I started writing on another platform three years ago. It was easy starting out because I wrote to crickets. I was afraid that someone would read my work, afraid that no one would, and surprised when they did.
I allowed myself the time to practice writing and make a fool of myself with little judgment. Many of my articles were good, the headlines sucked.
It’s still something I’m working on.
I’m starting this newsletter with a different perspective, and I have to tell you, readers like you intimidate me I’m not writing to obscurity anymore; I’m writing to people that signed up to read my work.
(Well, a few of you were volunteered – thanks family)
There’s more pressure, or maybe I just put it on myself? Recently I read that if you’re not selling a product, you don’t realize you still are. Your product is time, you’re asking for someone’s time to read your work.
I’ve cross-posted some of my Medium stories to build up this site and added a new section for history. I chose not to email when I published them to respect your time, however, I plan to increase the frequency of this newsletter in the future.
Back to my original question: Why do some readers intimidate me? Because you took the time to read this, and I appreciate it. I put more thought into this because I know you. I plan to rewrite one of my first published articles, how my ex-husband read my diary.
There are things we want to share, and some we don’t. I dislike confrontation and shy away from controversy. Perhaps I’m still trying to get over the betrayal of someone reading my thoughts before they were offered.
Playing safe is boring on Medium. Playing safe doesn’t get reads. Playing safe guards your heart in an angry online world. Someone should have told Tucker Carlson, but then no one would know him, would they? Like him or hate him, people know who he is.
The minute you start writing online, you open yourself up to criticism.
Might as well make it count.
Until next time,
Peace ✌️