From the first draft to the finished product, you labored over your book or article with devotion. During your writing breaks, you imagined the accolades that would be poured on you from friends and family when they read your masterpiece. You even practiced the modest reactions you would have to their endless praise. You feel that the people in your life motivated you. In reality, they stifled you.
What went wrong? In short, you cared about what the people in your life would think about your published work, thereby putting your true message in second place. You held back so as not to offend anyone you know or gave false praise in an attempt to please them. Authors often do this without realizing it. Even if you know you’re doing it, you might think that others will not catch on or that it does not hurt your writing. It does.
You feel that the people in your life motivated you. In truth, they stifled you.
Whether it’s one-dimensional parents in a memoir or a not-so-steamy love scene in a romance novel, a good editor knows when you’ve pulled your punches. Doing so doesn’t make you a bad writer, but it doesn’t make your writing good. Twisting and muffling your message results in lackluster writing and hours of your life squandered. You will never become a great author until you become an autonomous author.
Considering how critical people in our lives can be, it’s no surprise that we take their opinions into account — consciously or not — every time we attempt to express ourselves. To make matters worse, women are criticized more often than men, especially in roles of leadership and authority. Even as I type this article, each keystroke brings up concern over what others might say to me about what I wrote or forgot to write.
Am I really saying you shouldn’t care about the opinions of those in your life? When it comes to your writing, yes.
After nearly two decades of working with authors, I know that what I’m asking of you is easier said than done. So, I’m going to share a harsh truth about your writing that I would like you to keep in mind as you write. This applies to any type of writer and any piece of writing, from full-length novels right down to your shortest tweets.
