On Writing, Criticism, and Confidence

Writing online without a pen name comes with exposure, criticism, ridicule, and danger (someone trolled me before and I was so scared!). When we do one thing out of sheer love or curiosity, it always comes at a price. 

It also has its own rewards. Most people can separate truthfulness from deception, and when people see this in you, they trust your word. And when they do, it gives you confidence to keep creating. 

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Criticisms are unavoidable

While I don’t know how you (and others who read this blog) feel when you read my posts, it makes me happy to see that almost half of those who visit this website have been here before! Thanks to MonsterInsights, LOL. 

But my point is this: with all the negative reports, distractions and unnecessary information that confront us every minute, it’s important to stay on track and choose to ignore. 

I’ve had my share of criticisms. I’ve been called slow, and my writing was once edited – almost stripped down to the last comma  – because it doesn’t fit. While criticisms have their basis, they aren’t always 100% true.

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A word on confidence

From the time I started compiling my work from 2012 to reading about self-publishing (thanks, writers Joanna Penn, Ricardo Fayet, and Michelle Kulp!), I picked up a few lessons: 

First, confidence may grow through other people’s opinion of us. 

Next, insecurity and self-deprecation may come from the same place. 

The truth is, our value does not depend on how people see us, but how we see ourselves. This is such a cliche but I have to remind myself repeatedly! The most important voice to listen to is ours.

Here’s something to remember:

From Elbert Hubbard, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.”

We can stay comfortable in our little bubble all our lives and dodge the critics, feedback and calls for change. We also have the option to get uncomfortable with the guarantee of growth and expansion. Which one will you choose? 

Odyssa publishes stories in Medium. Be a Medium member by clicking here. To subscribe to her stories by email, click this.