There is hope that exists inside every writer–this hope exists to remind you that the work you want is still attainable, still important and worthy to be created.
Write the hope into your work…it needs it.
Keep going!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
What is one of the things that I have noticed in my writing career (as both a writer and coach), is this fear that writers have about (1) what they have to say, and (2) being brave enough to say it.
This fear leads to writer’s block, and what I affectionately call ‘The Yipps.’ This is the fear that you have when you know that you have to write, know what you have to write is important–but can’t! This normally happens when you have a project you want to start, but don’t believe that you have the ability to do it.
The fear of being judged, fear of not having your work read–or quite simply? Just believing that you can’t. It is this fear that snowballing into everything else related to your writing and to any future projects!
There is no way around this. There is only a way through it.
The fear is unreasonable, so you, too, must become unreasonable.
Subdue the fear–by writing anyway. Don’t be afraid of what it will say, get it out first. Then we can do back and fix everything else. This is what drafts are for.
So what will you choose to do: are you going to believe the fear or …believe your talent?
Note: An excerpt of the essay, Writing Through the Wall, will be ready on 11/6, and ready for download on 11/9.
The pages are blank.
Fill them.
Now.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
The fact that you are writing anything at this point?
That is amazing.
Give yourself credit.
Give yourself grace.
You can do it…one word at a time.
I am proud of you. Keep going.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
I am more afraid of not writing than I am of writing.
I am more afraid of not saying what I have to say than actually saying.
I am more afraid of leaving what is unsaid UNSAID, than actually saying it.
Once you get to this level of resolve, your writing will shift because your mindset has shifted.
Don’t let that non-writer, stop your writing.
Keep going.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
“Too much”:
noun. The idea that a writer cannot write about what they want for the fear of what people will think or say.
Is this a legitimate fear? Of course. But this is part of the process! In the words of Bishop T. D. Jakes, “You have to feel this fear (you have to acknowledge that it is there!) and do it anyway.” The book that you want to write is within you! The story you want to write is yours, and dependent on your own tenacity and talent!
The work that you create need to reflect exactly what you want to create and that cannot be tethered to the opinions of other people.
You are a writer–so write.
Your job is writing, the audience’s job is to read.
So…give them something to read.
Keep writing!
The time you spend doubting yourself, is time that you can spend writing.
That is it. That is all.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
There is no such thing as ‘writing too much’ or having ‘too much to say.’
There are worlds trapped inside your hands. There are imaginary people in your head that need to live.
Keep going!
Keep writing!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
You cannot hurt a blank page.
You can offend a blank page by not filling it.
You can do it.
Happy Writing!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Let’s be frank, shall we?
There are too many people in your ear, but not enough helping you get words down! With all that you need to do in your book writing process, I need you to understand that what you are doing is independent of what other people think. I am going to give you a valuable piece of advice, two word as it relates to the people who think that you are ‘doing too much’ as it relates to your writing:
IGNORE THEM.
Therefore, as it relates to your work, your talent, and skill, no one can tell you how ‘much’ you can bring, share, write or create. Don’t allow them to superimpose their shenanigans (also known as doubt) on your creativity!
Write everything you need to write–just how you want to write it!
Fear leaving blank pages blank…not filling them.
