Could, Would, Should

These three words are killing my writing career. Only because I'm letting them. We all know that to be a writer is to write.  Just write.  It's not about how good you are(well, at least not at first), or how many words you can type a minute. It's about getting those words up on the screen. It's not about thinking about writing, or dreaming of what it's like to be a writer.  If you write, then you are a writer.  Simple isn't it.

But what then?

My dreams are to have my stories read.  I love when someone looks at what I've written and gives me honest feedback. (Good and Bad) So what is my goal in getting published? Readership.  I have a bit of that in my blog and Facebook.  Though that is far from the same.  I want to be able to write something that others will enjoy.  That is my goal.  I guess I could just do the whole, self-pub and set up my writing for free on Amazon.  I do write stories in this blog after all.  Though I have no idea if anyone likes them.  I know a couple of you look at them, but that's about it.

So what's stopping me from just getting my work out there?  Those three words.  Could, Would, Should.  or in short, FEAR.

I Could enter that contest, if I had the money... courage to enter.
I Would write that short story in my head... if I had the time.
I Should edit my novel... if I thought I was good enough.

I'm so afraid that I am a terrible writer that I put off the things I enjoy.  Strange to think: I would rather do something I hate, (the dishes) then do something I enjoy, due to the fear of inadequacy.  It's true though.  I've found that many writers have this same bane.  It's the ones who can push through the muck of fear that move on to the sunny planes of published wonder.  So how do you push on.  Well, I can't tell you how you should get over your fears.  However, I know the only way I can do it, is to just do it.

I hold back so much, but after a while, I have no choice but to give into the muse.  Most writers are like that.  No matter how long I stay away, it comes back to me.  It's the force of getting all those wondrous thoughts out of my head and onto a medium. I can't draw so I have to create the pictures with words.

I wont know if I'm as terrible as I think, unless I let someone else see my work.  Fear of the unknown is a paralyzing fear, but an incredible high when you move past it. I've already entered a couple contests.  I received second place in one.  I'm waiting on another to find out if I was worthy of notice.  What I need to do now is enter more.  Then, while I wait, work on my lonely novel and all those short stories that have popped up since NaNoWriMo. Wish me luck.

Good luck to all of you as well.  We all need a push every now and again.

What do you fear?


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Comments

  1. Michelle 4 LaughsMarch 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM

    Fear. Fear. Fear. It's just a word. Of course the feelings it produces isn't.

    I used to be fearful to do the things you mentioned. The more you force yourself, the easier it gets. Sometimes it is too easy to fling my babies out into the world for anyone to see. It gets to the point where I become too impatient to get things accomplished and that is when a little fear could be a good thing.

    A little fear can hold you back from acting too quickly without enough thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. E. M. LaBonteMarch 9, 2013 at 7:35 PM

      Thanks for that Michelle. :D

      Great advice.

      The ability to know when to push through the fear or to let it guide you is always a talent within itself.

      Delete

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