Oh I hate to think that people aren’t valuing your output. I think we’ve all had that moment. My first thought is whether or not you just haven’t found YOUR audience. Perhaps your super fans are out there still wishing and hoping to hear/read exactly what you have to say.
The other thought I have is an old vestige of my teaching days. It is always surprising to me how people often wait for permission to give feedback — even good feedback. Are you asking for feedback directly? If not, some readers may be holding their tongue unsure if you want it. They may be trying to respect your wishes by staying silent!
Just a thought.
I hope you start to get the connections you are seeking! 🤗
Ohhhhh this is a good one. 100%. With the number of times I've been French-kissed by death I've lived with this theory for a long time. Then in 2020 I got hammered by 9 months of death dreams that told me I don't have as much time as I think I do. Every nap, every night, sometimes multiple times. So how will I share my gifts? I guess by sharing the story of those dreams and what it did to my life, which includes the links to the gifts I started shoving out into the world before I felt they were "ready" as a result of these dreams. So they wouldn't die inside me. Muah!!!
First of all, those dreams sound hellacious. I am so sorry you have to endure that.
My theory about how not to die with my gifts still inside is simple: do your thing. For me it’s writing and showing up for writing community. Do I have to be a a best seller or world renowned community leader to do this? No. I just have to show up. My stories, my presence might help one person. If I die with my gifts still inside, that person misses out and WHO KNOWS what the impact of that would be. So I show up. I do the thing. I don’t keep my gifts inside.
Exactly!!!! The thought of that one person is what keeps me going through years of crickets, banning, having to move all my writing to different platforms, minuscule numbers…because when I hear how it helped that one person, or those three… 🥰🥰🥰 That’s why we don’t create dust-laden paperweights on our desks or only dance in our living rooms with the curtains closed.
Thank you for sharing this project!! It’s so very cool!
This strikes me pretty close to my own journey right now. Diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, I realized I was most likely going to die before I realized a lot of projects would see the light of day. It was a depressing realization.
And then I got all Isaac Asimov about it. Not necessarily about typing faster, mind you, but in the realization that I couldn't continue to let fear stop me. So now, I won't. I muse, write bad poetry, write mushy romances, Urban Fantasy, Space Opera, LitRPGish fantasies...it's a no-holds barred free-for-all with my creativity.
With Death hanging so close, I no longer have the luxury of holding myself back.
Thank you for this reminder. While I may not need it, many other writers do.
“ With Death hanging so close, I no longer have the luxury of holding myself back.”
^^^ this^^^
And, the thing is, none of us do.
I love that out of this diagnosis you have found a freedom to create and to let your authentic self spill out all over this world. Be seen! Be heard! Give us your all!
Just be you, fully you, in as many places and spaces as you can. When you feel yourself holding back out of fear or self consciousness, question that. Is it self preservation, or deprivation? This is your life and your time, bring your full self to the party.
The gift is doing what you love and have passion for, and exposing it to the world to get (whoever wants to get it of course). For me is also teaching. I've aalway wanter to write a book (non-fiction) that taught something, and years ago I decided to start writing it and I set my mind into finishing it before I died (whenever that is). My book is fully drafted, and getting ready to (self) publishing. When will it be out? No lo se, but what I know is that I felt (dreamed) that I had something to say (to teach) -a gift to give in the form of a book (and newsletter) and I wasn't waiting for a miracle or for later for it to happen. My gift has been given the form of teaching, training, rehab aiding, cooking, writing and and by helping others at the cost of money itself (and a lot of headaches) and in the form of a newsletter and and upcoming book. "Don't die with your gifts still inside". 🖖🏽
Just keep showing up. Your success is in the act of writing. I was in a workshop this weekend with poet Regio Cabico this weekend and he said something I love that your comment is bringing back to me. He said, “When you write it’s right. When you don’t write it’s wrong.”
Simple. We writers know what we need to do.
Write. That is all. Whatever comes of it is a different conversation, but baseline success is getting those words on the page.
this is a nice sentiment- to try to share gifts. I tend to think, though, that if people valued what I had to say I'd get more feedback, lol.
