Years ago, when I first began writing in earnest, DH gave me
the gift of Nancy
Lamb’s book, The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. It
turned out to be the best beginners guide, not least because of a chapter that
suggested talking back to the negative inner voice relentlessly repeating that you are audacious and
delusional to think you can create anything of quality.
I recognized that voice and knew who it belonged to. Nancy
Lamb gave me permission to talk back to it, something I barely managed in real
life.
A few months back, Anne
Carley’s post on Jane Friedman’s blog echoed the same sentiment, only there,
the suggestion was to interview this voice. It goes beyond identifying
the parent, relative, teacher, or frenemy— whose voice it is. Ms. Carley suggests
engaging with and speaking to this voice in order to unpack the baggage.
Both are great suggestions. If you find yourself admonishing
inwardly the effort to do, create and strive, know this isn’t you. *YOU* wouldn’t
be doing this to *YOU*, because this goes against nature. This voice came from
someone else. That was then. If it continues
to come, ask it questions and then tell it it’s done its job and now it’s time
to go away.
Then go do what you know you can do, because you can.
3 comments:
I can relate to the negative voice. I'm always vacillating between "This is the best thing I've ever written" and "This is the worst." Now that I've been writing for awhile I know that negative voice will pass and I'll feel more excited the next day or week. That book about children's writing sounds really good!
I am all too familiar with that critical voice and where it came from, but have learned how to deal with it over the years so it no longer negatively intrudes the way it used to. It is important in any creative work to recognize that voice and put it in its place.
Excellent advice.
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