I love reading books that rewire my brain, and "Letting go: Pathway of surrender" by Dawid Hawkings totally did. It's a book I would recommend to everyone for self-therapy and a bunch of reflections. Today, I'll show you how you can use the book's wisdom to make your writing more enjoyable for you.
The core idea Dawid Hawkings proposes is this: when you stop resisting your feelings, you release the mental clutter that holds you back.
In the writing life, this means dropping the need to control every sentence, every outcome, every reader reaction. Surrender means releasing the fear, control, and self-judgment that strangle creativity.
1. LET GO OF PERFECTION
Your inner critic wants every paragraph to sparkle on the first try. But perfectionism is often a mask for fear of judgment, failure, or success. Surrender here means writing the messy draft without self-censorship, trusting you can polish later. The magic comes from allowing the raw truth to exist first.
Exercise:
• set a timer for 15 minutes
• write continuously without editing, even if it’s awkward or repetitive
• if you get stuck, write “blah blah blah” until your brain catches up
• the goal is to break the habit of fixing as you go
2. LET GO OF THE OUTCOME
You can’t control if an agent replies, if readers love your book, or if sales soar. What you can control is showing up at the page. Letting go of the outcome frees you to experiment, to fail spectacularly, and to surprise yourself.
Exercise:
• write a short story, essay, or poem, knowing you will not share it
• when it’s done, tuck it in a hidden folder
• notice how much freer your ideas feel when there’s no pressure to impress
3. LET GO OF COMPARISON
Every writer’s journey is different. Comparison pulls you into a scarcity mindset, making you believe there’s only room for certain voices. Surrender the need to measure yourself against others, and you’ll find more joy in your own unique path.
Ask: "What can I learn from what they’re doing?” instead of “Why aren’t I there yet?”
Exercise:
• choose one writer you're envy about
• list three specific skills or qualities you admire about their work
• write a small piece practicing one of those skills in your own style
4. LET GO OF THE STORY ABOUT YOUR WRITING
Writers often cling to a personal narrative: I’m blocked, I’m a slow writer. While these might feel true, they’re often self-fulfilling. Letting go of these labels allows you to create from the present moment instead of the past.
Excersize:
• write your current “writing story” in one paragraph. Be brutally honest
• now rewrite that paragraph as if you were already the writer you want to be
• keep the new paragraph somewhere visible and read it before each writing session
• instead of "I'm blocked", "I'm awkward" etc say "I'm exploring"
5. LET GO INTO FLOW
When you release resistance, whether it’s frustration, fear, or self-doubt, you create space for flow. In flow, the writing feels less like something you force and more like something you follow.
Excersize:
• before a writing session, do one 5–10 minute activity that quiets your mind (walk, stretch, deep breathing)
• begin writing without a plan for the first 5 minutes - just describe what you see, feel, or remember
• transition into your main project without stopping. This creates a mental “slipstream” into flow
6. LET GO OF THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT
Often, we’re blocked because a piece of writing stirs up uncomfortable feelings: fear of failure, vulnerability, or rejection. Hawkins’ method is to feel the feeling fully without resisting until it passes.
Excersize:
• when you feel blocked, stop writing for a moment
• identify the exact emotion you’re feeling (fear, frustration, doubt)
• sit with it. Don’t push it away or try to “solve” it. Just breathe and notice it
• when the feeling naturally softens, return to your work
The more you release, the more your writing will surprise you. And sometimes, what you let go of is exactly what makes space for your best story to arrive.
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