February 8, 2021-Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, “What you are afraid to do is a clear indication of the next thing that you need to do.” If you’re scared to do something, good. Why? Because it means that you’re alive and still growing. You’re courageous and you may not have all the answers, but you’re willing to bet on yourself that you’ll figure it out. What are you afraid of in your writing life? That’s what you need to do next.
We’ve all been scared and being afraid comes with the territory of being an author. Writing things for the world to read, that you can never get back, is the epitome of being vulnerable. What if they don’t like it? What if I never sell a single book? What if I’m ridiculed by my peers? What if my dream of becoming an author doesn’t work out? Those are the risks that we take in this business. And I would rather risk it all than have a life half lived. Sometimes the worst place we can be is inside our own head with that little voice shouting, “Don’t do it, it’s too risky!” We don’t expand our inner or outer world when we stay inside of our comfort zones. The only way, is through. Through the fear, through the self-doubt, and through the uncertainty.
What are you afraid of as an author? Write about it. Put it on your characters. And then run toward it as fast as you can.
A baby bird and a mother bird were sitting in their nest one day. The mother bird said to it’s baby, “Today is the day that you leave the nest!” The baby bird turned to it’s mother and said, “I’m too afraid, it’s safe here and what if I fall?” The mother bird smiled and said, “Oh but, darling! What if you fly?”
So, my dear baby birds, I know you’re not afraid of the branch breaking, because your trust is not in the branch, but in your own wings.
Pandamonium Publishing House 