A Note on The Inner Critic

I think every writer, illustrator, and artist struggles with the voice of the inner critic. We smash our ideas before they are even on paper. We are more critical than any editor, and we beat our inner child until he is weeping in despair.

Statler and Waldorf, Jim Henson's toughest critics.

There is a time and place for self-criticism.

It isn't during PiBoIdMo. 

Maybe you've been lamenting your less-than-Newberry efforts so far. Here is some advice* from those who've been there, gleaned from last year's Picture Book Idea Month posts.

"Gag your inner critic! . . . stop perfectionizing! . . . Write down ALL the ideas you consider. You don’t know what will piggyback on them or what new variation will emerge." -Deb Lund

"I try not to reject . . . ideas too early, because there is no telling where they will end up." -Peter Harren

"I allowed myself to indulge in my imaginative whims.  . . . This was new. The feeling of having nothing to lose, so why not? I was no longer thinking about what I thought the publishing industry wanted to see. I was drawing what I wanted to see for myself." -Kelly Light 

"There's a fine line between a crazy, out-there idea, and a really brilliant one." -Aaron Reynolds

If you are still struggling, read the posts below in their entirety and repeat after me,

"I will not allow my inner critic to shout too loudly or too often."

Why not share your thoughts here, or on the PiBoIdMo Facebook group. Sometimes stating the fear out loud puts it in perspective. Happy brainstorming!

You can see last week's Quips and Tips post on Crazy story ideas here.

*You can read the original posts on Writing With Kids (While Raising Them): Aaron Reynolds, Deb Lund, Kelly Light, Peter Harren

SkADaMo Revealed

When I agreed to participate in SkADaMo, I wasn't prepared to scan my sketches every day.  My computer equipment is from the Dark Ages.  When I realized other participants had been posting their drawings, I began the arduous process of digitizing my work, but there was something else I wasn't prepared for.  I wasn't prepared for the emotional punch in the stomach that I received when I thought about actually letting my peers see my sketches.

I had been happily cruising along in my PiBoIdMo notebook, alternating lists of ideas with doodles to get the creative juices flowing.  I had rehearsed my new battle cry: Silence The Inner Critic.  Up to now, it had been working.

As I paged through the first dozen drawings, my critic resurfaced.

He cried, "Ewww, not that one!"

He shouted, "You can do better than that!"

He fairly screamed, "Aren't you embarassed?"

I have agonized these last nine days over putting pencil to paper.  I have struggled with wanting to experiment, to stretch myself, to enjoy the process versus being willing to allow myself to be exposed as anything less than polished.

My solution is simple, but not easy:
When my Inner Critic shouts, his voice is drowned out by a murmuring chorus.

I hear Robert Weinstock mutter, "Embrace your lostness."

I hear Deborah Freedman whisper, "Occupy til there is no more shouting and it is quiet."

I remember Kelly Light telling me not to sink into the pit of self-doubt.

I obey Debbie Ridpath Ohi when she says take a deep breath, stop obsessing, and eat chocolate.

And I hear all the voices of all the talented book-making, book-loving people like Tara Lazar who support each other on the journey to Becoming.  This is what I am thankful for this November.

sketches by Joanne Roberts