The Place For My Writers Notes

Original posting 25 March 2009

Silencing the inner critic?

Writer's Digest, November 2005, pages 36 and 37, offer an article by Jacquelyn B. Fletcher with the title "Squelch Your Inner Censor." You know that little voice in your head that says give it up, this is trash, stop now?

Fletcher suggests some tricks to help quiet that little monster. "The trick is to recognize the moments when the critic shows up and be able to combat its negativity in a creative way that deflates its power."

1. Symbolism slays the beast. Think about what your inner censor is? Gollum? A prissy little man in a black suit that's too tight for him? Maybe a monster with a million little fingers? Whatever, put that picture together, then consider creative ways to quiet it down. Get a gollum toy and shove it into the drawer? Poke pins into the little man in his tight black suit? Tie the million fingers into a knot?

One creativity coach recommends drawing the inner critic or sculpting it out of modeling clay -- then ripping it up and throwing away. This is especially good for damaging critics that attack the person and not the work. Separate your discerning critic that helps you during revision with the work and the damaging critic that undercuts you.

Another approach is to borrow from the method actors. Think of someone that you know who is extremely confident. Think of a physical action or characteristic that you can adopt from them. Sunglasses on your forehead? No socks in those sneakers? Go ahead and do it.

And then there's switchhitting. If your critic won't let you write at this time, maybe it's time to pick out pictures for your characters and settings? How about sketching?

2. Just rewards. Set yourself rewards for making the submissions, for keeping going. The feedback for writing often seems like a bed of nails -- rejection, rejection, rejection. Put yourself in control of the rewards. Every so many drafts, finished stories, submissions, etc., reward yourself.

"The writing life is filled with pitfalls. But the internal dangers are the most difficult to overcome. The goal of every writer is to continue writing even when you're battling your inner bad guy. By turning the avoidance of the inner critic into a fun-filled game, you can trick yourself into the only thing that will get you through -- action."

Interesting. Just who or what is that inner critic poking holes in your confidence, tripping up your forward momentum? And how do you keep yourself going?