Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Stop Being Afraid!

This is really just me talking to myself, but you're more than welcome to listen in. For weeks I have had a manuscript on my back burner. I open it and look it over then close it again, afraid to really get started.  Every time I finish a book that I am reading I think, Alex, open up that stupid manuscript, stop being afraid!

So why am I afraid, I ask myself as I contemplate opening the word document for the hundredth time today? I guess it is because I am afraid that 1. The story might really be good! 2. If it is good, then I should finish it up and publish it. 3. If I publish it then it is out there in the world for all to see!

I don't know how many of you out there are parents, but remember that first day of Kindergarten when your little one stepped through that school room door and you wanted to cry when no one ran right up and asked to be their friend. Or when your seven year old came home from the first day at a new school and said that no one wanted to play with him? Or when your eleven year old daughter who wants so badly to be popular talks to that popular girl at church over and over in hopes that she might be recognized? All those times as a mom or dad you just wanted to reach out and say, "hey stupid, my kid is great and if you just gave him/her a chance you would see that!" That is how I feel about my manuscripts. Every story is one of my kids being sent out into the world.

Now don't get me wrong. Sometimes we need experiences to help us learn and grow. We need people to not like us so we know what to do, and how to get over it. We need to work hard, and play hard, and put ourselves out there so that people can know who we are, and what we are all about, but that doesn't make it any easier. Sometimes knowing that we are going to have to stretch a little is almost scarier than actually doing it!

I guess in the long run, the only thing I have to be afraid of is myself. Can I write a story? Sure I can! Can it be really good? Yes it can! But it will never happen if I don't click on that little "W" at the bottom of my screen and write the silly thing!

So, to all of you out there who might be just a little afraid, or heck, a lot afraid, lets close our eyes together and click the Enter key and get on with the writing!