Read on Twitter
this too
honestly I have a lot to say about this https://twitter.com/nameshiv/status/1355218412784414720
honestly I have a lot to say about this https://twitter.com/nameshiv/status/1355218412784414720
writing is its own space, its own practice, its own reward -- there are other rewards, benefits, ~things~ that can happen as a result of writing,
but the writing itself is enough. YOUR writing is, itself, enough. You know that old Sesame Street classic, "Sing a Song"? "Don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear,
just sing -- sing a song." That right there is a wise word, that's the refrain anybody who wants to write anything ought to be keeping in their head.
further down the line, maybe you benefit from having your stuff interrogated, challenged, put through the wringer. Plenty of writers are like that! Some of us internalize criticism in a way that ends up being good for us, nasty medicine when it's fresh but useful in the end
but maybe you're not! I had a lot of energy & enthusiasm & wild creativity when I was a kid but was my writing itself much good? No. Couldn't bear out the consequences of a thought past a page, NO idea at all what to do with a story beyond introducing some cool elements
I was blessed to have teachers who knew that the energy was what counted, the love for the act of writing that mattered. They encouraged me and here I am.
So when I see some trending topic like "harsh writing advice," I think, I got some harsh writing advice, sure: always ask yourself "who asked you?" before showing up with your criticisms
writing is one of a few human inventions about which we can say, this is just good, it's a good thing to be able to do.
it's enough. if you take pleasure, or can earn keep, by being relentless with yourself about it -- something I enjoy, personally! just holding my own feet to the fire to do better, being ruthless with myself: that's a pleasure for me & has worked in my favor -- then do that,
but if it keeps you from doing the writing, pay external and internal harsh voices no mind, and remember always
the writing is for you, its benefits to you are real, and it is enough. /thread
