Break down the barriers
‘Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight,
or any experience that reveals the human spirit.’
-E.E. Cummings
So, you want to be a writer. It's what you love to do. Yet you're, struggling with self-doubt. Rest assured it happens to all of us. You just have to break down the barriers of self-doubt and own your creativity. We’re all guilty of putting walls up to shield ourselves from being hurt and as writing is such a personal thing it’s hard to put it out there for others to read and face the possibility of hearing negative feedback.
If writing is your passion and you are committed to work hard and take constructive criticism, (because I can tell you 100% you will get it along your journey - some good feedback and some not so good. Then you will get there. Writing is a skill that takes practice. Don't be disheartened. The feedback and advice will only strengthen your skills as a writer.
This quote by Erica Jong hits home for me as a writer, “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.” I know that I’m not alone here. For many years the ideas were there and I would start something only to stop and start something else. Again, it’s that fear of failure or fear of judgement that blocks us from achieving our goals. The only way to finish a manuscript is to keep going and break down the barriers. Stop listening to that voice inside your head – telling you it’s no good and start listening to your heart. Not everyone will like what you write but, some people will love it.
Start small – express yourself with poetry, have a little fun writing jingles, short stories, etc. Ask your friends (select the right ones who will provide constructive criticisms and valuable feedback) to have a read. Submit your writing to competitions. Start a blog. Join a writer's group. These are all great ways to connect with other writers. To discover your niche and build on your creativity. So that you can start to believe in who you are as a creative.
Write from the heart and be true to you. Don’t try and write for others. Write what feels right and the people who want to hear it, will find you.
So those barriers, kick them down and write, rewrite, read and bleed onto the page. Search for your truth and most importantly be inspired!
Jennifer Calvert
Process Manager - Ocean Reeve Publishing
www.oceanreeve.com
