Question: What is one valuable lesson you've
learned since you started writing?
My Answer: Don’t let #Doubt extinguish your #Sparks.
A spark is the reason
why you do what you do. It’s the pulse for your passion. It’s your inspiration
and creativity. Sparks can motivate you, encourage you, challenge you, empower
you. Sparks can give you insight and wisdom. Sparks are magical!
When we read, the text that invigorates us…what is it? Sparks.
When we find things that
inspire us, those are sparks.
When we find
motivational tools that work, those are sparks.
When I provide tips on
my blog for writing, what am I sharing? Sparks.
#Sparks are powerful.
#Doubt is also powerful.
If we let it, #Doubt can
kill our dreams, and that would be a tragedy. Don’t let #Doubt extinguish your
dreams. Your dreams deserve to come to life.
Fight #Doubt with #Sparks.
Look for sparks
everywhere. In books, nature, people, art, blogs. Everything has the potential
to be a spark, which is why #Sparks are more powerful than #Doubt.
We must collect sparks
like kindling and use them. That’s the key. Sparks aren’t #Sparks unless they
are used. Use that inspiration you discovered. Let yourself be motivated. When
you do, you’ll start a fire, because that’s what sparks do.
#Sparks ignite blazes. Within us.
Now go out and find the
#Sparks you need to ignite your stories, dreams, and life!
****
INSECURITY: To beat my insecurity of
being Chrys Fey in public, I've been taking baby steps, and one of those steps
is to do videos.
Tomorrow I'll be sharing my 4th video about Goodreads.
Now I
have a YouTube Channel!
I need 100 subscribers to create a custom URL.
Would you please subscribe?
Right
now, I'm sharing videos about marketing.
Tomorrow I'll be sharing my 4th video about Goodreads.
Everyday I have to beat self-doubt with a stick. My mind usually returns pretty quickly though to the sparks. I hope you are having a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSo do I. Luckily, those sparks help me to do it. :)
DeleteHaving faith in one's ability is a must if you want to be successful.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your answer Chrys.
Yvonne.
So true.
DeleteYes! Sparks can beat back doubts - we just have to keep fanning those flames. :)
ReplyDeleteFanning and fanning and fanning. ;)
DeleteFor every doubt we need a spark. Two if we can get them.
ReplyDeleteTwo sparks are sometimes a must.
DeleteThose sparks can sure shine on through any self doubt. The way to be at one's sea.
ReplyDeleteThey sure can. They can be small, but they can be bright.
DeleteYou are awesome and courageous.
ReplyDelete' Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thank you! <3
DeleteI love your idea of sparks! Sparks to dispel the doubt.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteJust takes a few sparks to start a fire so big doubt can't douse it.
ReplyDeleteExactly. :)
DeleteLove your post! #Doubt is powerful. It kept me from moving forward for a long time until I found this group. This group, and the wonderful people here did #spark my interest and determination again to finish my current WIP. I'm close now and I don't think I would have gotten to this point without the support here and posts like the one you just did. Thanks to you and all the others here.
ReplyDeleteThe IWSG certainly provides many #sparks. I'm so glad you found the IWSG and the #sparks you needed. <3
DeleteI struggle constantly with doubt. I love those sparks that push it back.
ReplyDeleteDoubt is a pesky creature.
DeleteYou're on fire, girl! You've sparked!! Love this post and sparks are definitely what keep me writing. Doubt slows me down... it's always lurking...but sparks will ignite.
ReplyDeleteDoubt likes to linger. We just have to throw a spark at it to get it to jump back a step. ;)
DeleteI think doubt is a way to keep ourselves safe and unharmed. But safe doesn't have the same rewards as following the spark. Love how you put this. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Doubt could look like safety, but it's really being restricting. It's holding us back.
DeleteI need more sparks to fight off the deluge of doubt I'm constantly drowning in. :)
ReplyDeleteShah X
http://shahwharton.com
Go on a spark hunt! :D
DeleteLove it! Those Doubts can really be tough to handle. I'm working on it - I'll remind myself of all those Sparks! :)
ReplyDeleteDoubt can be tough to handle, but we are tougher. Especially armed with sparks. ;)
DeleteLOVE this post! Yes, those sparks keep us going. Doubts can be nasty monsters, but the sparks are the heroes. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSparks are the heroes...I like that. :D
Doubt is a firehose when you turn it on those sparks. I never doubted myself as much as I have since I started writing.
ReplyDeleteDoubt can be a fire hose if you let it. But if you let those sparks become a blaze, a fire hose will have a hard time putting that out.
DeleteYes! Doubt can be overwhelming - feeling, but sparks can always dispel it. Thanks for sharing, Chrys!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :)
DeleteI subscribed to your channel. I attended a workshop about creating a channel but haven't dared yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you! If you ever create a channel, let me know. :)
DeleteSparks are very important and powerful. Sometimes a spark can be planted at a certain time, yet not ignite and come to its intended purpose until many years later.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true. Some sparks are like seeds.
DeleteSparks are ideas that germinate, Chrys. And like everyone is saying, it can take years. Thanks for such a concise, pithy post. All best to you!
ReplyDeleteSparks can take time to grow. No arguments here on that... :)
DeleteI've found the doubt creeps in after the initial spark has done its job. In that moment, you have to remember that the spark of an idea was correct and not let the doubt diminish the momentum.
