Should You Stop Writing Because You're A Bit Too Weird?

I give you permission to be you

Maybe you’re horrified by some of your ideas. They’re so dark, or silly or just plain weird.

Maybe you are inspired by another writer. You want to write like them. You want to have their influence. You think that’s how writers should be.

Maybe your family are conservative. There’s no way you can share what you really think. If your mother read your stuff, you’d die. Perhaps it’s best to not write anymore.

Maybe you see a writer who has a huge following and gets hundreds of likes for their work. You think you should be like them, after all, they seem to be getting something right.

You don’t have to be like anyone else, or write like anyone else.

You just have to be you.

Why am I writing this?

I frequently curse myself for being creative, for being weird, for being different. Why couldn’t I just knuckle down and continue in my role a software consultant? I was good at it, people respected my skills and if I hadn’t messed around with creative stuff and working part-time for years, I’d have enough money now for a very comfortable early retirement.

Why am I different? Why am I choosing this path?

When I am feeling panicked about my choices, I journal. Somehow, in that writing, I can reach my inner wisdom and calm myself down.

Last week I wrote: “You have permission to be you. Just as you are, right now, in the way you are undertaking work, money management and in your writing.”

I figured that if I needed this reassurance, you might need it too.

Allow me to grant you all the permission you need

You have permission to write.

You have permission to undertake any other creative project which touches your soul.

You have permission to follow your curiosity.

You have permission to write a romance novel.

You have permission to write a serious literary novel.

You have permission to write dark fantasy.

You have permission to write a children’s book. And you have permission to illustrate it too if that’s what you want to do. Or you have permission not to illustrate it and find someone else to do that job.

You have permission to write about LGBTQ matters, whether that is fiction, non-fiction or memoir.

You have permission to write about race.

You have permission to write about prejudice, hate or violence.

You have permission to write about love, joy or hope.

You have permission to write about your life experience, about a difficult childhood, about abuse, about divorce, about sex, or about when you spent two years backpacking around Asia.

You have permission to write about your faith, or lack of it.

You have permission to write a blog, or a newsletter, or start a podcast – about any subject in which you are an expert, or you’d like to learn about.

You have permission to write a non-fiction book. Yes, you are an expert in your area of work or curiosity, so you know enough to write something down and teach or encourage others.

You have permission to write a series of books.

You have permission to be a freelance writer.

You have permission to pitch magazines, periodicals and online publishers with your ideas.

You have permission to stop writing your book. Especially if it’s not bringing you joy anymore and you’ve grown to hate it. Take a break and find something else to play with.

You have permission to write something just for the sheer joy of playing with words on a page. You have permission to never show anyone and never publish it.

You have permission to write poetry.

You have permission to experiment.

You have permission to self-publish your work.

You have permission to seek a literary agent and traditional publisher.

You have permission to stop writing for a while and explore other forms of art.

You have permission to take a rest, kick back and watch your favourite show on Netflix.

You have permission to find a way out of the job that is sucking all the life from your soul. You might have to keep doing it for a while but you have permission to at least consider and explore alternative ways of making an income and/or spending less money.

You have permission to stay in your job and never seek to make any money from your writing.

You have permission to be different.

You have permission to be weird.

This isn’t an exhaustive list so here are a three fill-in-the-blank options, for your specific circumstances:

You have permission to __________________________ .

You have permission to __________________________ .

You have permission to __________________________ .

In short – YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO BE YOU!

If anyone questions that, tell them Cali said it was okay.

You can read a follow up to this article here: You Have Permission To Be You - Part 2

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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