Writer Love – 5 Transformational Wordsmiths You Should Know
photo credit: luigi diamanti
HA!
Yesterday I briefly described the “dilemma” I have of fully participating in Reverb10 and finishing my Inspired Maven challenge with the great Sarah Prout. 
And just like magic, the Uni delivered a prompt today that would allow me the luxury of participating fully in both.
Woohoo!
December 2 Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
(Author: Leo Babauta)
Writer Envy.
There. I said it.
I suffer from comparison syndrome.
If you’ve been reading the blog for any length of time, you know I love am ADDICTED to Twitter. For awhile that kept me from writing consistently (unless you count 140 characters at a time as significant writing progress); but since embarking on my #6monthchallenge, that “problem” has been eliminated.
But another (unexpected) surprise of my Twitter addiction has been the “discovery” of my writer envy. You know what I’m talking about. You come across a blog you love or a businessperson you admire and suddenly you feel woefully inadequate.
Like you are never going to be as good as *they* are, so why fuckin’ bother.
Day after day, I head off to another blog, read the 10,000 comments and think, “I really suck at this.”
And then I make all sorts of excuses why I could only write a “little”. If at all.
(Perhaps this is one of the previously undisclosed reasons the Uni had for issuing the #6monthchallenge.)
So, today I looked at the prompt and faced “facts”.
Maybe I do suck at it.
And just maybe, the possibility exists that my writing isn’t intended for 10,000 readers.
What if, the Universe proposed, it is just ONE person you are supposed to connect with? And that ONE person steps into their own power and transforms millions.
What if?
Hmmm…
So I began to think about those writers I envy. The ones whose blogs I follow, but rarely comment on, because I feel somehow unworthy.
(Damn! Comparison syndrome sucks.)
It was then I began to realize that the writers I “envy” have actually been guiding me. It is in my desire to be a better writer (like these women), that not only has my community grown, but my belief in myself as well.
So today, in the presence of God(dess) & witnesses , I acknowledge that the very thing I believed to be limiting my writing was actually feeding it all along.
My writer envy transformed itself into writer love.
In the interest of celebrating this transformation, it my honor to introduce you to 5 wordsmiths who are just some of my writing angels along with a link to one of my favorite posts. (Trust me, I have more but we’d be here all day!)
I love you ladies. Thank you for being who you are and for being a part of my life.
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Amy Oscar (On Twitter @AmyOscar): Amy’s writing connects me to the beauty and gift of the present moment. And anyone who could see the grace in hot flashes was someone I just had to know. I think you’ll enjoy this post as much as I did.
Alisha Sommer (On Twitter @storiesofsommer): The first time I heard about the quarter-life crisis, I laughed my ass off. Seriously? That’s some made-up shit, I thought. And then I met, Alisha. A writer and 2x mom, who at the tender age of 25 is asking the questions that took me 35 years to face. Like with all these women, one favorite post is hard to select. But this one hangs in my office.
Julie Daley (On Twitter @juliedaley): What’s not to love about a website called Unabashedly Female? A coach and writer who helps “women (who long to) awaken to their Raw and Wild Creativity.” Raw & Wild? Count me in. Love of a Woman was transformational. Thanks, Julie.
Ronna Detrick (On Twitter @RonnaDetrick): Ronna’s blog is called Renegade Conversations. Now, I’m sure you have figured out that the word “renegade” is pretty appealing to me. This quote on Ronna’s about page hooked me: I will not be silenced. I will live out loud. I will not edit or censor myself. I will tell the truth. I will not be safe; I will be dangerous, provocative, risky, and bold. Her recent post about turning 50 made me squeal with glee. Rock on, Ronna!
Sally G (On Twitter @Sally_G): Sally is my spiritual ass-kicker. I “met” her after my first guest post and was in awe of the insightful way she commented on other blogs. This woman is DEEP. Once I started reading her blog regularly, I discovered she reminds me of the “truths” about myself that I have forgotten. I know she’ll do the same for you. The blog post that made me a fan incorporated my favorite song of all time.
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Please take a minute to follow them on Twitter. Stop and read their blogs. And please, share this post with your peeps so they can be inspired by these beautiful souls.
What habit are you ready to transform? Who has made a difference in that transformation? I’m all ears!
32 Responses to “Writer Love – 5 Transformational Wordsmiths You Should Know”
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"Spiritual ass-kicker" I've got to get me one of those! Looking forward to reading these inspirational blogs, thanks for sharing your list. OH, and "Why I Write" is a definite keeper.
My recent post Learn how to make simple and powerful product launch pages using WordPress on December 8th through VAClassroom
Hey Terri!
I HIGHLY recommend it.
(In fact, I have more than one person fulfilling that role, just in case I get lazy!)
Thanks for sharing the list. You'll love them all.
Lisa: I'm honored and humbled to be included in this lineup. And more, I'm thrilled that you write – even about not writing, your fear of writing, your hunger to write better, your frustration over not .It's ALL so good, so true, and so what all of us know, feel, struggle with, and battle. But somehow, miraculously, in spite of ourselves, we also speak words that touch nerves (which I'm fine with) and hearts (which I love). And as you know, we do that best when we allow ourselves to speak our own deepest truth, the truth we most need to hear ourselves. We preach to the choir – all of the time. Believe me, I'm singin' right along with you!!!
