“I am participating in the Writing Contest: Writers Crushing Doubt. Hosted by Positive Writer.” positivewriter.com/writing-contest-2016
An enemy.
I have an enemy. If you’re a writer you do too. He’s a liar, a cheat and most of all, a thief. I know all about him. Most times he defeats me without throwing a blow. Sometimes it’s just a stare. He occupies a small arena, the arena of my mind.
Oh yes there are times I enter the arena, dip between the ropes never to answer the bell. My enemy runs around the arena, pointing, sneering and taunting me, he shouts, “who the hell do you think you are?” Most times it’s enough to keep me on my stool, as I let my words pool at my feet like sweat off my brow.
When I’m brave enough to answer the bell, he throws haymakers that land with a ferocity and menace I never expect. I’m surprised when I continue to stand and fight. It’s the sucker punches he throws that really do the damage, they sound like this, “no one will ever read your words, they suck,” and the stinger, “you have the audacity to call yourself a writer, who are you kidding?”
Every blow of doubt leaves me damaged, battered and bruised.
The times I don’t quit but face the enemy, I counterpunch landing short effective blows like efficient, effective, sentences on the page. It’s my corner man who keeps me going. He’s been beat but not beaten, and he has the scars to prove it. He coaches, he encourages and he gives direction on how to fight. Sometimes his words sting, but he I know he always is for me.
When victory is assured, when my enemy goes down I’m hounded by the one star critic who can be heard over an audience of applause and praise. He can steal my victory with his pokes, jabs and insulting words. He can steal my victory even while a crowd of five star reviews applaud my work.
The critic, with his one star reviews, and the enemy with his lies, their voices are loud, they are incessant, and when I choose to listen to them I lose, I’m less, but most of all others lose. They lose the encouragement, the joy, and they lose the life my words can give.
Do you listen to the enemy, the one star critic, or your corner man? If you’re like me you listen to the enemy and the critic way too often. We all lose when you listen to the enemy and the critic.
It’s the corner man we all need to listen to more, yes it’s him we need listen to more.
Today, as I pen my words, as I enter my arena, I choose to listen to the words of my corner man.