If you’re reading this blog because you want to be an author, but you feel nervous about sharing your writing this post is for you. I’ve recently been reading an interesting book called Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words
The book talks about the power of words and how the words we use about ourselves and others have more power than we might think. I really like the idea of the book and many of the points made in it fall in line with the themes of my novels.
This morning I was reading a passage from the book in which the author describes a conversation he had with movie critic Gene Siskel. Siskel told him that he thought that not using your unique talent was a sin. Not a waste he said, but a sin. Whether you really believe in sin or not is irrelevant in this case. The point is the severity of the word. We all have unique gifts. Most people who read this blog are writers. If writing is your unique gift do you feel a responsibility to share it with others?
Do you know your voice? What is the message you’re trying to get across in your writing? I would argue that sharing this message is your responsiblity. No one else can tell the stories you feel driven to tell.
I’ve always written. Ever since I was a little girl I wrote stories of some type, but no one ever saw them. I used to have so many stories tucked away in notebooks and stored on my computer that no one ever read. I only broke this habit of not sharing my work when I was in my early thirties. That’s right I wasted years hiding my talent away. It’s unbelievable really.
Submitting my first story for publication was terrifying. It got rejected and I gave up for a little while. Rejection can be difficult, but you have to remember not to take it personally. Eventually, I started submitting again and I got a few short stories published. Then I started working on novels. Again letting people read my novels was difficult at first, but now I’m accustomed to it. It’s no problem for me really.
If you write don’t hesitate to share that writing with others. Not doing so or feeling incredibly uncomfortable about doing so is just a habit. You can break that habit by simply acting differently. Of course you have to edit it and make sure it’s the best it could be, but don’t get so stuck in perfection that you end up not sharing anything. Write, edit and get it out there. Let friends and family read your work first to get used to the idea of people reading it.
Treat yourself as an artist and a writer with respect. Look at your work honestly and share the best of yourself and what you can do. That’s how you can use you talents to truly make your mark in this world.
Picture by SashaW