The other thing that’s happened with writing is that I’m…
““The other thing that’s happened with writing is that I’m not afraid it will go away. Up until a couple of years ago, I feared that sitting down with paper and pencil revealed too much desire and that for such ambition I would be punished. My vocabulary would contract anorexia, ideas would be born autistic, even titles would not come to flirt with me anymore. I suppose this was tied to that internal judge, the serpent who eats her own tail. She insinuates you’re not good enough; you believe her and try less, ratifying her assessment; so you try even less; and on and on. This snake survives on your dying. Finally, now, the elided words of my wisest writing teacher, the poet David Wojahn, make sense. “Be ambitious,” he said, “for the work.” Not for the in-dwelling editor. That bitch was impossible to please anyway.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The internal critic stifles creativity; overcoming it requires ambition and external validation, emphasizing the struggle between self‑doubt and artistic drive.
In simple terms: Self‑criticism blocks creativity.
Key Takeaway
Combat inner doubt with ambition.
Themes
creativity
self‑criticism
ambition
artist’s block
Mood
reflective
motivational
Type
advice
personal
When to use this quote
- Writing workshops
- personal journaling
- creative therapy
Key Concepts
Psychology of creativity
self‑esteem
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps help silence your inner critic?
- How does external feedback influence your work?
A Different Perspective
Overcoming doubt can be a prolonged process.