More response to Janet's letters...
Hi Emily,
I just want to thank you for sharing the correspondence between you and Janet. I am actually not a writer. I aspire to be one, but haven't had the courage to start, other than just writing in my journal. Every time I think about sitting down and getting started I find some excuse not too. I think I fear my inner critic (who also sounds a lot like my Mom) a bit too much. Your email really hit home for me. I realize I need to just do it and let go of the fear. The part of your email that really hit me was when you said, "Conversely, not taking the risk can make you feel deprived, unfulfilled, chronically unhappy, dead. You feel comfortable and safe, but you also feel miserable..." Wow! Ain't that the truth!
That's exactly how I feel! I needed to hear that, and I appreciate you sharing this with me and everyone else.
Thank you for that little "kick in the seat", now to start writing....
Kim
I just want to thank you for sharing the correspondence between you and Janet. I am actually not a writer. I aspire to be one, but haven't had the courage to start, other than just writing in my journal. Every time I think about sitting down and getting started I find some excuse not too. I think I fear my inner critic (who also sounds a lot like my Mom) a bit too much. Your email really hit home for me. I realize I need to just do it and let go of the fear. The part of your email that really hit me was when you said, "Conversely, not taking the risk can make you feel deprived, unfulfilled, chronically unhappy, dead. You feel comfortable and safe, but you also feel miserable..." Wow! Ain't that the truth!
That's exactly how I feel! I needed to hear that, and I appreciate you sharing this with me and everyone else.
Thank you for that little "kick in the seat", now to start writing....
Kim
posted by Emily Hanlon at
2/23/2006 09:28:00 PM
1 Comments:
This is such an important conversation; I applaud you, Janet, for sharing your truth and Emily for recognizing this struggle is equally as important as honing technique for an artistic mind. Not matter how evolved one is, while it might diminish, I don't think that fear of failure and humilation goes away-we just find different ways to tantrum.
I have learned that I need a day of recovery after I get turned down from grants or contests, a day of walking and favorite music and pots of tea, when I quietly let the disappointment find a place to sit amongst the crowd in my psyche; if I do this, I am able to work again.
I met with young writing student yesterday, who was tearful with frustration that she wants to give me "something brilliant" and she wants it right now. As I listened to her, I felt such gratitude that I am not there anymore, that I haven't been in that pressured state for a long time, that I trust that the stories I need to tell will let themselves be revealed.
I guess that means I am beginning to listen to my soul more than my ego, as you pointed out, Janet. And this, I feel, is is my greatest achievement.
By
Anne DiGiovanni, At
8:08 AM
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