The Naked Feeling of a Writer

Recently I realized what writers go through when they think they have finished a master piece as they call it and then they send it off to a total stranger. (You know I think of myself as a writer by the way). It is like writing an exam and waiting for marking and result. In my own case, I was terrified. I am terrified when someone reads anything I have written. When Ipointed some friends to this blog site, I feldt the same way (even though they all came back telling me how great the stuff here are...I know they are being nice) I sent a number of my articles to different newspapers and magazines and got no response which is not strange when you talk to people with 'experience'. It was even worse when I had to now contact some of the people I know to see if they could look at the pieces and offer comments- I felt totally 'naked'.

I got into the office one morning and plugged up my laptop and "viola!" there was an email from this 'experienced writer', I was so scared that I did not open the email for over an our. Finally, I summoned courage and opened it and it was not too bad. It is amazing how illuminating a second reader can be. He or she will read what you have written opposed to what you wanted to write. I have realized that even when I read over my pieces, I read them from my heart or my head but not from the paper or screen right in front of me.

Okay, today I am celebrating the publishing of one of my recent articles which is not only timely but has received wide praises and acclaim. Now I have readers out there waiting for the next ones and I am hihgly encouraged. Tell you what? I am off now to complete another piece which I have only written the topic for the past two days...if that is not a writers block, you tell me, what is it?