Imagine that you are standing naked in front of millions of people. Not just without clothes but everything you keep hidden is now exposed. Millions of eyes look you up and down, some see your beauty and others see your flaws. Writers experience this feeling every time they release something into the abyss. They do not know who will come across their work and it is rare that they know how the reader truly feels about their work. But they do know that they have exposed themselves and that they are being judged. The fear of exposing oneself is very legitimate and felt by many who dare to strip themselves so they can arouse their audiences mind.

Writing is an art where you can not separate the product from the creator. You can look at a sculpture or a building or even fashion apparel on its own. But when it comes to writing this is much more difficult to do. It is not just the words on the page that are being judged but the personality behind it as well. Unless you are a journalist or newspaper writer, where you are taught to write without revealing anything about yourself, a reader is bound to get insight into the person behind the words.

The fear of being judged is realistic. After all everyone wants to be liked and they want their work to be liked also. It takes a lot to put together something you can be proud of. The last thing you want is a bad critique. However, you need to remember that not everyone is going to like or dislike you. Some of your readers may be left speechless while others are unimpressed. We all have our preferences. In fact criticism can actually be a writers friend, how else will you know where to improve. It is also helpful if you write to impress yourself.

When you stop writing to please everyone you feel much more relaxed. We have already established that you can not please everyone, but you should strive to please yourself. People often remove themselves from the equation when it comes to the pleasure of writing, but when you are proud of what you do you feel less intimidated by what others have to say. If nothing else you enjoyed your piece.

One of my favorite things about writing is it is ok to toot your own horn. We are often told not to brag but when it comes to writing it is not only ok, its required. Writing is one exercise that does not always get the appreciation it deserves. Your reader does not know all the agony that went into forming all those sentences. You need to celebrate your own success because you will not always have others to do it for you. Writing is lonely and can be frustrating. You need to become your own cheerleader so you move ahead and look past the negative criticism, writers block, slipping sales and all the other unglamorous aspects that come with writing as an art or living.

Is writing scary? Exposing yourself is always scary. You worry about what others think. When you keep in mind that you are doing something that many people fear and learn from your mistakes the rewards far out weigh the fear it self.

Adelaide Kwaning
http://writeprofits.blogspot.com