Hello, writer... and your internal critic,
Because he/she never goes away, does he/her? At times your internal critic will step out for coffee or a smoke break -- and that's when we can actually get some writing done -- but it always comes back, rejuvenated, and ready to batter you into submission.
What I want to know is: What is the harshest thing your internal critic tells you? That most abusive piece of negative self-talk, the one your internal critic knows will trip you up every time?
OK, I'll show you mine.
My internal critic is impressively versatile. Sometimes he stays simple and goes straight for my talent: "You're not good enough."
Sometimes he attacks my story and/or my characters: "Your story sucks and/or your characters suck."
Other times I'll finish reading a book or story and my critic will pipe up with, "Well, you'll never write anything that good, so why write anything at all?"
But when he really wants to sap my will to create, he'll work hard to convince me that nothing I ever write matters. That's when he's at his most insidious.
"It doesn't matter if this thing gets published or not. If it doesn't, nobody will ever miss it. If it does, nobody will ever see it. And if they do see it, they won't care. This thing you're doing? It literally does not matter."
Does yours tell you similar things, or does he/she have his/her own particular brand of defeatist commentary?
And perhaps more importantly, how do you make your internal critic go away, at least for awhile? Or how do you lower his/her volume to the point where you can at least get some writing done?
No internal critics are allowed on our website! So don't be afraid to let loose.
