Three questions about writing that help me return when I've run away
an essay by Megan Febuary
When I’m writing, I am faced with many questions. These tend to be similar questions that plague my writing clients as well. What I’ve found is that these questions swarm around us, circling us until they make us dizzy. We have to stop and take in each question so that the spinning will slow down; otherwise, we are just stuck on spin cycle. I’ve listed three of the most common questions that arise for me in my writing, and what I consider the question to be asking me in return. Please read and consider them for yourself.
Writing question # 1: What if I have nothing important to say or offer?
This question asks me to heal the wound of my voice, not mattering or the sense of enoughness that has lived in the hollow of me since I was little, aching to be approved of. When I write and show up despite this fear of not being worthy, I heal a little bit more of these old wounds that blocked me. This question dares me to see my writing as a friend, reminding me to trust my voice even when I’ve felt otherwise.
Writing Question # 2: What if no one wants to read my writing or no one likes it?
This question asks me to accept the value of my writing, my art, and the creative process, no matter the response. Little me loved the spotlight and attention (hello Leo sign!) But it felt deeply personal if I didn’t get a response that made me feel others liked my creative expression. When this question shows up as I write, I am reminded of the little artist and writer in me who created with confidence before she was afraid. I model her resilience and bravery in taking creative risks.
This question is asking me to make a mess, risk failure, fall, and get back up again. There is another post that I need to write about this subject: What is Bad and What is Good? Stay tuned for that. Seriously, though, everything is subjective, everything! What makes a piece of art good or bad? What makes the writing good or bad? As comic artist Lynda Barry writes, “How old do you have to be to make a bad drawing?” It’s an important question. When we are children, it is impossible to make a “bad” thing, and yet, at some age, that changes. Why? Who gets to say that? When we can write without judgment on ourselves, embracing the good, the bad, and the ugly, we may let this question enhance our imagination rather than stunt it.
These are just three questions and reflections, but I have many more. Here’s the thing: these questions are all personal and unique to every one of us. You may have similar writing questions and reflections that come up for you, or you may have something completely different. I invite you to dig into this…
What writing questions resurface often for you? Write them down.
After that, reflect on what these questions are asking you at a deeper level.
Feel free to share in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
Megan Febuary is a trauma-informed writing coach and the Founder of For Women Who Roar and Human Design for Writers. Over the years, her teachings have guided thousands through writing and healing their stories. Megan received her MA from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, where she focused her research on the body as a storyteller. Her book, Brave The Page and For Women Who Roar are available now. You can read more of Megan’s writing here.
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Keep roaring!
FWWR Founder and friend,
Febuary
One republican flipped yesterday… 5 more seats going up in the next 60 days from Maine to Florida. WAKE UP! VOTE AT YOUR PRIMARIES,
Questions like these don’t block the work, they guide it. Returning to the page often asks for trust rather than certainty, and a willingness to stay in conversation with the parts of us that learned to doubt our voice.