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A while back, I bought a series called "How to Become a Great Essayist" from The Great Courses... I could lose YEARS on the different topics that they have on offer! My wife got tired of listening to me spin out various diatribes on some topic or another, so I decided that I'd work at becoming the next Great American Essayist. My only problem is that I'm virtually paralyzed by imposter syndrome and crushing self-doubt. I know that I don't have it in me to build whole universes like some of the authors that I adore, but I might possibly be able to convince someone that I have something interesting to say. I just have to get over myself to put words to page and let other people read it. One of my biggest issues, I've found, is that there are times that I have something that I think is either important enough or interesting enough to go on at some length about. Some idea that is worth exploring. I'll kick it around in my head for a while, then come to the conclusion that it isn't worth the energy to post it on, say, Facebook (which is, let's face it, much like Mos Eisley: A wretched hive of scum and villainy.) I'll even try to let the words out with my family, and they typically just give me That Look. You know the one. It says "Really? You're going to do that thing again?" It can get a little... I don't know, disheartening? When met with ambivalence. Does anyone else have similar struggles? |