Crossing The Line

October 19, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Guest Posts, Life, Uncategorized with 13 Comments

Photo by nstaeck (Creative Commons)

Today’s guest post is by Kelsey Anderson.  Kelsey is a wife and aspiring fiction author. She loves classic rock n roll, old cars and her cat. You can read her blog here and follow her on Twitter @kdmae.

There’s an invisible line that I’ve been needing to cross. Every writer, at some point, has to cross this line. Some will sprint over it, some will casually stroll across. But there are some, like me, who stand in front of that line, terrified to no end. What is over that line is possible criticism or high praise. Perhaps acclamation or ridicule.  Maybe even some applause or boos. But you won’t know what you’re going to get until you finally step over that dang line.

I’ve been writing fiction for well over two years and since then, I’ve written thousands upon thousands of words. Words illustrating love, heartache, brokenness, risk, forgiveness and so on. It’s amazing how just a few simple words can bring so much life to a character or a scene.

But I have a confession to make: no one has ever read those thousands of words I’ve written. Not even my husband. It’s been only me. And that is the invisible line that I am so terrified to cross.

These characters and scenes that I spend hours writing are a part of me. They are the reason I spend most of my time on a computer, why I am sometimes super quiet, and also why I’ve been known to stop in the middle of a room with a spaced out look to my face. I put my heart and soul into every word that I put down, and letting someone read my stories is like letting them look inside my head. It’s hard to deal with that kind of exposure.

Honestly, it’s just my own insecurities that are preventing me from crossing over that line, I’m not denying it.

I’ve put my heart and soul into many things and shared them with the world, but only got scorn and ridicule as a result. But if I ever want to get better at writing and ultimately become a published author, eventually I’m going to have to tough it up and let people read my stuff, taking whatever response I get as a result.

I know that I’m not going to please every reader, all writers know that fact. I know that I’m going to get negative feedback, it’s unavoidable. I know that I’m possibly going to be ridiculed, might as well get used to it.

But writing is my true passion.

This is what God has called me to do with my life. It is my dream that someday people will love my characters just as much as I do. And it is extremely selfish of me to hold myself behind this stupid invisible line like a coward, because I’m fearing the criticism I know will come.

If I want my stories and characters to be known, I need to step over that line.

*Deep breath*

Here I go…

 

Have you faced this challenge as a writer? If so, can you encourage me in the comments as I cross this line? Thanks! 

 

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  • http://twitter.com/universeocean Timothy J. Lytle

    I once had a creative writing teacher who was pivotal in my writing confidence. She had us write for five minutes every day in a journal, then at the end of the week she read them, made comments in the margin and gave them back. No one else but her saw what we wrote and her feedback was always encouraging. This allowed me to express myself with relative candor while growing accustomed to the idea of sharing my words.

    Now granted, thousands of words of carefully crafted fiction are different than a daily journal. But criticism can help or hurt just as much when you let those words into the wild. I can only hope your journey across that line is as fruitful as mine was, Kelsey. I could say so much more here, but the one thing that keeps coming to mind is this: Growing the most beautiful flower in the world does no good (and likely more harm) if you keep it in the closet. Cliché, yes, but sayings reach that status for a reason.

    “We must always be prepared for endless waves of transformation.” ~Unknown~

  • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

    Wow. Great post. Jump over the line! You have spent hours and hours working on what you’ve done. It’s time to share it. I am crossing some lines myself right now, and while it is scary, it is also exhilirating! My suggestion would be to find multiple people to read it in order to give you different opinions. Go for it!

    • http://twitter.com/KDmae Kelsey Anderson

      Thank you Tammy! I am determined to cross that line. I actually have quite a few people lined up that want to read my stuff. Some are writers, some are readers, some are neither. Thank you for the encouragement :)

  • http://dailygallen.com/ tim gallen

    totally been there. and on some level, i’m always there. but i’m learning that it takes more guts and determination to create and show your art to the world than to sit back and criticize others’ work. you can do it, kelsey! step over that line! we are all eager to read some of those words you’ve written.

    • http://twitter.com/KDmae Kelsey Anderson

      Thank you Tim! I’m so glad that I have my writing friends for support! I’m determined to get my novels out there, just have to put on a thick skin and cross the line. :)

  • http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

    YOU CAN DO IT!!! In my experience, the criticism never quite pans out like it does in my head. I expect the absolute worst, and it usually doesn’t come. I usually run into more encouragement than criticism.

    • http://twitter.com/KDmae Kelsey Anderson

      Thank you Jamie! Usually things always don’t turn out as bad as we think they will be. I’m hoping that’s the case when I finally cross that line and let people read my stuff. :)

  • http://www.ordinaryservant.com/ Pilar Arsenec

    Beautiful post. Yes! I am always terrified and insecure every time I press the ship button. What I am discovering is all writers struggle with this same issue. What is awesome is we are in a very supportive writing community. I am learning to take baby steps in putting my stuff out there. Like you I have faced rejection countless times. I feel very much like what you wrote when I sing infront of people. I feel like its bearing my heart and soul and its exposing for me. Which is why I never feel comfortable singing in front of a live audience. Anyway, thank you for sharing.

    • http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

      I agree with the singing part. It’s like baring a part of your soul.

    • http://twitter.com/KDmae Kelsey Anderson

      Thank you for the encouraging words Pilar! You’re so sweet. I love my writing community on Twitter, they’ve all been a huge help to me.

      P.S. And I know how you feel about singing. I was once laughed at when I sang, and have barely sang up until a few years ago. I only sing in church or if I’m by myself.

  • http://twitter.com/cupojoegirl Eileen Knowles

    oh yes! I was afraid of crossing the line too. Yet, its necessary if we want to grow and experience all the LIFE that is waiting!

    • http://twitter.com/KDmae Kelsey Anderson

      Thank you Eileen! I’m slowly crossing that line, I’m getting there. :)