Fear Of Sharing Your Work

Someone recommended a book to me today because, in their words, it was similar to my writing style.

"It's different than yours" they'd said. "But you should check it out—I think you'll like."

I'd been sitting across from them on a couch, with a coffee-table between us. Afternoon light bouncing off of the glass, my brain hit the brakes so fast when they'd said that, it took a second before I realized what it meant...

I.. um... well apparently, I have enough of a recognizable writing style to be thought of??

C'mon, how cool is that! I couldn't help but think of how excited 12-year-old me would be. Hell, I'm excited now. Especially since I'd been reading more of Show Your Work, and feeling a little demoralized by the idea that your work doesn’t speak for itself.

It's something I struggle with immensely. And I hadn't been quite sure about why.

It used to come from a fear of being misunderstood, but I've done a lot of work around that and I don't rely on approval like I once did. If I'm being honest with myself, I think I overcorrected. I don't share much about my work anymore at all.

My old fear of being misunderstood was about me, and a rejection of who I was. But, after hearing my writing style described with affection today, I realized my fear of sharing my work, now, was about the work itself—and its potential rejection, based on quality.

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Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
179/365

When's the last time you were scared to share your work? Why?

onward.

For more on this daily column and The MAP Year Project, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.