Again, Lisa, thank you.
My recent post Today I am 50!
Ah, now you have gone and made me get all weepy again. LIsa, I am so touched by this – by the honor of being envied – and then loved – by you. You're a great writer, by the way. I love your voice, your humor. As Julie discovered this week, being a writer will sneak up on you. Being a good writer, you're already there. Keep the words flowing…
Hi! These are some great resources, I really love this! : ) __As far as writer's envy, we all have it! It sucks sometimes but I find that the best way to get rid of it is to just close off. I take breaks from reading sometimes because a lot of times it just clouds my work. __I will be sure to add these great people on twitter! I love this blog.
My recent post Reverb10 Prompt 2 The Win Equation The Fail Equation
Lisa,
Wowee, Zowee. I'm honored, truly honored in a way that is both humbling and energizing. So many times I write and the little voice in my head says some pretty crazy shit about no one wanting to read it or no one understanding what I'm writing. That little voice doesn't seem to go away, she just learns new lines. But I keep writing. I think she's pretty much resigned herself to that fact.
To know I have touched you makes me bow down, a deep bow, to that which moves through me when I write, because in all honesty, that Voice doesn't give a rat's ass about how I feel about my writing. It just moves, and pushes, and compels until the words come spilling out.
I can feel that Voice in your words, pushing its way out onto the page. It is powerful. Keep writing. You never know who you are inspiring when you do…
With great love and blessings,
Julie
My recent post Fecund and Fruitful
I would say that YOU are the spiritual ass kicker…that is awesome! Writer love. Love it!
What a beautiful tribute, first of all, to these talented writers. Second, I love what Julie Daley shared here … she has a voice in her head too. Wow. We all do. We all suffer from Writer Envy or some other form of "comparative disorder". But to acknowledge it then push through it with words so beautifully written is a gift.
You are powerful. and there are people out there who have "writer envy" over you.
Let's hope they transform it to "writer love" as you did.
Love you, sis! Lori
My recent post Shut Up and Listen- a Message from Mean Grrrl
Holy hell you are a resource for awesomeness my friend – these ladies rock the world (just like you!)!
My recent post Are You Linkedin
Okay, Lady, you need a reality check, and I'm going to give it to you. But before I do, let me just say that I totally identify with the whole writer's envy thing. I've got it big time. As for you doing the whole comparison thing and finding yourself "less than," this is why I'm giving you the reality check — whether you want it or not!
____Cast your mind back to when we first met — not all that long ago. How much writing were you doing? How many people were following your blog? How many writing type people had you connected with? How many had connected with you? How much were you out there and allowing yourself and your writing to be seen?____Enough said? No, I think not.____Who put her blog in a contest? Who was elected one of the winners of that contest?____How do you like them "You're not good enough" apples?____NOW I think I've said enough.
I <3 my writing coach.
Thank you.
LOVE you.
#thatisall
Lisa I absolutely love your writing style!!!…and you know what you are right..when one compares oneself to others one will always think they do suck! You know what? The only person telling you this is you and your mind chatter…I’ve had it for many years and now it is finally silenced for good! I’ve taken the steps to pursue activities that are within my ‘flow’ and what I silently believed all along was good at but the mind chatter had a hold on. It feels so good to be free of that and although it is so easy to continue to compare, the more you focus on your craft, the quicker the fears will just melt away. You are a true gem with a unique take on life, I look forward to reading more on your perspective and I wouldn’t be surprised if I see you publishing a book in the near future! kindest regards from a real fan!
Once upon a time, in the Universe vast ~ two Spirits felt somehow adrift.
They gave life their best, they battled with doubt, and gold nuggets of learning they'd sift.
Yet something felt strange, a fragment or crack, kept their gifts and self-confidence un-synced.
Until one day they 'met', on the blog site of Frank, and their powers immediately linked.
Two spirits aligned, two hearts now like one, there's NOTHING these women can't do,
We were destined to meet, my heart you've just filled, and I'm humbled by the wonder of you.
I will probably spend the entire weekend trying to see myself as an ass-kicker. If it's true that exists within me, then my parenting skills are about to go up a notch or two.
Words can't express my surprise and appreciation for being honoured like this here today. I love how you recognized the Law of Opposites at play in your life – and worked through it to fully activate the Law of Attraction. For whatever we put out there in desire for ourselves, the opposite always show up – and it tends to show up first. To see the power and utility of its presence is a gift. To share it with others, a blessing.
And you are both – a gift and a blessing. Much love … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECTUQVrvzE&fe…
I forgot you had the youtube embed function — here's the video I linked above, to save you time …[youtube JECTUQVrvzE&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECTUQVrvzE&feature=related youtube]
You, my dear friend, ARE an amazing writing. And I am so honored (I seem to use that word a lot with you…thank you for allowing me to experience this feeling more) to be included in such a group of other wonderful women.
You keep me inspired to keep putting my pen to the paper.
Much love
I love all those- and you as well!!! So glad you’ve found a way to write