All of us have things we’re afraid of. Spiders. Snakes. The boogeyman. Clowns. Yeah, I’ve never really understood this one, but, fear isn’t rational and I’m not judging. For some fear is a crippling, debilitating thing, and for others it’s a challenge to overcome.
As an author, I have a fear that sits in the back of my mind, watching me as I work, waiting to pounce. A fear that challenges me everytime I sit down at my keyboard to write. What is it this fear that makes me read and re-read my manuscript, tweaking words and sentences over and over again?
The fear of disappointing a reader.
Sure I know not everyone will like what I write, and I don’t expect them to. But, that’s not what this fear is about. This fear is about alienating the reader who likes what I write because I was lazy, rushed to publish, or just didn’t give the story my all.
I’m sure you’re looking at that last sentence and saying, “But Mary, those are all things you have control over.” And you’re 100% correct. I do have control over them. And that is why I don’t mind having this fear. It makes me really evaluate my work to know when it’s ready, because I don’t want to disappoint a reader because I was rushed to publish a story that wasn’t ready. I value the time my readers invest in my stories, and I want to make sure they are getting value for their time.
So, I embrace my fear and let it challenge me to tell the best story I can. This way I can truly say, I did my best to give my reader a story worthy of their time.
What fears challenge you as an author? Or, what fears are keeping you from taking that next step? I’d love for you to share in the comments.
About the Author:
Strong female characters use both brain and brawn to save the day and win the heart of their men. Mary enjoys connecting with her readers through her website: marywaibel.blogspot.com
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