Why It Matters to Share Your Writing Journey

Writing doesn’t have to be a solo activity. In fact, creativity and productivity are often stimulated by writing with company. Today, participant Angela Shores shares how she learned to share her writing aspirations with pride… and why that matters:

For years, I talked about being a writer “one day”. It was a childhood dream, always out there in a casual, “when I grow up” kind of way, but never really anything tangible. So, when I first decided I was actually going to write a novel, I held it close to me like a secret. I was afraid that if anyone knew they would either try to talk me out of it or not be supportive. 

Now, you might ask if I routinely have people in my life attempting to dissuade me from pursuing a goal or dream. The answer is no, those are not the people in my life. However, I still had this irrational fear that, suddenly, my people would make a mass exodus from Team Angela once they knew I had this insane desire to chase the dream of writing a novel.

When I had actually written “stuff” for my novel, I very casually mentioned it to my husband and a couple of girlfriends. I was so flippant about it that I didn’t give any of them a real chance to fully grasp what I had said or latch on to the idea. It felt safer that way. 

And then for some bizarre reason (perhaps it was a full moon?), I shared what I was doing with my oldest daughter and she knew instantly that it would be a best seller (that’s just who she is, a die-hard fan and cheerleader). She started telling people that I was writing a book. Well, then I had to admit it; claim it. 

I told my husband, again, this time giving him the chance to be the cheerleader he’s always been. My daughter’s excitement for me and my husband’s faithful support got me more excited about my writing. Around that time I had a friend tell me about NaNoWriMo and again I was nervous. What if I realized I was not meant to write? But I stepped out and joined the NaNoWriMo community, more than doubled my word count, and finished the draft. 

The amazing support from NaNoWriMo blogs and pep talks propelled me forward and walked me into a place where I felt safe sharing my journey. Slowly, I let others know what I had been up to, which pushed me continually forward in the process of editing so that very soon I will have a novel to self-publish.

Finding the right people to support your dream of writing is essential. It can feel safer to keep it a secret. But the reward that comes from the cheering, encouragement, and support far outweighs the risk I felt in letting anyone know. And now people ask me how the book is coming, which holds me accountable. People ask me what parts I’m working on, which keeps me excited. 

Choosing an entourage of support is a strategic process. Start with those people in your life that you know will be excited for you, who have always supported your wildest dreams and craziest ideas. Add in the ones that will be curious enough to ask for updates. Find someone who can give you genuine feedback in love, even if it is hard to hear. Having that support will keep you going and lift you up. And as an added bonus, they may even become your fan club when you’ve published!

Angela Shores spends most of her time outdoors or on the road seeking family adventures with her high school sweetheart turned husband and her two daughters. She uses her formal education in mental health counseling to work with individuals seeking wellness. Otherwise you can find Angela reading classics, fantasy, memoirs, or whatever she can get her hands on. She also loves writing and learning, and is a member of Mensa. She’s pretty into football, baseball, and chocolate as well.

Top photo by Flickr user alexds.