. You can do this by first acknowledging their presence and then firmly tell them they’re not welcome. You can even say it out loud. “No one is reading this but me.” Say it as many times as needed. Remember, this is your space to write without judgment or expectations.
2. Claim Your Space
Designate a specific space (physical or digital) that’s just for your uninhibited writing. Maybe it’s a battered notebook with pages begging for ink, a private folder on your computer, or even a secret Notes app file. Give it a playful, empowering name: My Wild Drafts or Unfiltered Genius. This is where your creativity will roam freely.
3. Write a No-Rules Scene
Pick a moment you’ve been avoiding or an idea that feels completely out there. Or pick a wound from your own life that you want to set to page. A moment of sheer joy. Of terror. Of happiness. It doesn’t matter what you choose because there’s no one reading this but you! Set a timer for 15 minutes and dive in. Don’t edit, don’t backspace, and don’t censor yourself. Let the words tumble out however they want – raw, strange, or even cringe-worthy. This is your chance to write without second-guessing.
4. Reflect and Revisit
After a few days, come back to your no-rules scene with fresh eyes. Resist the urge to edit right away. Just read it first. And then reread it. Once the urge to trim and edit is gone, give yourself a gift. Highlight the parts that stand out: a clever turn of phrase, a captivating detail, or maybe it’s an emotional truth you hadn’t articulated before. These moments are clues to what your authentic voice sounds like.
5. Repeat the Experiment
Here’s the big takeaway. This practice isn’t just about writing a messy draft. It’s meant to help you change the way you think about writing altogether. When you make a habit of letting go—of writing without judgment, without anyone watching—you’re training yourself to take risks, to dig deeper, and to trust your instincts.
And the best part? Those risks start to show up in your polished work, too. The lines that leap off the page, the turns of phrase that linger with a reader? They almost always come from this unfiltered, rule-breaking part of you. By rewriting the rules for how you draft, you’re setting yourself up to create stories that feel alive, urgent, and unmistakably yours.
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Jessica Berg is a literary agent with Rosecliff Literary and a contemporary fantasy novelist. She provides developmental editorial feedback for Writer’s Digest, Uncharted Magazine, and Fractured Lit. A multi-nominated writer, she holds an MFA from Spalding University and is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. Find out more about her here.