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| Imposter Syndrome 😒 and Being a Force for Change ☺️💖
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January 17, 2020
Oakland, CA
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| | Maybe you recognize this…
When I face my edits, I wonder, "Who I am to publish this story?"
I'm only a wee person… one of 7.8 billion on planet earth.
When I sat down to write this newsletter, I wondered, "Who am I to help the writers who will read this?"
I'm only a traveler on the road, a working writer, like you are, trying to figure things out as I go.
But like Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible I have the mantra, "I'll figure it out."
It's not really about whether or not we're nobody and don't have the right credentials or don't measure up to the other person doing the big thing.
It's really about whether or not we want to write the novel and the impact we want to have on readers with our stories.
Who are you to write a novel?
Why, you're you. Unique. One of a kind. With the drive to write a novel and say something unique.
You'll figure it out.
True, unlike Ethan Hunt, we're not secret agents running full tilt to save the world before the bomb goes off.
Yet, what we do as fiction writers is important.
I have to believe this otherwise, why do it?
When you show up for yourself through your story, you have the opportunity to reveal to others what's in your heart, mind, and soul.
How will we know unless you share it?
And I imagine you're here because you want to share your heart, mind, and soul through fiction writing, through a great story that yanks your readers in and dishes to them an immersive experience in the ways that only fiction can.
Fiction is a powerful tool.
Will Storr, in The Science of Storytelling says, "If tribal thinking is original sin, then story is prayer."
What prayer are you sending out into the world via your story?
What is your wish for humanity?
I'm still formulating that as I do my final revisions… If I had to put it into words today I'd say it's something like, "let's cry a river of sadness for all that we have lost, so that we may begin anew…"
I want my readers to cry.
There, I said it.
Different than crying from joy or from the heart breaking at the aching beauty of something. That was the kind of cry I had from every one of Nnendi Okorafor's Binti books (https://books2read.com/bintitrilogy) -- so love them! Highly recommend this sci-fi coming of age story!
So how do I go about creating that effect?
I'm not sure. I'll let my writerly cooks in the kitchen figure it out -- like Barbara Samuel's girls in the basement https://books2read.com/basementgirls.
I'll figure it out.
I do know that the sadness has been stewing in my books from the beginning, since I started this series when my father was sick and dying. He died 2 years ago while I was in the first round edits of my 4 book series.
Now that I'm in near-final revisions, I edit aware of my feelings of sadness and loss, and of the sadness of the pain in the world, of all the things that hurt, all the injustices, the slights, prejudices, and ways in which people have been overlooked, marginalized, and discriminated against.
My heart hurts so much, and my only tool against oppression -- other than speaking up in my every day encounters and retweeting -- is my art, my fiction.
I could take to the streets, protest, sign petitions, donate, volunteer, etc. but then, when would I write? (I occasionally do some of those things.)
I've consciously chosen to put my power into the world through my science fiction mystery series -- through a vision of a possible future, through the action of a justice seeker -- my investigator Janey McCallister, and through painting a picture of a world in a 100+ years.
How will you use your power for creating? How are you using it now?
Click reply. I'd love to hear.
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| | | My Weekly Video Check-in on Self- Editing Tips for Novelists |
| Topic: What is your genre and why does it matter [Self-Editing for Novelists series]
Watch on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/CEE6wCD0bzE
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| | Success Secrets to Writing + Publishing Your Children’s Books
I'm excited to be part of this summit for indie authors this week. My 30-minute interview on keywords and categories airs today: "How to nail your keywords, categories and more so your audience finds your book"
Knowing your audience, choosing the best keywords and categories, having the perfect author bio... these are invaluable to having your book found. Learn how to do it!
Go here to sign up for this free summit:
Even though the title says it's for children book authors, most of the content is applicable to all indie authors.
P.P.S. BONUS: There is an upgrade to an All-Access Pass option for this summit and I am affiliate. For everyone who upgrades to the All-Access Pass, I will give you a 1-hour consult as a Bonus! We can discuss any aspect of your writing career, including planning, writing, publishing, or marketing your fiction. Sign up for the event today!
This free event will replay at the end of the month if you miss it this time. I'll keep you posted! |
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Have a happy and creative week! Happy writing, editing, creating!
Best,
Beth
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| | NEWEST BOOK! Plan Your Novel Like A Pro
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** Is this you? => Are you a podcaster or blogger and would like to feature PLAN YOUR NOVEL LIKE A PRO on your channel? Review copies available. Please hit reply and let me know. Thanks!
♥
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| | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Welcome!
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
BTW, I'm a working novelist too, with two series published in two genres, and more on the way. :)
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| | ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, co-taught with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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