It's scary, isn't it?
Putting yourself out there. Leaving yourself open to criticism and unkind words. Cutting yourself open and leaving bits of yourself exposed.
Terrifying is probably more appropriate.
I'm reminded of that ol' "sticks and stones" rhyme reiterating that physically we can be hurt, but words won't harm.
That would be a bunch of bullshit.
Ever been called stupid? Worthless? Ugly? Fat? Skinny?
Ever had something you've been beyond proud of decimated by words?
EVERYONE has.
Take that in.
Those who utter those words have probably had them thrown at them more than a few times.
And while there is no excuse for all that hatefulness...I tend to feel bad for them.
There lives must be miserable.
When I spoke yesterday at the Author Panel, it really hit home for me that there are a lot of people scared to put themselves out there. They want to write, but they are scared, unsure, and fragile.
Some people will love your work. Some people will hate it. Some people will cherish it. Some people wouldn't stop to wipe their ass with it.
So fucking what?
Seriously.
Think about that for a minute.
So what?
If you tamp down that part of you that wants to create, then you are EXISTING, my friends. You are not living. You are suffocating such a beautiful part of yourself out of FEAR.
And that's unacceptable.
Write that book. Paint that picture. Sculpt that statue.
LOVE your creativity and embrace it tightly. And then set it free into the world. Give it wings to fly and enough courage to stand on its own.
Not everyone has the strength.
But you're doing yourself a disservice if you're not even trying.
Grins*
Putting yourself out there. Leaving yourself open to criticism and unkind words. Cutting yourself open and leaving bits of yourself exposed.
Terrifying is probably more appropriate.
I'm reminded of that ol' "sticks and stones" rhyme reiterating that physically we can be hurt, but words won't harm.
That would be a bunch of bullshit.
Ever been called stupid? Worthless? Ugly? Fat? Skinny?
Ever had something you've been beyond proud of decimated by words?
EVERYONE has.
Take that in.
Those who utter those words have probably had them thrown at them more than a few times.
And while there is no excuse for all that hatefulness...I tend to feel bad for them.
There lives must be miserable.
When I spoke yesterday at the Author Panel, it really hit home for me that there are a lot of people scared to put themselves out there. They want to write, but they are scared, unsure, and fragile.
Some people will love your work. Some people will hate it. Some people will cherish it. Some people wouldn't stop to wipe their ass with it.
So fucking what?
Seriously.
Think about that for a minute.
So what?
If you tamp down that part of you that wants to create, then you are EXISTING, my friends. You are not living. You are suffocating such a beautiful part of yourself out of FEAR.
And that's unacceptable.
Write that book. Paint that picture. Sculpt that statue.
LOVE your creativity and embrace it tightly. And then set it free into the world. Give it wings to fly and enough courage to stand on its own.
Not everyone has the strength.
But you're doing yourself a disservice if you're not even trying.
Grins*
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