I was feeling very high when I found out I won the WEP June Challenge for my fiction piece “The Final Transition.” A wonderful surprise and the fantastic high you get from receiving recognition for something you wrote. I was not expecting to win first place. It is hard for me to judge my own writing. Many times I have written something and thought it mediocre and then gotten positive feedback. This has encouraged me to take the risk and put my ideas out there. Other times my writing is not given much notice. But you never know if someone is reading and enjoying a post. I have had a few people tell me how they have liked my writing and I did not know it. So as in life, with writing, we have to expect to experience the highs and the lows. Just don’t let the lows get you down.
Here is a great cartoon from one of favorites, Introvert Doodles by Marzi. It was originally posted on Facebook by Quiet Revolution on Thursday, August 3, 2017
I think I could check off several things on that list and add a few more. A good way to survive the lows is to realize we are not alone, other people feel the same way. 🙂
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today is “high/low.” Featured image of City Coaster by Henry Burrows on Flickr.
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush 
I feel exactly the same, never quite adequate, and eternally flawed. I’ve begun to treat my inner artist like a child, with unfailing compassion and good humour.
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Sounds like a good way to cope with it. Thank you, Damyanti. 🙂
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I am not sure blogging “likes” and feedback are the best basis for judging our writing. There is always the post high let down that leaves you doubting everything. 🙂
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Certain type of feedback is valuable, from other writers. And it is nice to know if I am affecting people. Definitely you can have the high and then it wears off. But it is still good to have encouragement. Thank you, Victo. 🙂
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Congratulations on your win! I certainly have a list of faults in my head. It helps to list our strengths, too, and to know that we are often comparing our insides to other people’s outsides, as the cartoon suggests.
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Thank you, Jo Anna. 🙂 Introvert Doodles is so funny and cute. Marzi does a great job of describing feelings many of us have.
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Congratulations! I’ve heard it said..”we are our worst judge.” I find that to be true in most cases. There is always that seed of doubt about something being good enough.
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Thank you, JC. 🙂 Yes, it is hard to be our own judge for sure.
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Congratulations on the win! That’s great. I tend to judge myself extremely harshly. And it can be hard not to listen to that inner voice that says “this all sucks. You should just give up.” But, we have to do our best to do that.
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Thank you, Fallon. Yes, don’t listen to that negative voice. I have judged myself harshly at times in all parts of my life. It helps me to have some support from other writers, like in WEP. There is the IWSG Insecure Writers Support Group too. Or it could be any group of supportive writers that you feel comfortable with.
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Yes, I have the RoW80 group, too. There’s some accountability there as well as support when you need it.
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I do think it is important to have support so we don’t feel like we a writing in a cave with our words echoing off the walls. 🙂
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This was easy to enjoy, Deborah. I like coming here, I enjoy the thoughts you choose to share. I don’t make rice well at all.
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Thank you, Dan. 🙂 I am glad to hear you enjoy my posts. Ha,ha, that’s ok if you don’t make rice well.
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Congratulations on the win, Deborah! I love the cartoon, love the message. We all have the negative or doubting thoughts in our heads, but need to remember that it’s part of being human. For those unable to make rice, I say buy it in those pre-made packets that you stick in the microwave for 90 seconds. Easy, peasy.
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Thank you, Mary. 🙂 Marzi’s cartoons are so great. Her message about self doubt is right on. Yes, don’t worry about the rice, ha,ha.
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It really is wonderful that you won, and I’m so glad it gives you that boost of YES, we really do like your writing.
I love the comic. I had five things in common with her list, but I did eventually learn to cook rice perfectly 😉
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Thank you, Joey. ❤ Glad you enjoyed the comic and found some things in common, which many people have, and you can cook rice. 🙂
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I can imagine how high you felt. We always tend to judge ourselves more stringently and find it a delight when honoured by such recognition.
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It is a real high all right and then you think well maybe I can write after all. It is a boost and encouragement that we need every so often. 🙂
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Congratulations!
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Thank you, Jami. 🙂
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