Day 31: all of this has been said before

Today is the last day of a month long writing challenge.
You can read many slices and reflections at Two Writing Teacher blog.


You all have probably met The Inner Critic, the one living in your head, trying to stop you form writing. From the start of this challenge my inner critic has been loud and annoying.

"You shouldn't accept the challenge, you don't have time."
A valid point. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't try to squeeze daily writing into their fully packed days of work and family life. I have discovered that writers need to be a bit crazy. I shush the inner critic and write.

"Your will run out of ideas."
Regular writing has shown me that inspiration is all around. You can keep lists, collect mentor texts, steal and borrow ideas, write quickly without thinking, take photos, look around, write more lists, use prompts, fill in sentence starters, follow given structures,  experiment with different writing exercises, write few more lists. I shush the inner critic and write.

"Your writing is average."
This loud comment rings in my ears. La-la-la-la, I sing over it. I know that I need to write to become better at writing. Besides I am not entering any writing competitions, so who is going to judge? Playing with words is part of the fun. When the texts gain beauty, the joy grows. I shush the inner critic and write.

"Your life is ordinary."
Yes. Isn't it great? I have an ordinary life.  I don't need drama and excitement. I prefer the sweet small moments. I love my life with its ups and downs, twists and turns, quiet and loud, messy and pretty.I wouldn't trade it for anything. I shush the critic and write.

"All what you are saying has been said before."
No argument here. It doesn't mean that I have to stop writing. If I would follow your logic I should never make Tiramisu because people have made it before. Besides, did you notice that all you are saying, my inner critic, has been said before. Shush, and go try writing.

I shushed my inner critic and wrote thirty one days in a row. Now I'm ready to join my fellow slicers in the grand celebration of finishing the month long writing challenge.

Hurray!