Three questions about writing that help me return when I've run away
because all of writing process is a teacher
When I’m writing, I am faced with many questions. These tend to be similar questions that plague my writing clients as well. What I’ve found is that these questions swarm around us, circling us until they make us dizzy. We have to stop and take in each question so that the spinning will slow down; otherwise, we are just stuck on spin cycle. I’ve listed three of the most common questions that arise for me in my writing and what I consider the question to be asking me in return. Please read and consider them for yourself.
Writing question # 1: What if I have nothing important to say or offer?
This question asks me to heal the wound of my voice not mattering or the sense of enoughness that has lived in the hollow of me since I was little, aching to be approved of. When I write and show up despite this fear of not being worthy, I heal a little bit more of these old wounds that blocked me. This question dares me to see my writing as a friend, reminding me to trust my voice even when I’ve felt otherwise.
Writing Question # 2: What if no one wants to read my writing or no one likes it?
This question asks me to accept the value of my writing, my art, and the creative process, no matter the response. Little me loved the spotlight and attention (hello Leo sign!) But it felt deeply personal if I didn’t get a response that made me feel others liked my creative expression. When this question shows up as I write, I am reminded of the little artist and writer in me who created with confidence before she was afraid. I model her resilience and bravery in taking creative risks.
Writing Question #3: What if my writing isn’t any good?
This question is asking me to make a mess, risk failure, and fall and get back up again. There is another post that I need to write about this subject: What is Bad and What is Good? Stay tuned for that. Seriously though, everything is subjective, everything! What makes a piece of art good or bad? What makes the writing good or bad? As comic artist Lynda Barry writes, “How old do you have to be to make a bad drawing?” It’s an important question. When we are children, it is impossible to make a “bad” thing, and yet, at some age, that changes. Why? Who gets to say that? When we can write without judgment on ourselves, embracing the good, the bad, and the ugly, we may let this question enhance our imagination rather than stunt it.
These are just three questions and reflections, but I have many more. Here’s the thing: these questions are all personal and unique to every one of us. You may have similar writing questions and reflections that come up for you, or you may have something completely different. I invite you to dig into this…
What writing questions resurface often for you? Write them down.
After that, reflect on what these questions are asking you at a deeper level.
Feel free to share in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
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These questions are always circling for me. I will get into a groove with writing, happy and hopeful and excited to be in community. Then I reach a point where I start asking these questions again, and either I push through and ignore them, or I believe the worst of their answers and stop writing. Reading your essay, I think I can see that ignoring the questions doesn't exactly help in the long run; I'm just putting off the healing and acceptance that you highlighted (trusting my voice, risking failure, and so on). Thank you for this--it's a lot to chew on, but the best kind of chewing.