Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
1. What is the worst thing that could happen if you become a writer (and how likely is that to happen)?
2. What is the worst think that could happen if you DON’T become a writer (and how likely is that to happen)? (100-250 words)
It is much harder to answer this than it is to answer part 2. If I DO become a writer? I would have to commit to the time it takes and that would mean giving up the other possible directions my life could take. I would be locked into this thing as ‘my thing’ but that’s not so bad. I already identify myself as writer and it is soul-destroying to be a writer who doesn’t write.
So, I guess what is worst is that I would be seen, public, exposed. I guess that is the scariest thing. Everything about me and my writing would become open to scrutiny and judgement. Perhaps negative judgement. And that would be horrible. It is also 100% likely to happen because no one can please everyone. Even if I do everything perfectly someone will have something bad to say about it. That’s a horrible truth about the nature of mankind.
But I think what would be harder is to face my own sense of self-contempt and loathing if I reach the end of my life and look back on not having given my all to chasing this dream. I don’t know if I could forgive myself for never having the courage to put myself out there in the first place. And that is what would happen. Not writing, would become the crushing regret that prevents me from having lived a full life.
This post is in response to one of Holly Lisle's workshop activities from Mugging The Muse. I highly recommend this short (and incredibly cheap! just 99 cents!) course for any writer interested in developing their writing passion and firing up their Muse.