Hello there, fellow IWSG'ers and followers alike. For this edition of the Insecure Writers Support Group brought to you by Alex J. Cavanaugh, I'd like to discuss "defining."
Some back story about where this post's idea came from...
I'm listening to Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. The main character's ex-husband left her for another woman (the cheating jerk). Now she doesn't think of herself as a successful internet business owner or the mother of two great kids; no, she thinks of herself as one thing: a divorcee. She has defined herself as something she considers negative.
This got me thinking about what I define myself as... And do you know what? I tend to define myself with all things negative instead of flowering myself with positive adjectives.
For instance: I'm single--in the bad sense that I have failed the dating scene miserably. There must be something wrong with me if I can't capture a guys attention... haha However, I should be defining myself as single in the sense that I can do anything, go anywhere, and not have to worry about a husband or children at this time of my life. I'm free as a bird!
Often times I feel that since I'm not published, I must be a terrible writer. All the rejections pile up and make me depressed. Therefore, I define myself as a crappy writer at times. Yet, I am a writer. Just because I'm not published by one of the top 5 traditional publishers (YET) doesn't mean I'm less of a writer than anyone else. I am a writer because I write and that is what should define me--not that New York Times Bestselling Author is printed on my book(s). Although, I would rather fancy that being the case. :)
Anyway, let's take a step back and re-evaluate how we define ourselves and make sure it is positive. We'd all be a measure happier, I think, if we consider ourselves better than we do.
Do you fall into the defining yourself negatively trap? How do you define yourself? Have you read Midnight in Austenland or any other Shannon Hale books for that matter? If not, you're missing out folks!
Writing Jewels
Some back story about where this post's idea came from...
I'm listening to Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. The main character's ex-husband left her for another woman (the cheating jerk). Now she doesn't think of herself as a successful internet business owner or the mother of two great kids; no, she thinks of herself as one thing: a divorcee. She has defined herself as something she considers negative.
This got me thinking about what I define myself as... And do you know what? I tend to define myself with all things negative instead of flowering myself with positive adjectives.
For instance: I'm single--in the bad sense that I have failed the dating scene miserably. There must be something wrong with me if I can't capture a guys attention... haha However, I should be defining myself as single in the sense that I can do anything, go anywhere, and not have to worry about a husband or children at this time of my life. I'm free as a bird!
Often times I feel that since I'm not published, I must be a terrible writer. All the rejections pile up and make me depressed. Therefore, I define myself as a crappy writer at times. Yet, I am a writer. Just because I'm not published by one of the top 5 traditional publishers (YET) doesn't mean I'm less of a writer than anyone else. I am a writer because I write and that is what should define me--not that New York Times Bestselling Author is printed on my book(s). Although, I would rather fancy that being the case. :)
Anyway, let's take a step back and re-evaluate how we define ourselves and make sure it is positive. We'd all be a measure happier, I think, if we consider ourselves better than we do.
Do you fall into the defining yourself negatively trap? How do you define yourself? Have you read Midnight in Austenland or any other Shannon Hale books for that matter? If not, you're missing out folks!
Writing Jewels
