So my writing buddy Patricia Lynne had an idea that she wanted to let out some confessions about her and her writing, and wouldn’t it be “fun” to get other writers and maybe even readers to participate and spill forth our deepest darkest secrets.
I don’t know about deepest and darkest, some things are kept secret for a reason, but I suppose I have more than enough that I could share some of the ones I have in regards to my writing.
Firstly, this isn’t the most tightly held secret (those close to me figured it out without me telling them) but one of my characters in Tears of a Clown was named after an ex of mine. I’m sure anyone who’s read the story can figure out which character it is. It allowed me to get out some frustrations and be immature and name call. I’m not the type to be nasty to someone to their face, so this was the next best thing! Haha! Therapeutic as well.
Secondly, I guess I would say I talk a good game here, about being positive and how great it is to be an indie author. I do believe that to a point, but other times my confidence is nil and I’m embarrassed to tell people I’m a self-published author. I guess I’m concerned, with the stigma that still exists, that others will judge my writing as not good enough to be published traditionally. Being that I never tried, I don’t really know if that’s true or not. I like what I write. I enjoy reading my own stories, but I often wonder if others really do. Sure they might say they do, but maybe they’re just being nice. Maybe they don’t want to hurt my feelings. Maybe they just don’t want to be the one tell me how bad it is.
It’s not so surprising, I suppose, considering my lack of confidence in just about everything I do. It’s always been a problem so why wouldn’t it translate into my writing as well? Sometimes I can get by, otherwise my work would never been seen by other eyes. But it’s not an easy thing for me and I don’t know that it ever will be. I just do the best I can and fake it ’til I make it.
Do you have any confessions you want to get off your chest? Did you name a character after someone you dislike just so you could kill them off? Do you have panic attacks at the thought of sharing your work? Join us and write your own post. Letting it out can be cathartic! If you join in, add your link by clicking on the cute blue frog head below so we can hop to your blog.
Keystrokes and Word Counts 
See? That was fun wasn’t it? I wonder the same about my books and being self published. Should I have tried traditional first? That question will probably always plague me.
I don’t know if fun is the word I would have used 😉
I’m not published yet but I am planning on self-publishing. I decided that one, I don’t want to even deal with finding a publisher if they will even consider me, and two, I don’t want to give up control. I think it is becoming more and more acceptable especially with the new avenues of the Kindle books. I figure either they, the readers, will like my books or they won’t. Of course I would rather they like them. Okay so I am worried about it. too. ;P
I do think, given more time, it’ll be more acceptable, but I think we’re still in the beginning stages now. At least when the majority is doing it I can look back and say “ooh in my day, there weren’t many how dared self publish…but I did! Now get off my lawn!” 😀
The advice I receive from the people who work in career offices is to be proud of all your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem to you. If you appear confident about your work (writing or otherwise) and you can talk to them (recruiters/agents, friends, etc) about the complexities of what you did, then stigma or no, they’ll respect you for what you accomplished. Tell them you’re a self-published writer with a mission to break the self-published author stereotype! (Wearing a cape is optional. xD)
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah @ The Writer’s Experiment
Funny you should mention a cape Sarah as I was totally talking to someone about wearing a cape and they told me I need a black one with red inside…and matching shoes. I like when a guy remembers to mention the shoes! hah then I can be Super Indie!
In seriousness though, good advice. I have a hard time selling myself (and my work to others) but I’ve gotten better than I was! Small steps, right? 🙂
If someone has already taken the name “Super Indie”, then try “Captain Indie”!
The one thing I don’t like about “selling myself” is sounding full of myself. >.< It's so hard to find a nice balance.
I intend to be a self-published writer! One day. >.< AND I didn't name her after an ex (don't have any of those…) but I did take a great amount of joy in killing off a character that I despised almost as much as my MC did. 😉
That’s always fun! I don’t know that I’ve hated a character enough to want to kill them off (and I have killed characters)…maybe someday 😉
And no doubt, if you want to self-publish, you can! Just be sure to go through all the proper steps first so you can put out the best product possible!
I never really worry about my work being good enough. As I’ve said in a mini interview with Patty before, “I write because I want to and not for anyone else.” or, uh, something like that anyway…
My fear of sharing my work with the world is why I haven’t done so already. I’m perfectly fine sharing my fan fiction since they are not my characters or my world. But my own work…I get in my own way with it. I’ll be going good with it and then all of a sudden I’ll just stop cause I think people will think it’s crap.
Well…write for yourself first before worrying about what others will think. Easier said than done, I know, but give it a try 🙂
I have definitely had an episode or two from the latter of your questions. The idea of even sending out samples just freaks me the heck out. I hope I can overcome it one of these years, because it has always been a desire of mine since I was small to be published.