Sometimes when I sit down to write, I hear a voice saying, “You won’t ever make anything doing that,” or “That writing s*#t again! We need to get rid of that.” Just this afternoon, I got out my magnetic poetry kit for a little inspiration, and the voice said “That’s what’s poisoning your mind – all that freaky stuff.” It’s not my inner critic that’s giving me problems – it’s my mother.
I could go on and on about why it’s not a good idea to move in with your best friend or a relative. It’s even worse if you have any creative bone in your body. I haven’t been able to develop an inner critic because the outer one won’t let anyone get a word in.
For now, I deal with it by escaping. I find a cozy place, like a small cafe or local bookstore, or even the library, settle in, and see what comes out. Fortunately, she’s getting out more, which gives me more space and time to find my voice. I’m finding new websites and book which inspire me too, like Juicy Pens and Thirsty Paper by SARK.
How do you deal with your “outer critics?”
