Shut the Noise

“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.”

Samuel Johnson

Do you edit as you write? Do you struggle with every word, sentence, paragraph, character, and scene before you decide that your writing is not yet perfect? Do you hit the delete button more often than the save button? Do you hear the critic in your head saying that you can’t write, that you need to find another hobby?

Shut the noise! Stop allowing your inner critic to dictate the success or failure of your writing life. Quiet that voice in your head which is telling you to quit.

Not easy you say? Of course, it’s not. Your inner voice fears rejection. It fears failure. It even fears success. That voice is afraid of jumping off the high diving board, riding a motorcycle, or taking a chance on love. That voice has held you back long enough. Take a plunge. Take a ride. Take a leap of faith. Try something different. Be brave. Write what you feel. Write what you’ve always wanted to write. Write with abandon. Write without restrictions. Even if what you write is not the next great American novel (Whose is?), just write because that is what you want to do.

Some writers say, “If you don’t write in spite of your inner critic or negative feedback from others, then you’re not really a writer.” I disagree. Some people are born with a stronger sense of self-worth than others, but that doesn’t mean that they are better writers. It just means they are more capable of forging ahead in spite of the negative voices.

Do you really want to write? Than do it! Don’t worry about imperfections as you work. Just write! You can always edit once you finish.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.