“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” Oprah Winfrey

These past couple of weeks as I’ve been working on rewrites to Book #2, I’ve battled my inner critic more than usual.

As I wrote the romance was a little steamier and the body count was a little higher than what I usually write. And I felt like I was the little five year old, once again, asking permission for something.

Have you ever felt that way as you’ve written your novel, or non-fiction book or blogpost?

Maybe your inner critic has similar put downs to mine. Maybe you hear words like this too:

You can’t write that down. You can’t think that. You shouldn’t even imagine those things.

You don’t have permission to think like that, to write like that or to publish like that.

Choose to Give Yourself Permission

As writers we must come back to the reasons we write. This will help to empower us when the inner critic tries to bombard us.

Knowing our reasons for writing will help us have the freedom to take the permission we need to write the story in the way it needs to be told.

What are your reasons for writing what you write?

Here’s my list: to create stories I love that also inspire and entertain others; to write to somehow have an impact on the world; to find meaning and to help others find meaning in their everyday lives.

I needed to get back to my why, before I was able to find the grit I needed to write the story as it needed to be told.

It’s been a battle to get to the place where I could give myself permission to write the story.

There many parts of the book where the main characters are hunted like animals and then there’s also parts where certain characters die.

Sometimes I’ve noticed as I’m writing,that my inner critic tries to talk me out of writing certain things – like death, murder, horrible crimes, … because that’s not what a good girl like me should write about.

At least those are the words that have been echoed from family and friends close to me over the years.

It’s really only been in the past few months that I’ve started to give myself permission to write what I’ve really wanted to write for years now…. which is books with action and suspense mixed with romance. I’ve wanted to write stories where my characters are very real and with a mixture of good and bad… much like real life.

Anyway, this is what I’ve been working through as I’ve been doing the rewrites. Maybe you can relate?

Sometimes we have to wrestle with our words and with who are to really say what we mean in all our writing.

It’s like I’ve been wrestling with who I am and how much of myself I put on the page. It’s a scary – and naked – place to be.

I’m discovering more of my voice.

In some ways I think this feels like unknown territory – a little like braving a walk in the wilderness. This glimpse into the new me is little different than my normal ‘good girl’ image that some people see me to be.

This is weird and empowering and freeing all at the same time.

During this rewriting process, I have to keep reminding myself that I have the freedom and the permission to write. If I don’t step into the brave new me, then I’ll be writing from a caged place – staying safe in the shadows – which has absolutely no attraction for me.

This change has come about for me as I’ve been blogging regularly for a few years and since about  a year ago began everyday with writing my three pages of morning pages.

I can’t believe how much has come unlocked creatively because of all of that.

It has really helped me to blog because it makes me think a little deeper about what I want to write before I hit the publish button.

I’ve also been challenged by other writers to dig deeper to discover more of my own creativity. I encourage you to do that too. Learn what makes you… you. Go deeper.

Being able to finish a project and hit the publish button is such fun – but scary at the same time.

I loved the thrill of clicking the publish button at Amazon, Kobo and SmashWords for my 1st book. I felt adventurous and brave… but also worried about readers would say.

There’s some truth to the fact that when you’ve done it once…over time if you keep publishing – you get braver.

That’s what I love about self-publishing. You can pick yourself. You don’t need anyone’s permission. That feeling of freedom and self-autonomy is so empowering as a writer.

If I hadn’t published my first novel, or continued to write my 2nd novel… I would still be talking about it and not actually doing it.

If I had waited to be picked, I would still be dreaming of what might have been.

Of course, permission to write and self-publish doesn’t mean you’ll get it right the first time.

It doesn’t guarantee Bella Andre or Amanda Hocking type of success.

What it does, is it shifts you inside. it forces you to go further creatively. It helps you clear the way for the next step. As a writer that’s good news. This life of words is one of discovery, it’s not a destination.

You have permission. You are empowered.

To write.

To Publish.

To share your ideas and connect with readers and writers everywhere.

Pick yourself as a writer. Give yourself permission to write the words you love.

It’s your moment. It your time to let the Brave New You come out and play.

Go ahead. Write the story you love.

Do you struggle with writing the words you really want to say? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.