C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Dear Insecure Writer, A Letter To You

October 2, 2013 By C. Lee McKenzie 41 Comments

It’s that time again. 

Thanks Mr. Alex Cavanaugh
LINKY

I receive messages from Dan Blank and once in a while I actually read them. Here’s one that was perfect for today’s Insecure Writer Me post.

A Writer On The Way To The Top





You, Dear Writer, Are Going to Fail Miserably

You, dear writer, are going to fail. Miserably.
Until you succeed.

You will be alone.
Until you are embraced with open arms.

We are going to make fun of you (giddily.)
Until we come to respect you.

We will find every tiny flaw in your otherwise decent story.
Until it grabs our hearts and makes us fall in love.

We will do the worst thing possible for way longer than you expect: we will ignore you.
Until we can’t stop thinking about you, and talking about your work.

We will use you as a scapegoat for our own sense of inequity.
Until we strive to become more like you.

We will take pot-shots at you. Making fun of things that are none of our business.

Until you stop caring about those things.

We will grossly generalize what your work embodies, misconstruing it whenever possible.

Until you ensure we “get it.”

Dear author, we are not going to make this easy for you.

Which is why so many authors stop. They stop writing.

They give up. Too soon.

Sometimes moments before success and validation; other times, years before.

We win. Game over.

 If you want an excuse to stop, to give up, oh we will gladly provide them. It’s a hobby of ours, really.

Go ahead, try to get us to stop. We won’t.

There are too many of us, and this is simply too much fun.

We won’t stop until you start caring less about what we say, and more about the power of your own work.

Until our words hold no power over you. And likely, until that mirror you look into everyday that speaks our words in your own voice holds no power over you as well.

Who’s the WE in this letter?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Alex Cavanaugh, Insecure Writer

Comments

  1. Hilary Melton-Butcher says

    October 12, 2013 at 10:26 am

    H Lee – it is having faith in ourselves and what we're doing, while continuing to learn …

    We're always experimenting .. some will work, some won't – but keep on writing ..

    Cheers – Hilary

    Reply
  2. klahanie says

    October 6, 2013 at 1:22 am

    Sorry, what did you just write?

    Personally, I never gave up because I never started. I just do what I want, when I want. Writing, that is. If nobody reads my stuff, so be it. It's just a bit of therapy and that's good enough for me.

    I need no validation and the voice I choose to hear, mostly, is the voice of my inner child who guides my writing.

    A most thoughtful posting, Lee. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar is also impressed…

    Reply
  3. M.L. Swift says

    October 4, 2013 at 11:47 am

    I loved this when I read it on Writer Unboxed. Thanks for sharing it with the group, Lee. And the "we" is everybody, self included. Publishers, editors, friends, family, negative thoughts…all the outside obstacles we have to overcome.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

    Reply
  4. Hilary Melton-Butcher says

    October 4, 2013 at 8:53 am

    Hi Lee – welcome back .. and getting that off your chest will help those little 'wes' go away … you will succeed – and you are succeeding … enjoy your journey – cheers Hilary

    Reply
  5. Leslie S. Rose says

    October 3, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    Oh, so that was YOU in my noggin'.

    Reply
  6. Mere Joyce says

    October 3, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    I second Morgan…strangely motivating is right, =3 This is a great letter, and a great reminder to never let the "we" win!

    Reply
  7. Lynda R Young says

    October 3, 2013 at 5:20 am

    Those voices of doubt have a way about them, don't they. Wonderful post! Perfect for the IWSG

    Reply
  8. Morgan says

    October 3, 2013 at 4:14 am

    This is strangely motivating. 🙂 Wonderful post. Blast those voices in our heads!

    Reply
  9. Michael Di Gesu says

    October 3, 2013 at 3:03 am

    Hi, Lee,

    This is INCREDIBLE…. SO clever!!!!! SO TRUE!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Susan Gourley/Kelley says

    October 3, 2013 at 2:24 am

    Completely awesome. I feel like we should make it a creed we repeat every month.

    Reply
  11. Angela Brown says

    October 3, 2013 at 12:49 am

    The WE is ME.

    Reply
  12. Julie Musil says

    October 3, 2013 at 12:11 am

    Oh my gosh, this is US! We say this to ourselves!!! Awesome post. Tweeting now.

    Reply
  13. Al Diaz says

    October 2, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    Brilliant!!! And to me, the we are the voices in our heads (at least in mine, positive.)

    Reply
  14. Mark Means says

    October 2, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    Haha…..great stuff (casually looks around for "we") 🙂

    Reply
  15. Charmaine Clancy says

    October 2, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    Lucky for me the voices in my head are easily distracted and can't focus on one insult too long.

