Be Yourself. Write. It's Okay. Really.

fancy buskers, fremont market, seattle, december 2010 (diana f+, fuji pro 400x rxp-120 film

I don't know what to write.

I don't know how to write.

I'm afraid to write.

Who am I to write?

These are things I hear again and again from my coaching clients and other creative souls who want to write. These are the very same things I've said in the past, or may be saying on any given day.

I used to think that writers write without angst, worry, confusion, or struggle. I used to think that all writers were brimming over with stories and ideas and perfect phrases just waiting to dance across the page--and that they were like this all the time. I used to think that having a lot of writing experience meant you'd never feel insecure or lost.

Now I write a lot. I consider myself a writer, not just as a descriptor of what I do, but as an essential element of who I am. And still, I don't always know what to write. More often than I'd like to admit, I don't know how to write the story that's asking to be told. I'm still afraid, lost, and insecure sometimes.

But I think I've finally wrangled a hold on this one: Who am I to write? 

I'm me. I want to tell stories. I want to string together words in a way that creates beauty and makes people catch their breath. So the question is no longer: Who am I to write? I want to write, so I do.

I push aside the fear and worry and insecurity. Or I talk to my writer friends about it, and they talk me down from the ceiling (when I'm buzzing around like a nervous, jittery hummingbird) or pull me up from under the covers (when I'm hiding out and glancing around furtively).

This is what I know: If you want to figure out what to write, please start writing. If you want to be a better writer, start writing. If you want to feel less afraid, write. If you want to write, write.

If you're naturally angst-filled (like me), you may as well be angsty about writing. The alternative is to be angsty about not writing, and that's much worse. On the plus side, actually writing brings me moments of joy and wonder, which are my guiding principles in life. So: score!

And if you can, if helps to surround yourself with friends who understand the peaks and valleys of the creative life. Then you can take turns talking each other down from ceilings and out from underneath the covers.

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If you're looking for some inspiration, writing tips & techniques, and community, I invite you to join me for one (or more) of the Alchemy writing courses. Alchemy Daily (30 days of writing prompts, inspiration, and magic) starts on February 21. Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing, a six-week online course for creative souls, starts April 4. More info & registration are over here.

I also have a free series about writing called In The Word Cellar. Check it out in the righthand sidebar or over here.

Comments

[debi]

yes. write. write whether anyone sees it or not. put the words down, stop carrying them around. write.

[Lisa]

LOVE what you've got goin' on here, dear Jenna.

Rock on!

(And safe, enjoyable travels!)

xoxoxo