"Forever," is my usual reply.
And that's how long I've been insecure. But the insecurity is not about my writing. I've always felt confident and secure about what I've written.
My concern is the reader's response. Will it be what I expect? Will it be what I want? How can I reach a wider audience with my work?
For 2013, the writing insecurity I intend to tackle is that of how to gain an entire new audience for my creativity. Over the years, I've made lots of talks about branding, marketing, and promotion. I've learned a lot and I've shared a lot. But there's something missing, something more intangible.
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| "In Search of Magic" - MMSikes |
How do you find the magic amulet? Is it something upon which writers stumble accidentally to propel them to a new level of success? Is it a new found charisma?
I don't know. With your help, I intend to find out.
It should be an exciting journey.
--Mary Montague Sikes
21 comments:
I think I found it and it has nothing to do with writing or music.
Alex, I think you found it, and that's wonderful!!!
I'm not there yet. But I'm guessing it has nothing to do with magic and more to do with a lot of hard work that's particularly difficult for people that really just want to write. :) Nice to meet you.
You're so right. It's not my writing I'm insecure about, but the readers and their opinions.
And a magic amulet for success? I wouldn't know, but would love to find it!
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
it is truly frightening for me when I let other people read my work!
Great writing couple with hard work equals the magic.
Tonja, it takes a ton of hard work both for writing and for promotion. There must be something else...
Karen, we have to believe in magic. Thanks for visiting.
Shannon, I really want to discover the magic amulet. Hard work is not enough!
When you do your best and know it's good, you shouldn't be frightened any more. Especially if you have the magic amulet!!!
Jeremy, I've put in the hard work both for writing and promotion. The big success hasn't happened from those alone, so there has to be that piece of allusive magic that I'm missing. I'm prepared to search all year...
I feel very much the same. I look at my writing and say "Hey - not bad!" and I think of passing it on to others and I think "Actually.. there are certainly some reasons they won't like it."
As far as an "Amulet"? I'd have to say no - not in my case anyway. I read a lot of book and articles - I follow blogs of other writers and I practice. I believe that for some people there will be a *click* when everything falls together. But I think it's completely dependent on you and what you find in your travels :)
Good Luck!
Leslie
Yeah, this is an interesting questions and I am not sure I can offer much insight. It is such a wonder because there is so much out there you would think would have reached that level, but their they are pleasing audiences every where. If you find the secret. Let me know.
How about going viral like Gangnam Style. Over a billion views on youtube is crazy...
I don't think it's a magic amulet or something we can buy. I think it comes from believing in something greater than ourselves, being encouraging to others, and finding an audience that cheers us onward. Maybe that audience starts small and gets bigger over time.
Leslie, I think you are right about what you find in your travels. For me, the amulet is symbolic and invisible. However, someday I may create a "touchable" symbol just because I enjoy the tangible.
Sydney, thanks for commenting. I am searching now for the answer. Once, long ago, I had the magic amulet, then I lost it. Perhaps getting it back is a journey I need to take.
Chuck, I love Gangnam Style. That's one of the things that got me thinking about the invisible spark (or amulet). Thanks!
Tyrean, I appreciate your thoughts and agree with them. But sometimes we need something tangible to which to hold on...
Ooo what an exciting post! I love the idea of magic happening in fiction, and it's not the kind of thing that can be planned, or mapped. I tend to agree with Jeremy Bates-- good writing plus hard work-- over and over and over again. And then the magic may happen, or maybe not, but the true writer will jump back in and give it another shot!
Thanks for commenting, Karen. Over and over and over and over again and again. It's an awfully long road. I'm going to keep looking...
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