Mind Matters,  Writing 101

Creativity Is Not A Solitary Invention!


The first ever post I wrote on this blog, started off like this:

β€œThis is my first blog post. And I think, the best way to start off my blog post would be to get one thing cleared and that is the fact that – I am not a professional Writer!”

For some strange reason as soon as I sat down to write that post, I felt the urgent need to announce to those reading that I am not a professional writer. As though declaring that was going to protect me from the judgmental comments that I was possibly expecting! Funny that I felt the need toΒ start with an alibi like that! DidΒ it make me feel safer to make such a statement or was I simply afraid to accept the fact that I write?

What was I thinking, β€œIf I say that I am not a writer, then people may not compare my work to Paulo Coelho!?!” Like, seriously?

If I were to point out a reason, I could say that maybe it was the fear of being judged on my capabilities as a writer, maybe it was for the approval from the more β€˜established’ writers or maybe it was just plain stupidity!

Whatever it was, it had me working harder to hone my writing skills. I was determined that taking creative writing classes was the only way I could help myself! A few weeks of research and a couple of posts later I signed up forΒ Blogging University’s ‘Blogging 101’ course to begin with. For some unknown reason, I did not get the first couple of emails from B101 and I was late to start. On the 3rd day of the course when I finally got the email, I clicked on the link to β€œThe Commons” community. My only intention at that point was to take a look at what the whole thing was about and then make a quick exit. I did not even take the course seriously until I visited the community.

When I entered the community, I was stumped by the interaction I saw. It was not just some community, here was a group of writers who were at it together! They taught each other, they learned from each other, they gave feedback to each other and above all they encouraged each other to keep writing!

I was so inspired by what I saw, that I joined inΒ the discussions, I started taking the course seriously and completed all of my daily assignments. I enjoyed the interaction with each and every one of the community members. Needless to say, I made some great friends along the way. The kind of friends who encourage you to write more, the kind of friends who honestly point out when your writing needs improvement, the kind of friends who read every post you publish and encourage you with constructive feedback. The kind of friends who will push you out of your comfort zone and implant into your heart and soul that you have it in you to be called a β€œWriter”

It is only with friends like these do you realize the true meaning of the word ‘comrade’. And it is only when you experience such comraderieΒ do you realize that β€œCreativity is not a solitary invention but a collaborative creation.” 

Now, every time I think of that moment I sat down to write my first post and the fearΒ that engulfed me while writing it, a smile of conviction plays across my lips. Because for the first time in my life, I think I am ready to accept thatΒ β€œI am a Writer!”

A Single Mother with an unbreakable passion to Live the Life! I am a Writer/Author by passion and an IT Project Manager by profession. I am also the voice of Artemis at In The Pantheon - a multi-author collaborative writing project. When not hunting as Artemis, I am busy querying agents and working on my multiple writing projects. Women Empowerment and Child Rights Advocate.

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