Oh I hate to think that people aren’t valuing your output. I think we’ve all had that moment. My first thought is whether or not you just haven’t found YOUR audience. Perhaps your super fans are out there still wishing and hoping to hear/read exactly what you have to say.
The other thought I have is an old vestige of my teaching days. It is always surprising to me how people often wait for permission to give feedback — even good feedback. Are you asking for feedback directly? If not, some readers may be holding their tongue unsure if you want it. They may be trying to respect your wishes by staying silent!
Just a thought.
I hope you start to get the connections you are seeking! 🤗
thanks. I ask for feedback every post. I rather think people don't pay attention.
I’ve definitely been there as well. Don’t give up. You never know when the flood gates will open.
Ohhhhh this is a good one. 100%. With the number of times I've been French-kissed by death I've lived with this theory for a long time. Then in 2020 I got hammered by 9 months of death dreams that told me I don't have as much time as I think I do. Every nap, every night, sometimes multiple times. So how will I share my gifts? I guess by sharing the story of those dreams and what it did to my life, which includes the links to the gifts I started shoving out into the world before I felt they were "ready" as a result of these dreams. So they wouldn't die inside me. Muah!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/bellanthebeastie/p/death-dreams
First of all, those dreams sound hellacious. I am so sorry you have to endure that.
My theory about how not to die with my gifts still inside is simple: do your thing. For me it’s writing and showing up for writing community. Do I have to be a a best seller or world renowned community leader to do this? No. I just have to show up. My stories, my presence might help one person. If I die with my gifts still inside, that person misses out and WHO KNOWS what the impact of that would be. So I show up. I do the thing. I don’t keep my gifts inside.
Exactly!!!! The thought of that one person is what keeps me going through years of crickets, banning, having to move all my writing to different platforms, minuscule numbers…because when I hear how it helped that one person, or those three… 🥰🥰🥰 That’s why we don’t create dust-laden paperweights on our desks or only dance in our living rooms with the curtains closed.
Thank you for sharing this project!! It’s so very cool!
This strikes me pretty close to my own journey right now. Diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, I realized I was most likely going to die before I realized a lot of projects would see the light of day. It was a depressing realization.
And then I got all Isaac Asimov about it. Not necessarily about typing faster, mind you, but in the realization that I couldn't continue to let fear stop me. So now, I won't. I muse, write bad poetry, write mushy romances, Urban Fantasy, Space Opera, LitRPGish fantasies...it's a no-holds barred free-for-all with my creativity.
With Death hanging so close, I no longer have the luxury of holding myself back.
Thank you for this reminder. While I may not need it, many other writers do.
“ With Death hanging so close, I no longer have the luxury of holding myself back.”
^^^ this^^^
And, the thing is, none of us do.
I love that out of this diagnosis you have found a freedom to create and to let your authentic self spill out all over this world. Be seen! Be heard! Give us your all!
I don’t know how I have drawn a blank
Just be you, fully you, in as many places and spaces as you can. When you feel yourself holding back out of fear or self consciousness, question that. Is it self preservation, or deprivation? This is your life and your time, bring your full self to the party.
The gift is doing what you love and have passion for, and exposing it to the world to get (whoever wants to get it of course). For me is also teaching. I've aalway wanter to write a book (non-fiction) that taught something, and years ago I decided to start writing it and I set my mind into finishing it before I died (whenever that is). My book is fully drafted, and getting ready to (self) publishing. When will it be out? No lo se, but what I know is that I felt (dreamed) that I had something to say (to teach) -a gift to give in the form of a book (and newsletter) and I wasn't waiting for a miracle or for later for it to happen. My gift has been given the form of teaching, training, rehab aiding, cooking, writing and and by helping others at the cost of money itself (and a lot of headaches) and in the form of a newsletter and and upcoming book. "Don't die with your gifts still inside". 🖖🏽
Just keep showing up. Your success is in the act of writing. I was in a workshop this weekend with poet Regio Cabico this weekend and he said something I love that your comment is bringing back to me. He said, “When you write it’s right. When you don’t write it’s wrong.”
Simple. We writers know what we need to do.
Write. That is all. Whatever comes of it is a different conversation, but baseline success is getting those words on the page.
Lol. My typo game is forever on point. It is Regie Cabico!
You’re very welcome! 🤗