Writing, Period, Is The Most Humbling Thing You Can Ever Do
You’re so right, Tom Kuegler, writing online is humbling, but I posit that writing, regardless of where you do it is humbling.
I recently published my first book, a memoir. It deals with a lot of very touchy topics, so I expected it to elicit feelings from people who read it. What I did not expect was hate mail. On my Amazon profile, I have a wish list. It is public, but my address is not, thankfully. Someone sent a copy of my book to me, through my Amazon wishlist, with a personalized note. I will not detail the contents of the note here. Suffice it to say, there were threats of physical harm and further abuse similar to what was detailed in my memoir.
I have no idea who this came from. I have a feeling the book came to the attention of someone who saw themselves within the pages, and possibly, being unable to lash out at their victim any longer, they chose to lash out at me.
I have received emails from my blog that were nothing but positive about my book, my posts, etc. I have also received emails telling me I am attention seeking, etc.
You have to take the good with the bad.
My job, as a writer, as someone who wishes to help others through posting about mental illness, personal development, self love, self-help, etc. is to empower them to think for themselves. If that means taking some heat, then so be it.
Does it sting? Oh yes. Will it ever not? Probably not. But when we put ourselves out there, when we open ourselves up and are vulnerable, we do our best work. And that’s what it’s all about. Being authentic and doing what we do best; even if we have to duck and dodge every once in awhile.
Learning to be more humble never hurt anyone.
