If It’s in You, Put Aside Your Ego and Write (or whatever you want to do)
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Many times I hear aspiring authors say they are nervous about publishing their book or even trying to write a book because they don’t want to be critiqued. Anyone who ever became anybody has faced critics in their life. You’re too pretty, too ugly, too money-hungry, too bold, too timid and so on.
To be successful, you can’t care what others think of you. I know you’re saying, but Heather, we’re in the business of being critiqued as writers. But if it’s in you, you need to write (or anything else you want to do). Why do I say this? Because if you have the passion for something there’s a reason. God wants you to do it. Now, I’m not going to say I have it all figured out. But I do believe that things happen for you, not to you.
As writers we are often paralyzed by the thought of someone else judging us as a person which leaves us never publishing the writing we feel compelled to produce. This could be judgement of our actual writing style or the content. When I first published Ruby Slips and Poker Chips, my church community group supported me through buying multiple copies. Now by no means do I write erotica, but it was kind of like giving it to your grandmother to read. I chewed my fingernails on a regular basis.
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Once your published, your ego can take a hit, or get a boost from reviews. The sad thing is that no matter how many positive reviews you have, one bad review can really cut you down. I’ve seen author friends get angry when someone leaves a negative review ready to tell them they are wrong. The thing is, not every book is for every person. When I get pushed down, I turn to the positive things people have said:
“Worth more than 5 stars!”
“A well-written book with a fun plot. A must read for sure!”
“This was a great book and I couldn’t put it down. Loved the twists and turns. Can’t wait to read more!”
And from the editor of my next book, The Weaver:
“Where do I even start?! This book had me hooked. I love your descriptive writing. The details you put in the story are amazing. I would sometimes realize I was just reading the book like any other book because I liked it that much and I’d have to go start back over to focus on editing it! I felt all emotions while reading it and I’m actually devastated from some of the events that happened (which is a good thing). I couldn’t stop reading.”
Talk about an ego boost! So, if you haven’t published yet (or shown your art to others, or been a manager before, or taken your first tour group to Mt. Rushmore), don’t be afraid to let others give you constructive criticism. Like Kelly Clarkson says, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I’ve had mentors, fans, and critics along the way, but by far, I’ve been my toughest critic. To get to where I am today, I had to push through it and put myself out there for others to see. I know it’s scary, but you have to take the first step.
What are you afraid of doing because you think you might be put down? If you have been critiqued, what has been your favorite review? Let me know in the comments.
