Publishing an Article to Publish an Article
I’m writing this article for myself. But if you’re in the same boat, hopefully it will resonate with you too.
It’s been a while since I’ve published anything in my own name. Close to two years I think (wow, time flies). And I honestly don’t know what’s holding me back. So here are some bullshit reasons why I haven’t published anything.
- I’m afraid: I’m irrationally afraid of publishing an article on Medium. I’ve never posted on the platform, and I want my first piece to be perfect.
Being fearful is a large reason we don’t share what we create. But honestly, it’s holding us back. Without sharing our work with peers, mentors, and strangers, how can we ever learn? How can our work grow?
I’m not saying you have to share everything you create. There are many things I write that are just for me. But I have to learn to open my creative process with others, to invite them inside, and to put myself out there. Because that’s the only way I’m going to improve. Maybe you should too.
2. My Work Needs A Theme: I have no unifying idea or structure, and I don’t want my work to feel disjointed.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve killed a creative concept before even beginning. I’d often tell myself, “well, that’s a little bit too out there.” Or, “that really doesn’t fit with the message I’m trying to convey.”
Truthfully, it doesn’t really matter. Our lives don’t have a unifying theme. We don’t always fit into nice little packages. And while we’re not all polymaths like DaVinci, we can create in vastly different mediums under many separate themes. For instance, I write poetry, mostly modern, but also metaphysical. I write short stories, typically mysteries and thrillers. I also have written screenplays and tv scripts, usually action-adventure and spy thrillers.
If you honestly care that much about a theme, create under a pseudonym. But after all, a common theme is that you created your work, and that’s good enough for me.
3. My Friends Are More Talented: Everyone I know writes better than I do, draws better than I do, is more creative than I am, takes better Instagram photos…
Someone will always be better at something than you are. Wow, that was clunky, but it sounded important, so I’ll say it again.
Someone will always be better at something than you are.
This might be the lamest excuse of all. But it can be truly debilitating. I work at an advertising agency with incredibly talented people. My friends create content for some of the largest brands in the world, ghostwrite for some of the most influential people on social media, and have side hustles that make them tons of money.
Well you know what — who cares. At the end of the day, I believe we create for ourselves. If you’re truly passionate about something you won’t do it for recognition, you’ll do it because you love the act of doing it. I forget where I heard this but, “validation is for parking.” If you need validation for doing something you’re passionate about, you ought to be doing something else.
Well, That’s That
Maybe I’ll make this a recurring thing. Regardless, now I can create and publish on Medium without all those irrational fears bogging me down. I hope I’ve inspired you to do the same.
Wait! I need to include a really ridiculous stock photo that has zero to do with this actual article. Maybe a guy looking out over water or something.
Voila! In your face article...
Published.