    Reply
  16. Jemi Fraser says

    October 2, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    Love this! I'm in the midst of another confidence sucking rewrite so this is great timing!!

    Reply
  17. DMS says

    October 2, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    The we is our doubts- and the negative thoughts we have about ourselves. Great post! It is true that we need to put those negative thoughts to rest and write- but it isn't always easy. 🙂
    ~Jess

    Reply
  18. M Pax says

    October 2, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    It so is not easy. Great article, Lee.

    Reply
  19. Michelle Wallace says

    October 2, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Welcome back C. Lee!
    I love Elizabeth's take on the "we" issue…

    Reply
  20. Elizabeth Seckman says

    October 2, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    You're such a smart lady! My mother got so insulted when my hometown library was having a dedication and my mother wanted me to be a guest (got to love moms!). Seems mom was asked how many copies I've sold. Surprisingly, I wasn't insulted. I thought screw it. I am where I am right now in my career and I'm at the beginning. No one knows where I will be next year. And trust me, this passive aggressive chick will remember who all wanted a run down on my numbers before offering up respect.

    So, in my opinion…the we is everyone and anyone who measures and judges and they can be anyone…family, friends, fellow writers.

    Reply
  21. S.K. Anthony says

    October 2, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Very true! Fantastic and inspiring post.

    Reply
  22. River Fairchild says

    October 2, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    This is so, so true! Both in what we say/do to ourselves and what others – out of jealousy or what they perceive as their "duty" – say/do to us. Don't let the negativity win. It's something I have to repeat to myself as a mantra every day. I hope you and Michael Offutt cross paths today. He should read this as it's an extension of some of the seedier things writers groups can devolve into.
    River/Laura
    Seasoned With Words

    Reply
  23. J.L. Campbell says

    October 2, 2013 at 7:30 pm

    It's easy to give up if I stop long enough to think about all the reasons I shouldn't. Good think I like what I do too much to give in to negativity-from self or otherwise.

    Reply
  24. planetpailly says

    October 2, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    This may be one of my favorite posts of the day. "We" is someone I've known for a long, long time. It may be a long time yet before I learn to ignore them.

    -James

    Reply
  25. DEZMOND says

    October 2, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    you tell them, sister!

    Reply
  26. Joylene Nowell Butler says

    October 2, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    I love this! The We is that little voice inside my head. It's also a few poets I know who think I've somehow disgraced my profession by writing thrillers. LOL. I'm sharing this post with as many writers as I can. Simply wonderful.

    Reply
  27. Lexa Cain says

    October 2, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    My first reaction was wanting to unload a double barrel on "we." My second reaction is that I'm so proud of myself for only allowing helpful, kind, and supportive people into my life, so I never, ever hear things like that. Whew! My life rocks! Welcome back, Lee! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Pk Hrezo says

    October 2, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    WOW. I'm printing this off for my office.
    And welcome back Lee!! Hope you had a nice lil break. 😀

    Reply
  29. Natalie Aguirre says

    October 2, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    Very true. Sounds like the inner doubts that don't want to shut up.

    Reply
  30. L. Diane Wolfe says

    October 2, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Darn those inner critics. They are so evil.

    Reply
  31. Tina says

    October 2, 2013 at 4:39 pm

    We are the voices of doubt in our heads. We are our own worst enemy. Great post for today!
    Tina @ Life is Good

    Reply
  32. Christine Rains says

    October 2, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Wonderful post! The WE are ourselves. 🙂

    Reply
  33. Suzanne Furness says

    October 2, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    Oh I love this, I see the WE as the gremlin who sits on my shoulder nit picking and laughing.

    Reply
  34. SA Larsenッ says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    Very true. And succeeding is usually overcoming small hurdles, until one day they add up to success.

    Reply
  35. Larissa says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    Love this post, Lee! 🙂

    Reply
  36. Catherine Stine says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    The WE, our own little inner gremlins. Good post!

    Reply
  37. Crystal Collier says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    My goodness, that is so brutally honest. I LOVE IT!

    Reply
  38. Barbara Watson says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Great post. I see the we as doubt.

    Reply
  39. Ruth Schiffmann says

    October 2, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Sounds just like the inner critic to me. Great post, Lee. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  40. Wendy Tyler Ryan says

    October 2, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    The WE are doubts and insecurities. Well said.

    Reply
  41. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    October 2, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    The we is the voices in our heads! And we will get past them.
    Excellent for today's post, Lee!

    Reply

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