Hi--I'm new to Live Journal and to your journal. As an avid reader and proud owner of a copy of Wild Swans, I was thrilled to see that you have a journal here--you and several other writers I admire, like kijjohnson.
Anyway, I've browsed through yours several times now and have really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the writing process and the book you're working on...your writing here in this journal, as in Wild Swans, is beautiful and insightful.
This entry in particular made me want to comment because it was almost like reading something *I* could have written in a lot of ways. I'm a bit nervous to say anything, but I guess I felt inspired to.
I'm not a published novelist like you, but I'm a writer and photographer, and I know that my biggest handicap is also lack of self-confidence. So much so that just saying I'm a writer and photographer almost feels like I'm boasting, like I have no right to say that about myself. But what you said resonated so much with me! and I'm certain that what you said resonates not only with me, but with so many people out there. 'specially about the inner critic being louder than the inner cheerleader, and angst, and second-guessing.
I believe that these issues are really common with creative, artistic people. But not many people openly admit it, for some reason. And I think that a lot of people tend to think of anyone who has seen some success, such as a published novelist, or an artist who has a gallery opening or something of the sort, as a person who no longer has or never even had these kinds of doubts.
Your honesty in talking about it is a gift, I think, not just to yourself, which it is, but to those of us out there who are wrestling with similar demons. I really admire the fact that you push yourself in spite of these doubts, and that you talk about it honestly. If it is helping you, as you say, then you are obviously doing the right thing. :-)
While I'm not glad you're going through these issues, of course, I'm glad that you're sharing them with people out there who may deal with similar feelings, because it could help us as much as it's helping you. If that makes sense.
For example, I've entertained the fantasy of writing a book myself--I'm an avid reader, and I love to write but have been too a)lazy b)full of self-doubts about my talents c)scared to try d)don't seem to have a story inside me dying to come out. Seeing that you, a published author I admire, is dealing with many of the same issues and is writing anyway, really gives me hope, in an if you can do it, I can, sort of way. I don't know if I'm explaining this very well.
I certainly won't stop visiting the journals of other writers who have a better idea of what they're doing. In fact, I'd like to add yours to my Friends list, if that's cool.
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Date: 2004-10-13 10:42 pm (UTC)Anyway, I've browsed through yours several times now and have really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the writing process and the book you're working on...your writing here in this journal, as in Wild Swans, is beautiful and insightful.
This entry in particular made me want to comment because it was almost like reading something *I* could have written in a lot of ways. I'm a bit nervous to say anything, but I guess I felt inspired to.
I'm not a published novelist like you, but I'm a writer and photographer, and I know that my biggest handicap is also lack of self-confidence. So much so that just saying I'm a writer and photographer almost feels like I'm boasting, like I have no right to say that about myself. But what you said resonated so much with me! and I'm certain that what you said resonates not only with me, but with so many people out there. 'specially about the inner critic being louder than the inner cheerleader, and angst, and second-guessing.
I believe that these issues are really common with creative, artistic people. But not many people openly admit it, for some reason. And I think that a lot of people tend to think of anyone who has seen some success, such as a published novelist, or an artist who has a gallery opening or something of the sort, as a person who no longer has or never even had these kinds of doubts.
Your honesty in talking about it is a gift, I think, not just to yourself, which it is, but to those of us out there who are wrestling with similar demons. I really admire the fact that you push yourself in spite of these doubts, and that you talk about it honestly. If it is helping you, as you say, then you are obviously doing the right thing. :-)
While I'm not glad you're going through these issues, of course, I'm glad that you're sharing them with people out there who may deal with similar feelings, because it could help us as much as it's helping you. If that makes sense.
For example, I've entertained the fantasy of writing a book myself--I'm an avid reader, and I love to write but have been too a)lazy b)full of self-doubts about my talents c)scared to try d)don't seem to have a story inside me dying to come out. Seeing that you, a published author I admire, is dealing with many of the same issues and is writing anyway, really gives me hope, in an if you can do it, I can, sort of way. I don't know if I'm explaining this very well.
I certainly won't stop visiting the journals of other writers who have a better idea of what they're doing. In fact, I'd like to add yours to my Friends list, if that's cool.