Courage and Writing

Courage and Writing

So I haven't written a BLOG post in a while as it was starting to feel more like a job than a fun hobby. I needed to take a step back and honestly evaluate why I was writing. Did I want to become popular with an online community?? Did I just want to verbally spew? Did I need to get a message out--something weighing on my heart?  Did I want to BLOG it better??? Everyone and their mother has a BLOG these days, a beautiful example of our generations willingness to be open and honest. We bare our hearts and I am so proud of all the truth tellers having the courage to bare their souls in a healthy way– through writing. However, why was it that I felt if everyone else was doing it, I shouldn't? Maybe it's the rebel in me, the one who hates convention. I've felt deep satisfaction for not being like everyone else, although I sheepishly admit, you'd never know it. Outwardly, I...
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Trusting Your Voice

Trusting Your Voice

I spent months on my first blog post. Months. When it was time to let go into the world , I made sure to have a few close acquaintances read it over. I got humbling praises.  I thought it smart– responsible, to send it to the one person I knew who is a published writer, who would also graciously consider editing it while also giving me valuable feedback. I was desperate for feed back. It was in that desperation for validation that I could slowly sense my power disappearing from my grasp. I felt like Ariel of The Little Mermaid, in that pivotal moment when she lost her voice. This sweet, well meaning person sent me my piece back, most of it was crossed out– it was too wordy. She had made comments on every sentence. Every single sentence. My art was crossed away, punctuated, and changed by small degrees. And the comments–gentle suggestions– like a soft hand on your shoulder guiding you in the right direction,...
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