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Why is That Woman in The Trench Coat Trying to Grab My Pencil?Why is That Woman in The Trench Coat Trying to Grab My Pencil? C 2005 Julie Jordan Scott Mine bears a striking resemblance to Carmen Sandiego. Remember her? She is a cartoon character detective. I like her because she is so paradoxical, a decidedly feminine form in a trench coat. The persona she takes on in my self talk is not so delectable, however. She whispers to me sternly - so only I can hear her. "You, over there at the keyboard. What do you think you are doing? Who do you think you are, writing stuff you have the audacity to think people will ever read. Go get a manicure, it'll get you more mileage." What? Move away from the vision of my end result? That makes no sense - I want to write, write, write - and publish my work and have it published elsewhere - is that woman in the trench coat crazy? Oh - I get it now. That woman in the trench coat is that Inner Critic of mine. I vaguely remember the years she worked to successfully silence me. The difference is this: these days I so rarely interact with her I didn't even recognize her at first. It wasn't always the case - after all, she stood between me and writing anything besides work memos and reports for a long, long, long time. She used to say all kinds of nonsense like: "Your handwriting is horrendous. It will never be pretty." (Ah, I recognize the Miss Pizarro Third Grade Teacher Ploy). "Don't you remember how much you HATED writing for the school paper? What makes you think THIS will be any different!" (Oh sheesh - bringing up a horrible high school experience? That is low!) Makes sense, though. Inner Critics will do that. They stand exceptionally low to get exactly where they want. The control they want is the power over YOUR pencil, YOUR paper, YOUR fingers on the keyboard. I don't give that Carmen Sandiego Look-a-like that privilege anymore. "Yo, I get it!" she turns, startled at my "disrespect". I talk right back to her. "Look - You can come out when I need editing help - I appreciate it then. Now - get out of the creative side. We've got that covered." Ahhhhh - there is the muse now! Flowing, free form with a direct connection to the Divine. Lovely! Use your Muse to get your words on the paper. Let your Critic assist you IN her place - that is when you are editing. Don't give your creative power over to her. The world will be a better place when YOU choose to write. One of the ways we learn to discern when our Inner Critic has taken control is to discern what is being said at what times, and sometimes it helps to put an amusing character to it. I say do whatever it takes to become conscious and aware because THIS is the way to keeping the Inner Critic out of your way and the Muse moving so that you can do what you were meant to do in the first place. Lovely - now, continue to write. ====== Julie Jordan Scott is a Writer, Speaker, Success Coach, Actor, Director, Poet Workshop Facilitator and Mother Extraordinaire. Register now for the upcoming fr>e>e writing workshop that changed the world: 42 Days of Writing Passionately. Check it out and sign up now: http://www.PassionWriteNow.com
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