by Rebecca Yauger, @RebeccaYauger
Looking back at previous blog posts, I write a lot about self-doubt. You could do a search of this blog to find many posts about overcoming fear or self-doubt. But it’s something I wrestle with frequently, and I know I’m not alone in this. However, recently, I stumbled across some great advice from a truly unexpected source.
I’m currently in college (yes, at my age!), and in my last class, we learned about negotiation. The book we studied, Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton (2011, Penguin Books)*, had this quote: “Judgment hinders imagination.” Wow! Three simple words that smacked me in the face. How often do we say to ourselves “Am I really a good enough writer?” or “Why would anyone want to read what I write?” We don’t realize that negative self-talk such as this, hinders our creativity and puts us into a cycle of doubt and fear about writing, where we could give up on it completely. If we’re fearful of judgment, critiques, or bad reviews, how can we truly have the freedom to create?
The authors of the book go on to suggest that we separate the creative act from the critical one. What great advice. During this month of NaNoWriMo, when many are fast-drafting and turning off their internal editors, it reminds us to turn off our judgment editor as well. Writing is hard enough without throwing our own roadblocks in the way.
Yes, we need to continue to learn our craft, work hard, and write the best books we can. But we can’t allow fear of judgment get in the way of our creativity. Who knew that a book about learning how to negotiate would have such great advice for writers!
Listen, there are enough obstacles out there when it comes to writing. Don’t let fear of judgment become another one. Free your creativity instead, find your “no judgment zone”…and write on!
Rebecca Yauger is a writer and blogger who writes about real friendship and relationships, and all the ties that bond us. She’s been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Guideposts Magazine. She is a three-time cancer survivor and church life group leader. Rebecca grew up in a military family, and now after living all over the world, she makes her home near Dallas. She is married to her high school sweetheart and is a proud mother and grandmother. Visit her at www.RebeccaYauger.com.