What’s Your Story?

“I’m not a real writer.”

“Who would read what I have to write?”

“If I tell the truth about my life, it will hurt my parents, my brother, my kids….”

“I don’t have time to write.”

Over the years, I have met so many people who want to write, who wish they could write, who have an amazing story (or stories!) to tell. And yet, they don’t.

If you recognize yourself in any of the comments above, I understand. I have felt this way myself, despite having called myself a writer for the past 30 years.

You feel this way because someone — perhaps many people — have discouraged you, and instead of rejecting this as their fear and confusion about writing, about living a creative life, you’ve internalized it.

If you’ve internalized their comments, then you no longer need to have your mother tell you, “You’re getting too big for your britches. Who do you think you are?”

You no longer need to have a teacher say, “You’re not very good at writing.”

You no longer need that old friend to say, “Writers don’t make any money.”

You now tell yourself those things. You have become your very own discouragement committee.

If those statements seem true, in your reality today, it’s because you’ve been living as if they are true. You’ve made choices and taken actions based on them (not writing, or throwing away writing, or never submitting your writing).

But you can make other choices. You can take other actions. 

That bar on the door to your writing is not very sturdy, not even close. You can take it down.

Doors are meant to be opened.

Think of me as one member of your encouragement committee.  Of course you can write.