Where For Art Thou, Writing Confidence? by Susan Girolami Kramer
For the last five weeks, I’ve been a participant in a writer’s workshop at a local library. I’ve taken these workshops before on different aspects of writing with the same instructor, and they always give me plenty to explore. Plus, I get to meet other writers and hear what they’re working on and what their writing lives are like.
In the last two workshops, I’ve been struck by the comments made by my fellow writers before reading their homework or the exercises we do in class—mind you, I have been apt to make these comments myself. Some pass on sharing their work or preface what they read, saying things like, “This is awful,” “I don’t think I did this correctly,” or “This isn’t very good.”
Too often, they feel the need to apologize or prepare others for their writing before sharing it. Even though I have held back several times, I want to encourage them not to feel this way or to stop comparing themselves to others in the class or to the instructor. To remind them that they are writers and have it in them to trust their writerly instincts.
Oops, look who’s talking now! Me, who only this week did the very same thing by panicking that I’m not as far along as I’d like to be in my own novel, or as far as those in my inner circle of writers. I soon realized I’ve been comparing myself a lot lately to other writers, not feeling ‘good enough’ or ‘fast enough.”
I brought this up to some writers in an online group, and one piece of advice that hit home most clearly was that maybe I’m using this as an excuse not to write. “Who me?” “Yes, You.” So I also had to learn how to trust my own writerly instincts and discover ways to aid myself in feeling more confident and productive in my writing. Not just panic and accept that “I’m not as successful.”
Now, I’ve made a plan to help boost my confidence as a writer and take action. I’m going to do the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) next month to delve into my novel-in-progress (almost 10 chapters) and get out of this mindset. In other words, dismissing the gray clouds over my writing as an excuse not to write!
Susan Girolami Kramer is Newsletter Producer for Rose & Thorn Journal. She wears many hats at her job as a Communications Specialist and at home on her off-hours. She's a photographer, fiction and poetry writer, editor, and publication designer. She has won several awards during the last two decades. By day, she writes articles for an Association's newsletter; by night, she taps into her more creative writing skills. Susan lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband, son, and pug, Truman.
Today, many of us are joing the Insecure Writer's Support Group writer's blog hop, hosted by Alex J. Cavannaugh. I think you fit right in!
Write on!
Reply to this
Yes, we each have to find our own pace and inspiration to write. Also, I think we tend to offer a disclaimer before our writing is laid out so that expectations will be lowered, and perhaps someone will then like what we wrote. Confidence and authenticity take years to develop, and lots and lots of positive, constructive feedback.
Reply to this