This article is for all those who write short stories, novels, poems, or songs, but haven’t yet gathered enough courage to show them to the rest of the world. You have a creative spark deep within you that begs to be released, and putting words onto paper satisfies that yearning only a little.
Your creativity wants to be seen by others. But you’re shy. You’re afraid people will laugh at you.
I completely get it. If you let people read your writing, it becomes open to criticism. Nobody likes to be criticized, especially those who are often shy by nature. There’s always that nagging fear in the back of the mind that says, “But, what if they don’t like me?”
First of all, let me say that there will always be people who don’t like your work. What you have to remember is their opinion isn’t personal, because they usually don’t know you at all. They just don’t like that particular piece of work.
It takes a lot of courage to throw caution to the wind and open the windows of your brain for a full inspection by the general public. But remember this, you can be fearful and brave at the same time. As a matter of fact, nearly all acts of bravery are simultaneously accompanied by fear. The definition of bravery is not the lack of fear, but the ability to move forward in spite of fear.
Ever heard these quotes?
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"The greatest risk is to risk nothing at all."
"Your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
"My coach said I run like a girl, and I said if he ran a little faster, he could, too."
Okay, fine. That last quote isn’t exactly about bravery. It was said by soccer legend Mia Hamm several years ago. I just included it because I think it’s a cool line. So sue me.
Anyway, back to letting the world see your work.
Have you ever considered that by keeping your creativity to yourself, you’re robbing the
world of a little enjoyment? Think about your favorite author. Can you imagine what it would be like if they had been too afraid to submit their stories to publishers?
Writers sometimes use a writing process called “what if” to develop their story. So, instead of asking what if people don’t like you, ask what if your work is really great? What if your fear of criticism slowly faded away with each submission? What if the criticism you did receive forced you to make your writing better?
Criticism will always sting. Even if you become a best-selling author, you will still feel hurt by negative comments. But that’s not a reason to keep your creativity hidden away. Successful authors keep putting their work out there, into the bright spotlight of public opinion. That’s part of the reason they remain successful.
Don’t be afraid of the light. Your creative babies, and your future readers, will thank you later.