Dealing with negativity or lack of support from your family as a creative
Read on for Tested Ancient Techniques, Super Squirrel Moves and Jazz Hands
Challenging, especially when it comes to your passion as a creator, family relationships have to be navigated with an eye to self-care. Here are some tips on how to handle such situations with aplomb (or if not aplomb, then a lot of humor and self-grace.)
Dealing with negativity or lack of support from your family as a writer can feel like trying to write a masterpiece while being attacked by a swarm of angry punctuation marks. But fear not, fellow word warriors, for here are some tips to navigate this treacherous terrain and come out with your pen held high.
First and foremost, believe in yourself.
Believe in yourself by putting yourself at the head of the pack. Remember that your creativity and writing abilities are unique to you. Have confidence in your work and don’t allow the negative opinions of others to define your worth as a writer. Trust your instinct and continue pursuing your passion.
Remind yourself daily that your writing skills are as unique as a snowflake with a quill. Don’t let Aunt Gertrude’s scathing critique of your latest short story dampen your confidence. You are a writer, dammit, and you have the power to weave words as beautifully as a unicorn braiding a rainbow.
Sometimes it’s important to go within and find calm strength and inner peace.
It’s nice when your family completely validates you and your dreams. When that’s not the case, you need to stop looking for that acceptance within your family unit. When it happens naturally, embrace it. At other times, one must look elsewhere.
This is the time to go outside the pack to seek external validation and support
While it’s disheartening when your family doesn’t appreciate your writing, there are others who will. Join writing groups, attend workshops, or seek online communities where you can share your work and get constructive feedback. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can offer encouragement, validation, and inspiration.
However, seeking validation and support from your family may feel like trying to find an agent who represents leprechauns. So, it’s time to expand your horizons and find your tribe. Join writing groups, attend workshops, or seek refuge in online communities where fellow scribblers can appreciate your talent. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals will not only provide the support you need, but it may also help you swap dodgy metaphors for sparkling prose.
Boundaries & Build-Ups
Now, let’s talk boundaries — the literary equivalent of installing a moat around your creative castle.
Set those boundaries. Build those walls. Keep your creative space safe.
If family members consistently express negative opinions about your writing, it may be necessary to establish boundaries. Politely but firmly let them know that you value their opinions, but you would appreciate it if they refrained from commenting on your work unless they can provide constructive feedback. Ultimately, it’s essential to protect your creative space and emotional well-being.
If your family members persistently rain down negativity on your writing parade, it’s time to diplomatically draw the line. Politely inform them that while their opinions are, um, valued, you’d prefer them to keep their feedback within constructive bounds.
Shielding your creative space from their negativity will not only protect your sanity, but it may also allow you to hatch the next bestselling novel (or at least an entertaining comedic essay).
Finding a support system that understands the anguish of a misplaced semicolon is essential. Seek out friends who appreciate your passion for writing, mentors who can guide you through the labyrinth of plot twists, or even online communities where you can commiserate over the difficulty of finding the perfect adverb. Embrace these kindred spirits who can offer encouragement, advice (and a well-timed joke) to keep you motivated and inspired.
Focus on your personal creative growth
Continue investing time in honing your writing skills and improving your craft. Attend writing courses or workshops, read extensively, and practice regularly. The more you improve, the more confidence you’ll gain, which can help you withstand any negativity or lack of support from your family.
While it’s crucial to surround yourself with supportive voices, don’t neglect your own growth as a writer. Attend writing courses or workshops, delve into literature with the ferocity of a feral dictionary, and practice your craft until your keyboard cries tears of joy.
The more you invest in yourself and your skills, the more confidence you’ll gain, making it easier to brush off any negativity or lack of support from your family like a fleck of punctuation that accidentally landed on Shakespeare.
Sometimes, our relatives just don’t understand the monumental task of constructing a world out of words. Take the time to educate them, to enlighten their puny minds about the writing process and the significance of your work.
Explain to them that your writing is more than just a hobby — it’s a conduit for your soul, a way to express the depths of your creative spirit. And who knows, maybe they’ll even begin to appreciate the magnificence of your wordsmithery. Miracles Happen
Family Education. Paying it Forward.
Keep At It, while feeding yourself.
The reason to educate your family is to pay it forward. Sometimes, family members may lack understanding of the writing process or the significance of your work. Try discussing your passion with them, sharing your goals, and explaining the importance of your creative outlet. Help them understand the depth of your commitment to writing and perhaps they will gradually become more appreciative and supportive. While this may not land on them, it may pave the wave for a creative next generation.
Stay motivated and committed: Remind yourself why you write
But above all, stay motivated and committed to your craft. Let the fire in your belly burn brighter than the red ink Aunt Gertrude wields like a medieval executioner.
Focus on the joy, passion, and fulfillment that writing brings you. Don’t let the negativity deter you from pursuing your dreams. Use any criticism or lack of support as fuel to prove yourself and become a better writer.
Remember, being a writer is a journey, and not everyone will comprehend or appreciate your path. Stay true to yourself, find your support system, and keep pushing forward. Remind yourself daily why you write — for the sheer joy of creating, for the stories that need to be told, and for the happiness and fulfillment it brings you. Don’t let the negativity and lack of support deter you from your dreams. Use their skepticism as fuel to stoke the creative flames within, and show them that you’re a force to be reckoned with.
In the end, remember that the path of a writer is rarely understood by everyone. Embrace your own journey, find your tribe, and keep writing with the determination of a caffeinated squirrel on a mission. For it is through our words that we can change the world, one snarky metaphor at a time.
Thanks for reading,
Jess
Connect with me! 🎢My Reader Group: Bookish Bliss https://www.facebook.com/groups/1328534161109145
🎡Substack https://jessaverill.substack.com/
🎇Serials: https://reamstories.com/page/lh6d61rjpb
🎯Visit my FB page: Jess Averill https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092471114700
🎬Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jess_averill_author/
🎁Jess Averill newsletter signup https://sendfox.com/lp/m74v8r
💎Stars, Sigils and Gryphs: a short read: https://www.amazon.com/Stars-Sigils-Gryphs-Choose-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CCM7CM5W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2431PNVQQEQ61&keywords=jess+averill&qid=1690571006&s=digital-text&sprefix=j%2Cdigital-text%2C979&sr=1-1
