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Have you ever give up on writing?
Long ago when I participated in the WP Writing 101 course, a number of participants listed some of these reasons for giving up on writing years ago:
- family would invade their privacy by reading their journals or creative work without permission;
- being accused of basing fictional characters on family and friends;
- people assuming that everything written was 100% true, especially the more “mature” content;
- sharing their personal feelings or writing frankly about a topic only to be interrogated about the meaning behind their words.
It was astounding to these reasons pop up so much.
To be writers and storytellers, we need to develop a thick skin but you don’t need to justify anything to anyone anymore.
You write to express yourself and you do not have to justify what you write and why you write.
You write because you are a writer.
It’s as simply as that.
©2016 Marquessa Matthews. All Rights Reserved.
Updated from original Justify Your Love, November 10, 2015
Marquessa 
As writers we put our heart and soul into our work and I think if our privacy is invaded, questioned or ridiculed then it hurts. Unless you’ve gone throught the process of writing something that is personal or you put a lot of work into, then you don’t appreciate how that feels. That I think is the problem for me…
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So true. And when you are a child/young adult, it can definitely put a damper on your passion…
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It does, it kills it dead i think. In reality, the damage is often not repairable, children of course don’t see this.
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Exactly. Children often take things as truth and then that’s the end of that!😐
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As adults we’re not much better, but we often have the resolve to overcome the obstacles that often children don’t… not always though.
You been ok?
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I don’t want to jinx myself but all the challenges are going well and forcing me to prioritize…me!👍 You?
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I’m ok thanks, still ploddign along lol.
I’m envious that you have the time to write like you do… I hope it continues to go well.:-)
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Thanks…though I don’t really have “time” but I finally started applying some of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits re: cutting down on “low value” activities. Better late than never.😊
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Ah yes… it’s a good exercise 🙂
Well done anyway…
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Yes💞💘💞
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💕💖💓💗
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I started writing, really writing in 7th grade. She saw something in me. She encouraged me. Her words have stuck with me ever since even when people tell me that writing is a waste of time. I don’t know if this teacher remembers me. I don’t know if she knows what she did for me. But I will never forget her.
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That’s so sweet! I had a teacher just like that. She was my elementary school English teacher from grade 2 through 6 (i was in French school). She would read and discuss every story I wrote. ☺ I so missed her when it was time for high school!
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They are the best!
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👍
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Truth. Some of my writing is upbeat. And at times I sound downright ornery and cantankerous. But that’s me. Can’t and won’t change that about myself. I am who I am.
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You go girl! 😉
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#one for me. I never kept a diary or a journal when I was young. Because of my father. Now I use my blog as how I see and feel about the world around me. I know I look at world in a different light.
I found out I enjoy blogging.
If you have time stop on by for some coffee http://www.peppylady.blogspot.com/
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#1 is a big one. I’m happy that you are expressing yourself as you see fit! I stopped by your blog too! Good stuff!
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Couldn’t have put it any better myself. We’re writers,so we write.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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It heals, it is therapeutic, it is medicinal, it is calming, it is joyful ……..so much to be gained from writing. Great post my dear.
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💕💖
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I have experienced all the scenarios you talked about and at some point I decided to become a rebel. I write what I feel and embrace the fact that occasionally to deal with pain, I write in the third person. Just got another great idea, off to post:-)
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😊 I often write in 1st person to try to get into a character’s head more but 1st often makes peopke wonder… 😆
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Either way you and I aim to dazzle our readers minds :-))
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I LOVE that! Yeah, we ‘ll try and take over thew world! 🙂
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So very true, Marquessa. ❤
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Never give up any kind of art because you’re afraid what people will think. True art will come easily when you let go of the barriers holding you back – like what other people think and fear of failure!
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Totally agree! However when you are younger and don’t know better, you sometimes listen to other people. Cheers!
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Even when you’re older it’s hard not to listen to what other people think. 😦
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Yup, very true too…🤔
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I have been seriously thinking about deleting my blog. It has been “found” by members of my family…family members who wouldn’t give me the time of day and now…suddenly want to tell me that they don’t remember any of the pure hell I went through. Right. I resent the fact that they read it.
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Geez! Just do you. Forget them!
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Thanks sis. You’re right. I shouldn’t allow somebody to run me off. 😡
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Nope. Your truth is your truth and if they don’t like it…The thing is, so much of what you say I know is true without even “knowing” you because so much of it is “textbook”. On the other hand, you can take a page out of a mutual friend’s book and start a new space and contact each of your “true” followers…it could save you the drama…
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I actually thought of that…and even tried it. It kept using the same email address and I couldn’t figure out how to stop it. Then they would both show up. I didn’t want them connected. 😬
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Oh. You would likely have to start fresh with everything. Different email, different username, etc…
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I tried but it kept coupling it with the current one. 😞
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Yeah, I’m not a techie but maybe you could ask the WP in a chat session. I’ve instant chatted with them a few times and they were helpful.
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Oh I did that and get this…they said “sign out of the other one.” I told them I wasn’t signed in and they said “oh. Well I don’t know what to tell you.” LOLOL
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Ha! Ok then my last bit of advice from me the non techie is to sign out of everything, clear your cache, and restart your computer. Or create a new account from someone else’s computer!🤔
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I’ve heard of that “cache clearing” but I don’t know how to do it. I guess I could just delete my blog and start over. Sigh.
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Noooooo! Don’t do that. I may have time tomorrow to google a thing or two that may help. Email me offline at simplymarquessa@gmail.com so that I have your email. Or send it via Direct Message on Twitter. Like I said, I’m no techie but my googling is pretty decent!😆
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Thanks sis! I’ll do it. 😘
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I don’t think I commented on this before, but I have to say the answer is yes, and oddly enough, I’ve just written about this recently. I’ll release it in September. Also odd is I mention Blogging 101/201 (or whatever the title was) in that post as well. I must add that you’re absolutely right. We must write, whether anyone else has something to say about it or not.
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Lol! We are on the same wavelength dear!👍
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I’m with you. 🙂
I used to wish that my family cared to read my writing, but now… I’m glad they don’t have any interest. I’m glad my blog is anonymous… because I don’t want to have to defend a single word I write… and I don’t want to change anything because I know they’re reading. I want to (have to) write … but no one else has to like it. And I’ve never even thought of giving up writing.
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Same here with the lack of family interest. Used to annoy me but it is a blessing. Less self- censorship.
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I cannot imagine anyone in my family reading the really sexy stuff… oh man. That would be horrifying!
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Completely and totally mortifying🙄
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