Powerful Writers Are Insecure Too
Every writer is an interesting juxtaposition of confidence and insecurity. We really need both. Without the confidence the words would never make it together. Without the insecurity, the writing would come second to deciding how we’re going to spend our money from the fabulous words we write down.
Get the balance right, and you have fear and boldness, without “perfection paranoia.” The fear is born in the insecurity. The boldness is the confidence that keeps paranoia away.
When our thoughts are on concrete, we wrap the two of them −- insecurity and confidence — in a satchel of hope. We set them down gently in the faith of the language and carry them as a shield and a sword.
But when our thoughts are on sand . . . we have trouble balancing. We wonder if our intelligence could be coming from a fool’s heart. The shield of insecurity melts the power of our words. The sword of our confidence bends at uncertain thoughts.
That balance between insecurity and confidence is how the good writing ideas come and flow. Here’s what I tell myself when I want to balance my insecurity and confidence . . .
- Turn off the noise of the Internet for a short while.
- Know what you want to say. Relax and reflect until you are clear about it.
- Write with head, heart, and purpose all focused on the truth of that message.
- Write in your own voice to friends who don’t know yet what you’re going to tell them.
- After it’s written, read and listen to be sure it’s inviting and there’s room for others to join in.
- Trust yourself and the people who read what you write.
I follow my advice, and I publish again.
How do you balance the insecurity and confidence of writing to publish on the Internet?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Need help with writing? Work with Liz!!
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