Every time I post a picture or a blurb about my books, I am making myself deal with that fear. My current book that I am writing has passion, sex, murder, and my main character is not exactly the man of your dreams. What will my mother think when she reads these things or my mother-in-law for that matter?!
No one said following your dreams would be easy. In fact, it is the hardest thing to do, in my opinion. I wish I was an at-home mother with time to write and more time with my son. But that isn't the case. I write when I can and that is all I can do.
Here are a few ways I am trying to deal with my fear:
- Do what scares you because it scares you. No one said it would be easy to stay away from negative thinking, but what you can do is be proud of overcoming it. Let the fear motivate you. I have a fear of speaking in front of people as well....and now I do it every day as a teacher. Sometimes fear keeps us working on ourselves and teaches us to work through it.
- Focus on the writing process instead of the unknown reviews of others. Writing isn't about pleasing everyone. I write because I love it. I do want to please my readers, but I need to remember that I cannot please all.
- Perfectionism can kiss my ass. As a writer, a teacher, a mother...I want what I do to be great. But no one is perfect. Nothing we do in life is perfect. Do what you love and love the mistakes you make in the process as well.
- A bad story doesn't make me a bad person or a bad writer. If I write a bad story then that just means the next one will be better. A good story just means that it came out right that time. Celebrate it all. We can always improve. I have loved and hated books by the same author. It is alright. Not everyone will like what I write, but hopefully at least one person will.
- Just follow your dreams no matter what. Do what makes YOU happy. That is all. We are not in charge of someone else's thoughts and/or feelings. Just go for it and be proud of what you do.