Happy Wednesday my writing friends,
This week I was stumped as to what to write for my Wednesday
Seriously Write blog. I usually write about something I’m learning or
struggling with in my own writing journey, but nothing came to mind. When this
happens (and it’s happened before) I sometimes pop around the web, looking for
inspiration.
Today I found an article by an author I’d never heard of
before. Someone asked her how to overcome writers block. The author said she
sometimes just starts writing to see where it will go. She trusts herself as a
writer enough to know that eventually something worth reading will come out.
She trusts herself as a writer. Those words struck me. What did she mean? Do I trust myself as a writer? I
decided to take her advice and try some free writing. Maybe I could get to
the bottom of this “trusting yourself as a writer” idea.
So, without further ado, here’s the raw footage (well, for your sakes, I cleaned
it up just a wee bit. And note, even when free writing, I tend to write with a reader in mind.)
It’s that internal voice telling us
we’re no good. In Glacier Bay , I had to cut a lot of my
words. A LOT ! Not because the editor made me, but
because as I read the words, I didn’t like many of them. This process made me
incredibly insecure. It’s almost easier when someone else tells you something
“needs work.” But when you can see how bad it is yourself, it feels even
yuckier. At least to me it does. I wondered, how could I have thought these
words were good? How come I didn’t see the weaknesses here or the lacking
elements there? It made me stop trusting myself. It made me doubt my ability to
be a writer at all.
Interestingly, my co-writer, Tricia
Goyer , had to cut a lot too. I asked her if she felt
discouraged. She said instead of worrying about making cuts or chanes, she gets excited about how
great the book will be once it’s fixed. It actually empowers her. She’s so
brilliant.
I remember years ago when I edited her
first book. I was nervous to send her the edtited copy because it had so many red marks. I
didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I really liked it so much, but it could’ve
looked like I didn’t because of all the red marks. Yet, I loved the story and
the characters. I loved the heart of the book.
She wrote back excited about the red
marks. Thanking me for them. And she maintained that attitude through every
book I edited for her. Maybe that’s why she continues to get better and better as a
writer—and maybe that’s why editors like to work with her.
Ha! I didn’t mean to write this thing about
Tricia, but she’s a good example of trusting yourself as an author. Of trusting
the process. Of not doing what I did…
I assigned meaning to the bad writing.
I let it define me in some way. How lame is that? It doesn’t have to mean
anything at all.
This reminds me of the story by Max
Lucado about the Wemmicks. Remember? The Wemmicks got dots when they did bad
things and stars when they did good. But the dots and stars didn’t stick to one
girl. Why? Because she spent time with the maker.
If I’m writing to please my maker—my wonderful
Savior—the praises or criticisms (my own or others’) won’t stick. They don’t
have to define me whatsoever. I’m valued because my heavenly Father loves me.
And my writing is important because He loves me. So maybe it’s not about
trusting myself as a writer, but trusting a certain someone else. You know
who.
So from this meandering post, I’ve learned a couple things.
One, cuts and setbacks don't mean I'm a terrible writer. They can be positive if I “get my
Tricia on” and trust a better product is soon to come.
Two, trusting in the one who holds me and my writing in his hands makes
the dots and stars drop off, replaced by His ever-embracing, always-accepting
love.
What do you think of the idea of trusting yourself as a
writer? I’d love to hear.
God bless and happy writing!
Ocieanna
