The Stinking Thinking that Inhibits Me from Sharing My Writing

It’s been over three months since I’ve published a new piece here on my blog or any other social media platform. During this time I’ve observed several things about my writing process. I feel inspired to share them. I suspect others confronting similar challenges will benefit; at the very least, identifying my demons in writing helps to minimize their power. 

I’m reluctant to consistently publish on the Internet even though I have more than enough material to share. So I finally tackled the question: What am I afraid of in when it comes to sharing my work online? Here’s my list.

• My subject or point of view is not original.
• My perspective is unimportant.
• What I’m stating is not profound.
• No one will read my piece.
• No one will respond to it.
• I don’t want to share too much online.
• I may offend someone.
• I may embarrass myself.
• Readers may think less of me.

This mélange of stinking thinking prevents me from publishing regularly. The bottom line, I tell myself, is that no one cares if I write or not. So why bother?

I shared this thought at a recent writing workshop. The facilitator looked at me and replied, deadpan, “No one does care. You write because you have to.”  

You write for yourself—no one else. More specifically, you write because you have something you want to say. I know from my own experience that my life is infinitely better when I have done so. 

Now, let me see what I can do to toss that stinking thinking into the garbage can—one article at a time.