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Creative Fears: What if People Criticize Me?
One of my creative fears as a writer was being criticized.
I used to doubt my storytelling skills. I thought that, as soon as I hit the “publish” button, I would receive comments at how “meh” my plot and characters were. As I was getting ready to release Kaleidoscope Eyes, my first novella, I feared I’d only get one-star reviews.
Truth is, this is my current rating:
In the age of rates and reviews, I’ve learned that remaining true to my calling is what matters the most. I’m writing, I’m sharing, and I’m constantly improving. Even while experiencing all kinds of fears, I decided to put my novella out there. I was aware that some people would like it, and others not so much.
So how do you deal with that fear of criticism? In my experience, there’s no step-by-step formula. However, if I could mention one thing that has been useful for me, that would be a mindset shift: let reviewers tell what they want to say, either positive or negative. Let them be. Having a piece of work in the public eye involves getting all sorts of comments. That’s inevitable.
Ask yourself is their feedback is useful to you in any way. If so, then implement them in your next pieces of work.
External opinions are out of your control. All you can do is staying committed to deliver your best work possible every time you share/publish online or in any other format.
Dare to be disliked. Your work is not for everyone, and that’s okay.
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Being Seen
There comes a time when you need to share your creations. It all might start as a private endeavour, but eventually, you just know that they need their own space to keep growing.
You might be uncomfortable with the idea of being seen. You might feel like you need more experience or practice. Or even popularity.
Never underestimate the power of showing up a little bit at a time. Whether you show your face or record your own voice, it all compounds to a greater purpose: sharing your unique vision with an audience.
The world needs you.
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Your Best Hours of the Day
This prompt reminded me of my teen years.
I used to tell my mom that there were specific times when certain moods took place.
- At 11 am I tended to be aggravated
- At 1 pm I got hungry
- At 5 pm I felt at my best and was willing to talk to anyone about anything
My statements made her giggle.
Now that James Clear mentions it, I believe there’s great value in spotting your best hours of the day. Asking yourself whether you’re a morning person or a late night owl is also a good starting point.
So what can we do at those times?
Maybe write a few lines on a journal.
Maybe reply to emails with a more polite tone.
Maybe going out for a walk.
Maybe starting a new book.
Possibilities are infinite. The point is making the most of it in a way that makes you feel you’re exploring your best potential in that very moment.
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When Your Creative Intuition Says Make it Anyway
What if you followed your creative intuition wherever it led you? Imagine if you did so fearlessly and without overthinking your every step.
An aspect of the creative process involves dealing with self-doubt. “What if I fail?” “What if this doesn’t make me any money?” In an attempt to make those questions go away, it’s common to talk to peers or mentors and seek their approval. While this action in itself is alright, it’s also important to validate your own voice and instincts. Otherwise, it’s someone else deciding your next moves.
Even after getting feedback, the doubts are still there. “What if what I’m creating is irrelevant on social media?” “What if no one interacts with my content?” There’s that need for external validation again.
It happens to me too.
As an author, I keep an eye on newly released books. I can’t help but notice that there are some genres that get more attention than others. Sometimes I wonder if it’d be a “safer” bet to embrace one of those hot genres and see how that goes. My struggle sounds like this:
“Wow, other authors are making it big in that genre. Should I go for it too? Nobody else seems to be writing in the genre I do. Would switching to popular trends be beneficial? I could also get more engagement on social media. But still…I’m not so sure.”
It’s exactly in the middle of that inner debate that creative intuition kicks in. That’s when I need to be real and ask myself: “does this genre truly align with the type of story I want to tell?” Most of the time, I find that I’m more excited to work on a book idea that wouldn’t fit into any of the popular trends.
When doubts get the worst out of you, I want you to remember that…
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Intuition is Non-Negotiable
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Herb Alpert al Son del Mariachi
Hace unos días descubrí esta joya musical y quedé impactada.
Es increíble cómo diferentes géneros hablan entre sí.
No sé qué tenga la música de Herb Alpert. Noto que en los últimos meses me ha hablado directo al alma. Gustosa, he respondido al llamado y me dejo llevar por las notas que me transportan a lugares y sensaciones que debía recordar.
Por cierto, “Route 101” es mi canción favorita.
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Stay Away from Whatever Stops You
Comfort is an addiction.
Easy is an addiction.
“Later” is an addiction.
Doomscrolling is an addiction.
Grabbing your phone while taking breaks is an addiction.
Stay away from whatever stops you.
Let’s break the cycle today.
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When Building Creative Identity, Consistency is a Superpower
What’s your creative identity? If this the first time that you ask yourself this question, let me give you a starting point: consistency is an element of it. It’s a superpower that is yours to discover. It’s present in the small things you do every single day to move forward with your creative projects.
Actually, the ‘small’ things, are not so small.
I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately led to results that were unimaginable when I started.
James Clear
Consistency is born from building habits. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, is well known for his insights on tiny changes that bring remarkable results. His work has introduced profound perspectives on identity-based habits for lasting change. Among his many notable proposals is the idea of creating a new identity that reflects the behaviour of the creative person you want to be.
How is creative identity linked to consistency, and how does that help? According to Clear, you’ve got to start believing new things about yourself and prove them through small repeated wins.
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Do You Know Your Creative Cycles?
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “know your creative cycles”?
“Cycles” remind me that nature breathes new life in different seasons. Similarly, you follow that pattern when creating anything. There is a specific time for a specific activity.
Every creative discovers their own cycle. If you conduct a quick Google search, you will a variety of perspectives. However, there are some common denominators that involve three major phases:
- Time to consume information or explore new interests
- Going on hermit mode and integrating what you consumed
- Time to create and share (if you’re called to share)
There’s no ‘one size fits all’. Not every cycle is meant for creation. There is no set timeline for each phase of your personal process. Only you determine where you are and when it’s time to move to the next part.
Heck. Your creative cycles might not even sound like the ones listed above.
There might be long periods of contemplation where it looks as if “you’re not doing anything”. As Austin Kleon puts it, “I’m not languishing, I’m dormant”. This stage is as important as any other to create.
It’s a matter of asking yourself: What do I know about my creative cycles?
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Little Things Are Not So Little
Everything you do, everything you say has an impact.
No matter how ‘little it seems’.
You might never know for sure, but that thing you’re doing and are sharing online does have an audience. It might be silent at first. They may choose to not interact with your creation. However, the impact is there. There might be a change in their thoughts because of you.
Never underestimate the power of ‘little things’.
Keep creating.
