As I contemplated this "foul" topic today, so many images came to mind. Shall I write about my foul smoking habit? My ex-neighbor with the excessively foul mouth? The stuff at the back of my refrigerator? No. I wanted to write something meaningful, something deep. For inspiration, I went to the Concordance to put the word into Biblical perspective, then to the quotations pages looking for guidance from the “great ones,” and finally to my fellow Scribblers, to gather their collective take on the subject…
…and then, I was completely intimidated. Talk about talent!
You see, this is my first attempt at Sunday Scribblings, and I can’t help feeling that I’m in over my head. Not only have my writing skills become rusty of late, but the depth and passion in the posts I’ve read so far has my head spinning. I know it isn’t a competition, but still there is a niggling voice in the back of my head, dripping with sarcasm, “Do you really want to make a fool of yourself? Okay then, go on, if you must.”
And so, ironically, this exercise has revealed something truly foul in nature, an overbearing inner critic at work, heaping out steady doses of crippling disapproval, calling foul on my every word. It seems that too much time away from writing gives that critic free rein.
Sunday Scribblings will be good for me. I need to get back in the writing groove. I need the will to fight that inner critic. So if you can bear with me, I’m going to stare down the critic and hang around for awhile. I think it’s about time I called foul, don’t you?
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8 comments:
I felt the same way when I first started and then said what the hell. And you know what, none of those geniuses are ever critical. They are a very supportive group.
And all you have to do to feel really smart is read mine.
i joined SS a few weeks back and I am still intimidated with all the talented writers every week. I guess the only way to write better is to write more. Here's to more posts in the future!
I felt the same too - and still do at certain prompst - doin't you dare give up! It's like riding a bike, the more you do it the better you become - hang in there it's so worth it! Your take on the prompt was excellent ...WELCOME!
I still find myself in awe of some of the writers at SS. But I refuse to be intimidated and I'm determined to plough on. After all, it's only a bit of fun, and I think several contributors take themselves far too seriously. Enjoy it! I do.
Welcome to the group, Heather.
We confuse criticism with constructive feedback. And a critique is just an evaluation of the work (if it is a critique worth reading) not the writer. My experience is most readers offer general feedback unless you ask for more so stop being your own enemy. There are only supportive peers at SS.
I echo Susan's statement. We are all peers who care about the craft - and having some fun. Quash that inner-critic and jump on in - the water's warm.
I was in the same predicament, and still am. I have been, and in a way, will always be my own harshest critic. However, I have found that in the short time in which I have been doing this, everyone I've encountered has been kind and supportive. It really has been a positive experience.
This is an excellent post, and I feel you've hit the nail right on the head by crying "foul" upon that inner critic of yours.
Good Job! See you next week...
Thank you all, so much, for taking the time to stop by and reassure me. I feel SO much more comfortable now and rarin' to write! Looking forward to many more Sunday Scribblings...
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