Recently, I suffered a small setback in my writing. Nothing major, but I was letting some negative feedback eat me alive. Of course, it didn't matter how many writers and other professionals told me otherwise, the person who gave me the harsh feedback was the one I believed. Why? Because my inner editor is strong with the force. Being the artsy emotional type that I am, I let the negative feedback feed that inner editor until they were strong enouch and big enough to take me over completely; telling me what a hack I am, and how I should just go back to selling carbon steel pipe. And pink hair is not in the corporate dress code. *shudder*
I wanted to quit. It was hell.
So I ask myself, Cole, why the hell do you put yourself through all this? And, the reason is, I'm compelled to create. For the same reason painters paint, singers sing, and sculptors sculpt I have a never ending urge to weave story fibers into a novel. And setbacks, while they do give me pause (I'm only human) they can't stop me completely.
I'll stop writing when my heart stops beating.
Check out the video below. It's amazing and proves my point: creativity cannot be stopped.
So true. You either have the creative drive or you don't, and if you do, it's not about to be denied. Glad to see you're sticking with it!
ReplyDeleteGo Cole go! Being on this crazy writer train with you is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sista!I've been where you were. The doubt is killer, the negative voice, stifling. It's all a part of the creative mind-set. All of that delicious angst is what drives our muses.
ReplyDeleteI love that you beat the negativity and stood up to your inner critic. You kicked ass! :)
LOVE this.
ReplyDeleteThe enemy of creativity is self-doubt, I think Sylvia Plath said.
Great video!! I loved it.
ReplyDeleteTruer words ...
ReplyDeleteWell said Cole, thanks for that.
OMG I watched that video and that Asian or Latin guy has the dopest stache!
ReplyDeleteNext time you think of quitting, send me an email and I will personally come over and knock some sense into you ;-D
ReplyDeleteGlad you came to your senses :) That negativity is a killer...I've definitely been there more times than I can count. And I know I'll be there again. But I also know I'll pick myself up again and start over. Shove negativity where the sun don't shine and hit the keyboard again ;-)
Like Michelle said, if you ever feel like quitting, let me know. I'll be more than happy to beat you over the head with a virtual bat until you come to your senses. You are such an inspiration to writers like myself, and as such you can't quit. Besides, you'd be doing all of us a disservice by not letting your words be published, be shared with the world. You are an incredibly talented writer and you absolutely cannot allow doubt to stop you.
ReplyDeleteOkay, stepping off my soapbox now. Go back to your previously scheduled writing day.
Oh gosh, I totally feel ya! I came close to quitting a couple weeks ago. I was convinced I was *never* going to "get it." Luckily, I had some great crit buddy feedback to pull me from the ledge. Still tough though! HUGS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're still in the game.