Dear Mom,
There are days when the inner critic is so strong that in order not to have to listen to it any longer I decide that I'm no longer going to be a writer. That's it! I shout to myself. No More! I hear it chuckle because the inner critic knows it has its claws dug in. The wounds will be so deep once I remove said claws, the scars will be felt almost with the same intensity... I whimper, does it ever go away?
I then proclaim, I'm a writer! I can't not write. Even if it's a handwritten letter, I will write. I will write for the JOY of writing. Whatever brings me joy, then that's what I will write about. Forget who might like it. Forget if it will be published. Forget all the things that spin around in my head that keep me from experiencing the pure joy of writing.
My kids - your grandkids - are always encouraging me. Hey, I'm their mother. But who knows, there could be kids out there that don't encourage their parents to pursue their dream. They push me to be a better writer.
I'm not sure why, but Rita feels I'm a better memoir writer than any other kind. My inner critic wants to shout - Who Cares?
I think about you and how I would love to read your words about your life, how you felt, what you did at different stages in your life, who was your first love, how many times your heart was broken, your dreams, what you were passionate about, you name it... I would then know a piece of you that I've never had the opportunity to experience. Even though my kids are experiencing me and know much more about me then I ever knew about you, I'm sure they would find out things they either forgot to ask or I didn't want to tell... then.
I picked up the pen and started writing memoir. I have less than 8 hours in and I'm at 19,000 plus words. Maybe I do have something to share. Maybe I am a writer.
Fabulous! Fantastic. You are on a roll. Do not stop! Ahem..you ARE a writer and a darned good one!
ReplyDeleteNo "Maybe" about it.
ReplyDeleteI have a severe case of word count envy.
ReplyDelete19,000 words in 8 hours? You're the new Tammy. What orifice are you pulling your creation out of?
Rita is right. You write memoir well, but you also craft wonderful fiction.
19,000 words? Jeeze.
Mercy, you are really writing! Ignore the inner critic, she bothers us all. We should take turns hosting her to dinner so the others could get a break from her! Keep going and have a good day....
ReplyDeleteYou are a writer, no questions about it! Congrats on the word count so far, keep at it *smiles*
ReplyDeleteI think it's in the "writer's manual" that we have days like this. We even have it in our "individual manual" to have days like this. (So much harder when it hits on all fronts, isn't it?)
Have you ever tried to write a letter to your inner critic?
Here's what I wrote to her:
http://estrella05azul.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/tough-love-a-letter/
:)
ReplyDeleteOh Lynn....I agree on everything. (1) You ARE a writer. (2) You are a fabulous memoir writer. (3) We ALL have those days when we think our writing sucks, and as Estrella said, some days our life sucks! I'm so happy you've written so many words, but don't get mad at yourself if you don't write as many the next day, ya know? Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! Not sure how many hours I have into it now, but well over 35,000. I was thinking, wow, I could do a NaNoWriMo in a week at this rate! he he he.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are amazing! Keep it up, girl!
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
Lynn, you are a writer, and I CANNOT wait to read your story. You are awesome; don't doubt yourself and don't worry about making tons of money or pleasing anybody but yourself and telling your family how it really was. Your friends will love it no matter what.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
You really captured those feelings well. Which is of course what it's about! So glad you're writing a memoir.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! You are--without a doubt--a WRITER! yep, in all caps.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up mom!
ReplyDelete