Inspiration, Vindication and Being Okay with Your Own Voice

7/7/14

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a book that I have been meaning to read since forever. "The Left Hand of Darkness." I may have mentioned before how much I love Ursula K. Le Guin. I find her work, fiction or otherwise, interesting and inspiring. Her work pulls me in and captivates me. And almost always she punches me in the heart guts by the end of the story. That's always a bonus.

It is somewhat fortunate that I picked up this book. Almost seeming at just the right time in my life.

While there is a similar element in this book as the one I am writing, it is a completely different idea. I noticed though that my personal style (certain elements that I was worried would be no-no's in the publishing world) are similar to things Le Guin does in her own writing. It made me feel vindicated, in a way. The way she told the story made complete sense. I didn't feel less drawn in or that it was lazy writing, or even overdone in some parts.

This took a lot of worry away from me. I feel refreshed and ready to do even more, go places in my writing where I was afraid to earlier. I need to remember to not be so afraid of what others think. Of "what sells." Just tell my story. Tell my characters' stories. To hell with boundaries put in place. They don't matter. Only telling the tale matters.

I need to remember to not be so afraid.