Barbara McDowell

Starting 2011 digging back into my writing goals, I have an urge to get into my writing files and edit/organize some work to get it circulating for publication options, but also feel a pull to create new work.  The joy is that, for the first time since college, I actually feel like a writer vs. this busy imposter with yearnings and dreams of returning more to my writing, but finding it being relegated to an often abandoned hobby.

I consider myself to be a reformed, chronic non-submitter.  I’ve got a file cabinet neatly organized with poetry, short stories and essays that have either never seen the inside of a submissions envelope or have had limited circulation attempts.  I think what stopped me in the past was partly feeling it was an overwhelming task to properly research suitable markets for my work (not enough time to read all the journals I wanted to) and fear of success (weird one, I know).

The fear of success circular reasoning went something like this: What if I write something strong enough for “them” to accept?  Then it is accepted and people know.  Then folks will be looking for me to instantly be able crank out something else just as good or even better so it is published too.  They’ll be asking me, “What else have you published?” or (gasp) “When are you going to write a book?”  And what if I’m not able to get something else published quickly?  Or ever again?  What if I freeze up and pump out crap?  Then I’ll be this one-and-done failed writer who never gets anything else published.

Of course the twist is that if I don’t submit work on a regular basis, I’ll still be a writer who gets nothing published.  Funny how that works.  Also funny (at least now looking back) is how ingrained the writing gremlins and critic became as they twisted away at my sense of logic and took shots to limit my craft. 

Well no more.  On Saturday, I finished the first draft of a story cranking out the last half during a few overnight hours (oh the thrill when I typed the last sentence).  This week, I’m editing an older piece that needs some tightening before circulating again for submission.  I’m reading one novel on Kindle and a collection of short stories in hard cover format.  And I have the opportunity to review and critique the writing of others both via my writers group and an online course I am taking.  This month I can move towards a balance that abandons my rigid all or nothing approach and become more of the writer I’ve always wanted to be.