“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss
These wise words really strike a chord with me. Here’s why:
They apply to our writing: They’re about safeguarding our spontaneity: So often, when we start out with an idea for a story or novel, it feels fresh-born and we’re excited about it. It’s like a bright, glittering gem close to our hearts. We feel it’s wholeness. And then, somehow that freshness seems to leak away.
Sometimes, what we’re doing is totally in synch with our inner promptings, but it’s clearly bucking the trends we’re seeing and reading about. When this happens, it’s easy to start massaging our work or shoehorning it into that seemingly more acceptable pattern.
We start thinking and worrying about what other people will think about it. Will they understand it? Will they like it? Will they see what we see? Will they think it’s clever and original? Is it on target? Trendy enough, marketable enough?
And with all these questions, doubt about what we’re doing and striving for starts to creep in. Now don’t get me wrong — this happens anyway, it’s part of the territory.
But when this questioning arises from within us, it springs from our innate desire for excellence. It’s more about honoring our creativity and making our writing stronger, truer, deeper. I’ve wrestled with this in writing my children’s fantasy. Sure, I’ve gone through several major revisions. But over and over I’ve aimed to keep in my mind and heart the kind of story I felt called to write.
Charles Pratt, founder of a famous art institute, gave it this motto: “Be true to your work and your work will be true to you.”
So let’s take the advice of Dr. Seuss and Pratt: Let’s be who we are and say what we feel as we all write on!
Karin
Wow does this hit home for me after last week. Thank you
Terrie
Hi Terrie,
So glad I helped—everything always works out for you!
Write on,
Karin