Are You A Visible Writer?

On Earth Day (April 22) I had a guest post published on Jane Friedman’s website. You can read it here.​

This was the first time I’d written an article about writing craft for a public audience and, I have to say, it felt pretty darn good! It was validating to have a professional of Jane’s caliber give my ideas space on her platform.

And it reminded me about the importance of putting our words out in the world. Not just our completed novels either, but also shorter pieces, both formal and informal.

Have you put your words in places where others can read them recently? If no, why not?

Do you belong to a club, church, or organization that has a monthly newsletter? Why not write something to share in it? It could be informative, entertaining, or educational. Even if it’s just a recap of a meeting that occurred, it counts. The point is to write something and share it in a format where others will read it.

We often forget that the skills that come easily for us are not necessarily easy for others.

It’s simple to write off our strengths as ‘no big deal,’ when actually they are a big deal. Not everyone can organize thoughts into well-structured sentences. Not everyone can paint a picture with words. Not everyone can express an opinion clearly through writing.

If you’re receiving this newsletter in your inbox, I bet you’re one of those people who has these strengths. So share them with your community! Give others a chance to appreciate the skills you have. Let writing be a publicly visible part of your identity. It will give you a confidence boost and remind you that you’re good at this writing thing!