Back in the old days when being a WordPress blogger was THE thing, I was a prolific writer. I worked hard at connecting with all the "right" blogging people and was determined to make myself famous in that world (didn't we all want a book deal?), but I lost myself in the quest to be relevant and, in response, I completely quit writing.
Recently, I've taken a few stumbling steps back toward the written (typed) word, but it's been for me, not for others or for that long-lost daydream of fleeting "fame". It feels awkward and halting, but so do I on most days. Maybe I'm on the right path again.
I’m glad you’re writing your novel again, Shawn. I’m confident that it will be what it is meant to be, as you write from a place of joy and without the noise of the audience telling you to do this or that instead. You’ve got good instincts, you know how to do this work. I hope you have the best time wrestling the words down--what an adventure! I look forward to reading it one day.
This is so so true. Every time I focus too much on the audience, I lose my own sense of place. I even have lost my writing voice for periods of time. I have to center it first on what I need to write, or I lose the thread.
Man... so true. I’ve often believed that the best books are those written before agents, publishers, and publicists get involved. There’s a purity to work that is created for the very sake of its creation. I think it applies to so much art, too, not just writing or music.
Glad you stumbled across the Rubin quote (he also did my favorite Damien Rice album, “My Favourite Faded Fantasy.”) Glad you wrote this. Very glad I read it. It’s a good reminder to all of us.
He did the Damien Rice album? I remember when you recommended that to me. So cool he's connected to that project too. (Also, my friend @JonCaliguire pointed out the Rubin quote on Instagram--he lives in Boulder and takes good photos. You might like following him on Insta.)
I think because I waited until my late thirties after a near death experience to allow myself to write, I’ve never written novels for an audience. I love when people love my stories and I want them out there, but they are my intimate friends and wouldn’t change them for anyone.
I love this so much. The external voices drown out who we are, our voice, what that particular work needs to be. And there's something to be said about putting a project down for a while and picking it up later. I'm glad you're working on it again!
I think the hard part of writing for me is the paradox: it’s so freeing and cathartic and good for my soul...until I share it. Then it becomes about feedback, likes, shares, comments...and the magic comes undone. Then it feels like work, and not the enjoyable kind.
How on earth do I reconcile this and do something I feel God has called me to do?
A few years ago, when I was putting out novels and really concerned about what people thought of them, I tried to reframe it. I tried to really embrace the idea of "releasing" a book--the term typically used for when a book comes out. I tried to release it, let it go, and it really helped. I had done everything I could do and now I was releasing it into the world. Maybe this idea can help you release your own work, once you put it out there.
You are the third person in three days (seriously) who has started their essay with a quote by Rick Rubin. Apparently I need to get his new book or find that video clip.
The last time I created something just for me was an essay I posted yesterday on my 'Stack. The content was churning under the surface in my writer brain and I decided to share it, even tho' the presentation wasn't as polished as I would have liked. I kinda held my breath (I try so hard to please--am I doing this right?) then a subscriber thanked me for saying what I did 'cause it struck a nerve.
I'm so glad I listened to the nudge!
I will have Leo's blue ball and 9 year old soccer chatter in mind when I think of 'writing for an audience of one.' Thank you, Shawn.
I think there is something hardwired into me that makes it impossible for me to do a thing that isn’t done first out of my own delight or value for it. It just isn’t worth the effort if I don’t love or value it first. I very often get so frustrated at the thing, but I am growing more thankful for it.
When I wrote my novel in 2021 with you guys, it was because that was the story in my heart and I just LOVED the characters. I still do. If it never goes anywhere, I still love it and will gladly print it for my own shelf and no other. I hope it does go somewhere eventually, but I am also content for it to exist just as it is—a product of my own love for it. I read someone somewhere saying, “Write what you want to read.” I find that is all I am ABLE to write, and at the end of the day, I’m glad I’m not wasting my time or energy on anything less than that.
Back in the old days when being a WordPress blogger was THE thing, I was a prolific writer. I worked hard at connecting with all the "right" blogging people and was determined to make myself famous in that world (didn't we all want a book deal?), but I lost myself in the quest to be relevant and, in response, I completely quit writing.
Recently, I've taken a few stumbling steps back toward the written (typed) word, but it's been for me, not for others or for that long-lost daydream of fleeting "fame". It feels awkward and halting, but so do I on most days. Maybe I'm on the right path again.
