We’re our own worst enemy – what!?
As those of you who read my last blog post, or who like my Facebook page, will already know, I’ve been conducting a poll over the last couple of weeks, about what writers fear most about being a writer.
The poll itself was inspired by the recent Ditmar nominations and by the fact that the writers over on Write Anything are this month searching themselves for their greatest writery fears. It was a difficult question for me to face – you’ll find out why on Tuesday 29 May when my post goes live. But in the meantime, I thought I’d conduct a little survey among the writers I know.
What do you fear most about being a writer?
Now… here are the results!
Results as at 8th May.
As you can see, the most popular fear – by far – is the fear of not living up to our own standards. Typical! Although it can be scary exposing our innermost selves through our writing, receiving negative criticism or being in the public eye, it’s not what we fear the most. Although sales figures and achieving publication or republication are important, these are also not what we fear the most. What we fear the most is not writing well enough – ‘enough’ often involving a comparison of our current writing projects to all the best writing we’ve ever read or written just to see how it measures up!
Why do we do it to ourselves?
Because we’re a little bit cuckoo? Because the writing industry is such a competitive one? Because we’re secret perfectionists who daren’t put anything ‘out there’ until it’s the best it can be – otherwise we won’t get published or republished, we won’t achieve the sales figures we need and we’ll get negative criticism… in public? Possibly… all of the above.
So thanks the Facebookers who answered my poll, it’s given a really interesting result: Karen Miller, Kim Falconer, Kirsten Tranter, Mary Victoria, Greg Barron, Kirstyn McDermott, Elizabeth Ottosson, Rowena Specht-Whyte, Kirsten Krauth, Psyche Ready, Foz Meadows, Dorothy-Jane Daniels, Paul Vander Loos, Nalini Meiyin, Jonathan Crossfield, Füzzy Mijmark, FemmeRuthless Angel, Theresa Sandow, Imelda Evans, Rachael Johns, Matthew Rowe, Marina Hawke Bignell, Maria Gabriela Muñoz, Pippa Jay, Kylie Scott, Chels Springer, Lucy Stone
That said, there’s an even more interesting result, in the results…
Just take a quick look at those I’ve thanked above – maybe check out their websites, maybe find them on your preferred social media and tell them that they’re awesome writers! Because, as you’ll see, even established authors experience writing fear in one form or another. (Not all of them mind you – I’m looking at you, Kim Falconer! – but most). So buy their books, post an encouraging comment on their blogs, or just be safe in the knowledge that we all have our fears – it’s what you do with them that counts 🙂
Oh, and thank you Stewart Kirby and Allen Schatz for your twitter suggestions:
Stewart: As a writer, I say it’s huge-mouthed clowns with long sharp teeth and eyes that roll back when the teeth get going. Hell yeah.
Allen: that I don’t have time to write.
Too true, guys – too true!
Sorry I missed your Poll Zena.
What I fear most is my finger stop working. I, like most writers, do so much writing my fingers are begining to hurt and fail me. RSI. My health is a major concern also. All that sitting and concentrating on the screen. Legs cramp up from lack of movement. My eyes have just stared to diminish also.
When is someone going to invent a worth voice recognition program? Save me typing everything out.
So generally it’s my health. If someone came up with a course for keeping writers healthy I’d be all over it.
Cheers
Rob
Good point, Rob.
*stretches back & rolls neck*
Sitting still for long periods, moving only these funny ten digits of ours, takes a lot of stamina – though it’s not always easy for our bodies to tolerate. So look after yourself, Rob, and try to get the other parts of you moving a little too – even if that does mean leaving your computer for half an hour!
Fascinating stuff. Makes me feel not so alone in my paranoias!!
Me too, me too!!
Very interesting indeed. We are all slightly crazy to be doing this of course.
Totally wacky 😀
This is a pretty interesting result, although people may have taken the soft option *shielding myself from the idea I’m paranoid*
We’re all paranoid!
*glances over shoulder*
Have you thought about writing a character who is paranoid – then you could get it all out of your system?!
I guess it’s just me… Mine would have to be going blind.
He he – yes, that would be a big problem for a writer (or anyone I suppose). I’d hate to go blind… being short sighted, I’m blind enough as it is. Thank goodness for contact lenses!! I hope you never go blind 🙂
Thanks, me too, and likewise. Although, now that you’ve really got me thinking about it, I guess it wouldn’t be so bad with technology today; not in the general sense of loss, but as far as writing goes. I bet a tech savvy person could help out and set you up with a good talk and type solution.
I really like the idea in the above comment about writing out your fears through a character. That seems like it might be very therapeutic. I think I’ll have to wait a bit to try that though. Currently my poor protagonist in my latest work is schizophrenic, so making him blind too, well, that just seams mean.
Definitely mean.
Although… has anyone written about a blind schizophrenic?! 😉
Hi! I’ve been looking for a good poll to do lately, and I am totally borrowing this for my blog! Look for the link back to you there, of course. Thanks for such an interesting topic and great thoughts about the results.
Happy to inspire, Melanie! And thanks for the link back 🙂
Looks like your poll (so far) is going the same way as mine!
Want to know my greatest fear – my Write Anything post is now live. Read it here:
http://wa.emergent-publishing.com/2012/05/mayday/
Also, two more writery fears from Twitter:
He he, thanks guys!
My fear is that more people will hate my work than the number of people who do…. which doesn’t make for a good bottom line ( grin)
Sounds like a pretty reasonable fear for a writer to have, Frank! 🙂