ReplyDeleteSo true. The first spark can diminish. That's when new sparks are needed to keep the story idea alive, or to keep us going. :)
DeleteYes, I need to use those sparks to beat down the doubts a lot both in writing and in dealing with life changes. But your post is so inspiring about doing it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think this post is inspiring. I was hoping it'd be a spark for someone. ;)
DeleteHI Chrys! I subscribed to your channel. Great first post. So nice to put a voice to the face and name. The vlogs on my channel are tongue and cheek. Would love it if you checked it out. Hope you're having a fantastic summer!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely check out and subscribe to your channel. And thank you for subscribing to mine! :!
DeleteI think self doubt likes to gang up w/ insecurity. Good thing I'm too stubborn to let either beat me. >8D
ReplyDeleteI'm just like you. Keep that stubbornness, girl! :D
DeleteWonderful post, Chrys! "Sparks are magical!" How true!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Olga!
DeleteAs I read about #sparks, I began to imagine a jar full of fireflies. Now, I want to make a jar full of little tiny lights and put it on my desk to remind me of my sparkling ideas. No vampires allowed.
ReplyDeleteNancy
That's a lovely idea. :)
DeleteNicely said, Chyrs. Sparks are super important in our passion for writing and within the writing itself!
ReplyDeleteThey sure are. :)
DeleteHi Chrys - Sparks keep us going ... the odd comment that one's not expecting - either in the real world, here or on social media - keeps the sparks alive ... well done on the YouTube - I've subscribed ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hilary! Yes, comments have been sparks for me, as well. :)
DeleteDoubt is a terrible thing, it can really mess with your head! Sparks definitely help to keep it at bay.
ReplyDeleteDoubt loves to mess with our heads, right?
DeleteMost valuable writing lesson I've learned is that I need to plan stuff.
ReplyDeleteI love to plan, so I don't have that problem. ;)
DeleteI look for sparks everywhere. They appear in the oddest of places. I need all of them I can get. Thanks for the inspiration, Chrys.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! We all need a barrel full to get through. :)
DeleteI checked out your You Tube channel (and subscribed). You have a lovely presence on video. Well done to you for channeling your sparks into something that can help others.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much!
DeleteReading this post was a SPARK for me. So powerful and inspiring!! Thanks for sharing, Chrys. :)
ReplyDeleteYAY!!! You're very welcome. :)
DeleteSubscribed! Keep up the good work:)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteThis is great advice, Chrys. When doubt creeps in we have to fight hard against it. I've been there! Time to start gathering more of those sparks for when the 'doubt storm' comes!
ReplyDeleteA spark can lead the way to safety when a doubt storm comes. :)
DeleteDoubt is a sneaky fella, always creeping in on you. Like a game of red light, green light, he creeps up on when your back is turned. I like the idea of collecting sparks and using them to light your way when doubt clouds it.
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
Seeing everyone embracing the idea of sparks is so amazing. I have so many happy feels right now. haha
DeleteDoubts are killer but those sparks eventually appear and light the way - you are so right!
ReplyDeleteSparks can zap that doubt! ;)
DeleteCongrats on your youtube channel! I hope you make it to your 100 subscribers quickly!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It's so easy to get distracted and frustrated by doubt. You put off doing the thing that gives you a spark because you are afraid or anxious or worried. Thanks for the reminder that we shouldn't let doubt get the best of us! ❤️
With Love,
Mandy
Trying to get that first 100 is tough.
DeleteThank you, Mandy!
I've done that. That's certainly doubt trying to keep us from those sparks, because doubt knows a spark can defeat it.
The trick lies in keeping those sparks brighter than the doubts. We all have a good share of both. (But it took YOU to describe it so well.)
ReplyDeleteThat is, indeed, the trick. Thanks, Susan!
DeleteI like your "sparks." Neat. I also joined your You Tube. I must go there more often. It's fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for subscribing!!!
DeleteSometimes sparks of inspiration can stem from stuff that initially appear to cause doubt. And then I consider how I can turn the lemons into lemonade...
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that. You are a master spark creator! :)
DeleteThe thing about sparks is that we need to catch them while they're hot, so we need to keep our eyes open! And it's harder to do that if we're plagued by doubt. Another reason to keep positive.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! Sparks are out there. We just have to be aware, be open, and be accepting. Especially when doubt is creeping in.
DeleteDoubt has killed dreams more than failure. We need to fight it.
ReplyDeleteVery well said!
We sure do need to fight it. With all we have.
DeleteBrilliant read! Very wise words Chrys! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you! :D
DeleteI really need more sparks in my life right now. Bring them on, Universe. In the meantime, I will keep my eyes open for them.
ReplyDeleteYes, being on the lookout is the key. You have to be open and be ready for them.
DeleteI must confess that sometimes it's hard not to doubt myself, especially when there have been several people in my life whose harsh criticism have made me doubt myself even more. But like you said, sparks fly when we find things that inspire us. For me, watching a really good play, seeing a beautiful painting in a museum, or browsing in a bookstore is inspiring. The latter is especially full of sparks because I like being surrounded by so many books and the knowledge that there are all these creative, interesting people out there, writing.
ReplyDeleteI understand. I still doubt myself. All the time. My depression also makes it hard, but those sparks have saved me. Reading new books had really helped me. :)
Delete