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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Dear Insecure Writer, A Letter To You

By

It’s that time again. 

Thanks Mr. Alex Cavanaugh
LINKY

I receive messages from Dan Blank and once in a while I actually read them. Here’s one that was perfect for today’s Insecure Writer Me post.

A Writer On The Way To The Top





You, Dear Writer, Are Going to Fail Miserably

You, dear writer, are going to fail. Miserably.
Until you succeed.

You will be alone.
Until you are embraced with open arms.

We are going to make fun of you (giddily.)
Until we come to respect you.

We will find every tiny flaw in your otherwise decent story.
Until it grabs our hearts and makes us fall in love.

We will do the worst thing possible for way longer than you expect: we will ignore you.
Until we can’t stop thinking about you, and talking about your work.

We will use you as a scapegoat for our own sense of inequity.
Until we strive to become more like you.

We will take pot-shots at you. Making fun of things that are none of our business.

Until you stop caring about those things.

We will grossly generalize what your work embodies, misconstruing it whenever possible.

Until you ensure we “get it.”

Dear author, we are not going to make this easy for you.

Which is why so many authors stop. They stop writing.

They give up. Too soon.

Sometimes moments before success and validation; other times, years before.

We win. Game over.

 If you want an excuse to stop, to give up, oh we will gladly provide them. It’s a hobby of ours, really.

Go ahead, try to get us to stop. We won’t.

There are too many of us, and this is simply too much fun.

We won’t stop until you start caring less about what we say, and more about the power of your own work.

Until our words hold no power over you. And likely, until that mirror you look into everyday that speaks our words in your own voice holds no power over you as well.

Who’s the WE in this letter?

Comments

  1. H Lee – it is having faith in ourselves and what we're doing, while continuing to learn …

    We're always experimenting .. some will work, some won't – but keep on writing ..

    Cheers – Hilary

  2. Sorry, what did you just write?

    Personally, I never gave up because I never started. I just do what I want, when I want. Writing, that is. If nobody reads my stuff, so be it. It's just a bit of therapy and that's good enough for me.

    I need no validation and the voice I choose to hear, mostly, is the voice of my inner child who guides my writing.

    A most thoughtful posting, Lee. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar is also impressed…

  3. I loved this when I read it on Writer Unboxed. Thanks for sharing it with the group, Lee. And the "we" is everybody, self included. Publishers, editors, friends, family, negative thoughts…all the outside obstacles we have to overcome.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

  4. Hi Lee – welcome back .. and getting that off your chest will help those little 'wes' go away … you will succeed – and you are succeeding … enjoy your journey – cheers Hilary

  17. The we is our doubts- and the negative thoughts we have about ourselves. Great post! It is true that we need to put those negative thoughts to rest and write- but it isn't always easy. ๐Ÿ™‚
    ~Jess

  20. You're such a smart lady! My mother got so insulted when my hometown library was having a dedication and my mother wanted me to be a guest (got to love moms!). Seems mom was asked how many copies I've sold. Surprisingly, I wasn't insulted. I thought screw it. I am where I am right now in my career and I'm at the beginning. No one knows where I will be next year. And trust me, this passive aggressive chick will remember who all wanted a run down on my numbers before offering up respect.

    So, in my opinion…the we is everyone and anyone who measures and judges and they can be anyone…family, friends, fellow writers.

  22. This is so, so true! Both in what we say/do to ourselves and what others – out of jealousy or what they perceive as their "duty" – say/do to us. Don't let the negativity win. It's something I have to repeat to myself as a mantra every day. I hope you and Michael Offutt cross paths today. He should read this as it's an extension of some of the seedier things writers groups can devolve into.
    River/Laura
    Seasoned With Words

  23. It's easy to give up if I stop long enough to think about all the reasons I shouldn't. Good think I like what I do too much to give in to negativity-from self or otherwise.

  24. This may be one of my favorite posts of the day. "We" is someone I've known for a long, long time. It may be a long time yet before I learn to ignore them.

    -James

  26. I love this! The We is that little voice inside my head. It's also a few poets I know who think I've somehow disgraced my profession by writing thrillers. LOL. I'm sharing this post with as many writers as I can. Simply wonderful.

  27. My first reaction was wanting to unload a double barrel on "we." My second reaction is that I'm so proud of myself for only allowing helpful, kind, and supportive people into my life, so I never, ever hear things like that. Whew! My life rocks! Welcome back, Lee! ๐Ÿ™‚