Schedule A Holiday Date with your Inner Writer

Just a quick note today to wish you happy holiday season (I can’t pick one. Celebrate them all!)

And to encourage to you pick one way to stay connected to your writing this month, so that you don’t go into the New Year with a creative hangover.

Some suggestions:

  • ​Join the free 5-Day Challenge ​(five tiny tasks to see you through to the new year. We start on Dec 27, this year.)
  • Read: How To Make The Most of ​People-Watching Season​
  • Learn: take the ​Holiday Story Workshop​ (or request/give it as a gift)
  • Listen: to this​ January podcast episode​ in which I lament not staying connected to my writing over the holidays (and learn from my mistakes!)
  • Make a plan to give yourself the gift of some small intervals of time, this season, where you will leave the hustle and bustle behind and just be with your imaginary friends (no pressure to add new words. Just commune with your story worlds!). Let us know your commitment in the comments, here.

What If You ARE A Good Enough Writer?

Therefore all should work. First because it is impossible that you have no creative gift. Second: the only way to make it live and increase is to use it. Third: you cannot be sure that it is not a great gift – If You Want To Write, Brenda Ueland

If You Want To Write, Brenda Ueland

We hold ourselves back.

We hold ourselves back because, what if our writing isn’t good enough?

What if we put in all this effort and we fail?

(First question: have you defined success for yourself, yet?)

Is Your Writing Any Good?

It’s hard to know the quality of our own work.

We’re too close to it.

That’s when critique groups and writing buddies can come in handy.

Sometimes the word ‘critique’ scares us, but in my experience sharing work with writing friends often means they spot the parts of my writing that are working…and that I take for granted.

Why are we so critical of our own work?

Lots of reasons.

  • When you’re in your own head all the time it’s hard to know when you’re being insightful or entertaining. Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say.
  • You were probably told not to brag about yourself by someone who loved you and wanted other people to like you. Who wanted you to be safe.
  • We are comparing our first draft with someone else’s 20th!
  • It’s safer to aim low than to aim high and risk failure.

What If Your Writing Is A Gift?

Today, I’m challenging you to ask yourself:

  • What if my writing really is good?
  • What if my words are exactly what someone needs to hear today?
  • Isn’t it a little bit arrogant to assume you know how your writing will affect others?

Isn’t it a little bit selfish for you to hold back?

↑↑↑ If that were true, what would you do, today? ↑↑↑