No disclaimers, no doubts: writers, listen up....

All of us are plagued with doubts at one time or another--or all the time.  Writers suffer from this as much as anyone else--maybe more--because most of us are too sensitive, neurotic, obsessive, reactionary, on and on.

But when you're sitting down to write, or even contemplating writing or planning to write, this is the worst time to let doubts creep in: I'm no good, Why me? What's new about what I have to say? I'm horrible at plotting! My dialogue sucks! My vocabulary is teensy weensy....The list goes on!

In my Literary Posse workshop, I have an aqua Bell jar that my students have to stuff with money when they let a disclaimer drip from their mouths.  Disclaimers and keeping that negative self-talk does nothing--nothing at all!--for you as a writer, or you as most things.  All doubts and disclaimers do is keep you from writing and send you hightailing it to clean the grout or feed your face or whatever it is that you do as a lovely distraction.

So when you hear that negative self-talk or think about how bad (not good) a writer (or singer or photographer or artist or musician... you are, here's what I want you to do. I want you to get out your notebook (or camera or easel....) and start creating.  Writers write. Writers progress by writing. Ideas are great, but ideas aren't writing. 

Get out a timer, set it for 15 minutes, and start writing. Freewrite about a character in a story, write a scene in a story, a scene in your memoir, or whatever interests you. Don't stop writing. 

I promise you that the more you do this, the more the doubts and disclaimers will stop and the more you will progress in your writing.

What's your negative self-talk and how do you get past it--or do you?

Pen on Fire Writers Salon with T. Jefferson Parker

On January 17, 2012, the Pen on Fire Writers Salon hosted T. Jefferson Parker at Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar. Jeff talked about his new novel, The Jaguar.  We had a full house and sold out/waiting list event with one of the most magnanimous writers ever. Visit his webpage to learn of his events and attend one. You'll be one happy writer for having done so.

Debbie Mitsch's bookstore, Mystery Ink, in Huntington Beach, supplied the books.

Barb, Deb & C.J. 

All photos by C.J. Bahnsen, except for the last, taken by Travis Barrett

Dani Shapiro at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon

Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion, was a guest at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon in February of 2010.  Here is that live event. 

Download audio.  

(Broadcast date: XXX XX, 20XX)