Episode Description:

In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire tackles one of the most quietly powerful questions lurking beneath so many of our writing blocks: What if I don’t feel safe?

Safety isn’t just about locked doors and quiet neighborhoods. It shows up in four key forms:

• Physical safety (Is your body secure — and does it know it’s secure?)
• Emotional safety (Can you express your true feelings with yourself and others without fear of rejection or judgment?)
• Intellectual safety (Do you feel free to say “I don’t know,” stay curious, and risk being wrong?)
• Spiritual safety (Are you able to explore beliefs, questions, and doubts without being cast out or silenced — by others or by yourself?)

Claire explores how lacking safety in any of these areas can quietly suffocate creativity, lead to writer’s block, and keep us from fully connecting to the stories we want to tell. She also shares:

• Why your nervous system sometimes can't tell the difference between being safe and feeling safe.
• How trauma, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and even the relationships around you can subtly limit your creative freedom.
• The difference between real danger and perceived danger, and why naming the fear can shrink it.
• Why discomfort isn’t always a sign to stop — and why it’s essential to learn how to move forward even when you’re uncomfortable.
• Why becoming a “safe person” for yourself and others will make you a stronger and more fearless creator.

Why You Should Listen:

This episode offers a thoughtful, compassionate look at why the modern world can feel increasingly unsafe, how to sort through those feelings, and how building practices for emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual safety can liberate both your writing and your life.

Support the Show:

If you found this episode thought-provoking and helpful, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with fellow authors. Every review helps more writers discover this resource.

Join the Conversation:

Share your insights with Claire by emailing contact@ffs.media or connecting on social media.

Access the transcript here.

Happy Writing!