I am sharing an email conversation from years ago. Nancy P. is no longer with us and I miss her.
Glenda,
I received the notification for a workshop at Warren Wilson in late July
with the fiction workshop being taught by Tommy Hays. I want to go but
I'm truly lacking in confidence. I'm always afraid my work won't match
up with the other writers and so I hold back. I know Tommy Hays is good
and he's pretty sharp. Do you HONESTLY think I would do alright there? I
do have to submit a short story or the first chapter of my novella that
I'm working on as part of a collection. I guess I'm just asking you for
a pep talk. What do you think? Will he be way over my head?
Nancy P.
Glenda Beall wrote:
Nancy, you don't have any reason to be afraid. Your writing is
excellent and you have had many stories published. I was afraid the
first time I signed on for a master class at NCWN Fall conference with
Kay Byer. But when I got there, I found most of the writers were no
better than I was.
And I can tell you Tommy Hays is just another writer with the same fears
and worries all writers have about their work. Don't hold back, Nancy.
I know you will do well and you'll enjoy it. That is the most important part - you'll enjoy it.
If you spend time comparing yourself to other writers or worrying
about what they think of your work, you'll do yourself a disservice by
not taking the opportunity to study with this writer. I am so glad I
took the master class with Kay Byer. Now that I know her so well, I
realize she, like you and me, is not always confident and
self-assured. I'm sure Tommy Hays is the same.
Go for it, Girl! You will be fine.
with the fiction workshop being taught by Tommy Hays. I want to go but
I'm truly lacking in confidence. I'm always afraid my work won't match
up with the other writers and so I hold back. I know Tommy Hays is good
and he's pretty sharp. Do you HONESTLY think I would do alright there? I
do have to submit a short story or the first chapter of my novella that
I'm working on as part of a collection. I guess I'm just asking you for
a pep talk. What do you think? Will he be way over my head?
Nancy P.
Glenda Beall wrote:
Nancy, you don't have any reason to be afraid. Your writing is
excellent and you have had many stories published. I was afraid the
first time I signed on for a master class at NCWN Fall conference with
Kay Byer. But when I got there, I found most of the writers were no
better than I was.
And I can tell you Tommy Hays is just another writer with the same fears
and worries all writers have about their work. Don't hold back, Nancy.
I know you will do well and you'll enjoy it. That is the most important part - you'll enjoy it.
If you spend time comparing yourself to other writers or worrying
about what they think of your work, you'll do yourself a disservice by
not taking the opportunity to study with this writer. I am so glad I
took the master class with Kay Byer. Now that I know her so well, I
realize she, like you and me, is not always confident and
self-assured. I'm sure Tommy Hays is the same.
Go for it, Girl! You will be fine.
I want to hear all about the workshop.
Glenda
Thank you, Glenda.
You are so right. I just put myself into a worry pot when I should realize
most everyone has these same doubts and fears. I guess it comes from
the sequestering of the writer within four walls for long periods of time.
I will send in my registration and do what you recommend: Enjoy the journey.Sincere thanks,Nancy P.
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Nancy P. was a very good writer, but as you can see, like all of us, she had doubts. We are quick to second guess ourselves. Do you do that? Have you ever missed a great opportunity because you lacked the confidence to take a chance?
I almost did back in 1995 when I first moved to the mountains. Nancy Simpson (not the Nancy in my post) called me and asked if I wanted a scholarship for her week-long poetry class at the John C. Campbell Folk School.
It was free to me. I was brand new to the area and did not know any writers. The idea of taking a class with poets absolutely scared me to death. I had to make a big decision. I almost turned her down, but I pushed myself to overcome my fear and that decision changed my life.
What about you? What is your story? Did you overcome a fear or self-doubt to accomplish something important in your life?
Do you often second guess your decisions?
Leave a comment or email me at gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com