I know that feeling of burning out via platform-chasing. I'm glad to hear you're finding your footing again, Dena!
I’m glad you’re writing your novel again, Shawn. I’m confident that it will be what it is meant to be, as you write from a place of joy and without the noise of the audience telling you to do this or that instead. You’ve got good instincts, you know how to do this work. I hope you have the best time wrestling the words down--what an adventure! I look forward to reading it one day.
Thanks for the encouragement, Kris. Really appreciate it.
This is so so true. Every time I focus too much on the audience, I lose my own sense of place. I even have lost my writing voice for periods of time. I have to center it first on what I need to write, or I lose the thread.
Yes! It can be easy to lose your own voice when you start listening too intently to what the audience might have to say about what you're working on.
So good. How easy it is to step just off that path and land in the weeds of audience and extraneous voices!
Way too easy, Susan.
Man... so true. I’ve often believed that the best books are those written before agents, publishers, and publicists get involved. There’s a purity to work that is created for the very sake of its creation. I think it applies to so much art, too, not just writing or music.
Glad you stumbled across the Rubin quote (he also did my favorite Damien Rice album, “My Favourite Faded Fantasy.”) Glad you wrote this. Very glad I read it. It’s a good reminder to all of us.
He did the Damien Rice album? I remember when you recommended that to me. So cool he's connected to that project too. (Also, my friend @JonCaliguire pointed out the Rubin quote on Instagram--he lives in Boulder and takes good photos. You might like following him on Insta.)
I think because I waited until my late thirties after a near death experience to allow myself to write, I’ve never written novels for an audience. I love when people love my stories and I want them out there, but they are my intimate friends and wouldn’t change them for anyone.
That's a great place to be, Adrienne.
I love this so much. The external voices drown out who we are, our voice, what that particular work needs to be. And there's something to be said about putting a project down for a while and picking it up later. I'm glad you're working on it again!
Thanks, Prasanta. You're right--there are so many voices! Tuning them out and getting down to work is the task ahead.
I needed this reminder today. Thank you!
Thanks for reading, Abigail.
This is so good!
I think the hard part of writing for me is the paradox: it’s so freeing and cathartic and good for my soul...until I share it. Then it becomes about feedback, likes, shares, comments...and the magic comes undone. Then it feels like work, and not the enjoyable kind.
How on earth do I reconcile this and do something I feel God has called me to do?
A few years ago, when I was putting out novels and really concerned about what people thought of them, I tried to reframe it. I tried to really embrace the idea of "releasing" a book--the term typically used for when a book comes out. I tried to release it, let it go, and it really helped. I had done everything I could do and now I was releasing it into the world. Maybe this idea can help you release your own work, once you put it out there.
You are the third person in three days (seriously) who has started their essay with a quote by Rick Rubin. Apparently I need to get his new book or find that video clip.
The last time I created something just for me was an essay I posted yesterday on my 'Stack. The content was churning under the surface in my writer brain and I decided to share it, even tho' the presentation wasn't as polished as I would have liked. I kinda held my breath (I try so hard to please--am I doing this right?) then a subscriber thanked me for saying what I did 'cause it struck a nerve.
I'm so glad I listened to the nudge!
I will have Leo's blue ball and 9 year old soccer chatter in mind when I think of 'writing for an audience of one.' Thank you, Shawn.
That's awesome, Jody. Keep writing!
I think there is something hardwired into me that makes it impossible for me to do a thing that isn’t done first out of my own delight or value for it. It just isn’t worth the effort if I don’t love or value it first. I very often get so frustrated at the thing, but I am growing more thankful for it.
When I wrote my novel in 2021 with you guys, it was because that was the story in my heart and I just LOVED the characters. I still do. If it never goes anywhere, I still love it and will gladly print it for my own shelf and no other. I hope it does go somewhere eventually, but I am also content for it to exist just as it is—a product of my own love for it. I read someone somewhere saying, “Write what you want to read.” I find that is all I am ABLE to write, and at the end of the day, I’m glad I’m not wasting my time or energy on anything less than that.
That's so good, Amber. Glad to hear that's how your brain works! And it was fun journeying with you while you wrote that novel.
Wonderful. Agree 100%.
You actually remind me of Rick Rubin. Beyond just the beard.
I’ll take it.