For anyone who needs this today (including me)

[tailoredshirt]

The darkest lie we tell ourselves: that we and our writing are not worth a bag of microwaved diapers. Listen, I don’t know how talented or skilled or capable you are. Hell, maybe you’re not that great. But nobody got better by feeling bad about it. You have one of two choices: you can be destructive to yourself or constructive. You can tear

Comments

[imaginarycircus]

SO TRUE.

[tailoredshirt]

Isn't it? I think there's this idea that writing talent is something we're born with so we don't have to learn or practice, so if something isn't good or well received then we give up or get upset because we suck. But I think the best place I've ever been as a writer was over a year ago when I was like, "I am a bad writer...and that's okay." I didn't feel bad, it gave me permission to put my ego aside and learn. I really need to learn to apply it to first drafts, though. It's like I won't let myself write something down unless it's perfect. (Although, to be fair, I need a while to think and get into the scene before I just start typing random stuff. The ADD makes it hard to stay focused on what I'm supposed to be writing, so I spend a lot of time trying to pull myself back.)

Um, ramble, sorry.

[imaginarycircus]

Yeah, for years I would write a couple of paragraphs and give up because it wasn't what was in my head and it wasn't good. Then I was like no. I have to learn how to do this. And I took a class and wrote my first novel (which was an unholy mess) and then I got good at writing crappy first drafts. Then I learned how to rewrite. Etc. Still so much to learn. OMFG.

[shes_gone]

ugh, i LOVE THAT.

[gothikmaus]

AMEN.

[momebie]

His blog is one of my favorite writerly places on the internet. ♥

[littlestclouds]

Thanks for sharing this!