I will be gentle with myself

The title here is the title of one of my favorite Karen Drucker songs in which she pledges to treat herself with all the care of a "newborn baby child."  I repeat it here because my experience of people tells me that we are all doing the best we can at the moment.  It may not always look like it, but on a soul level I know it is true.  So that requires each of us to have a little patience with each other, to help each other as best we can, many times when it doesn't appear that they deserve it.

When we vow to be kind to every living thing, the final reiki principle, it goes beyond not squishing bugs unnecessarily or not mistreating puppies.  We are talking about honoring that energy in each of us that is doing its best.

Looking back over my writing career, I know I am no longer the writer I was when I started.  Honestly, I started writing my first book when I was 16--many many years ago.  I didn't publish it until twenty years later.  While I am not advocating such a long gestation period, being kind to yourself as a writer is giving yourself enough time to develop yourself as a writer, not rushing to publish until you have mastered the basics of craft, found your voice, and honed your message.

Despite the fear mongering in the industry now, traditional publishing is not coming to an end anytime soon, though it may morph into something more agreeable to writers.  Self-publishing is no longer the scourge it was, so you always have options. There really is no rush to get out there.  The market will be ready for you when you are ready.

Being kind to yourself means being true to your writers vision rather than the hot topic of the moment.  That doesn't mean you can't modify your work to fit trends; it does mean that you shouldn't abandon what you feel you should write without a damn good reason.

Being kind to yourself is not giving  naysayers, critics, reviewers, or pain-in-the-neck family members power over your opinion of work.  That doesn't mean you discount all criticism, but that you take from any comment that which will improve your writing or how you work.  Even negative comments can have a positive result if they point out flaws that you can fix to improve your writing.  But allowing others' opinions to send you into a funk or worse is not good.

How kind are you to your characters?  Do you invest them with as much life as you are able or as you are comfortable?  Do you tell their stories or do you attempt to get them to meld into the story you want to tell?

How kind are you to your readers?  Do you offer them chances to glimpses into the human condition in ways that help them see themselves or others more clearly?  Do you offer them chances to experience authentic love, fear, joy, despair, and, most of all, redemption through your story?

Just a few more things to think about while writing your opus. I hope you all found something worthwhile to take away from this series.  If you did, please be kind and leave a comment.