I love this. I am so glad you write in these spaces, polished or perfect or not--perfection in writing feels like an ethereal thing. It’s a sliding scale totally dependent on the perception of the reader. I too have entertained an MFA, but it is not for me in this season. I hadn’t thought about the fact that we get to publish our words on the same space as other better-known writers, but I love thinking about the leveling of the field...it reminds me that every voice matters, however practiced (or not) or polished (or not).
“Perfection has kept me from profligate creation, even in my own private journals and documents. If anything ever gets posted for the public it’s because at some point I disciplined myself to let it go, warts and all.” Well, if ever there was a piece to usher me into the world of sharing, this is it!
I went back and read your first piece again and realized how they fit together--this post and your first foray into Substack! I’m glad you’re here, being imperfect and vulnerable with the rest of us. ; )
"I’ve rarely held back on something because I was afraid of how vulnerable it was for me or how it would make me appear ... What holds me back is the fear and the knowledge that, in fact, I do not present things perfectly." You iterated this strange feeling I likewise have when people comment on my vulnerability. When I post something more vulnerable, it's usually because its sat with me for a while and I feel as if I have processed it, but what keeps me from publishing it is the fear of it not being perfectly communicated or beautiful enough. I like the idea of freeing myself for things that aren't quite as "perfect" as my inner editor might deem and simply publishing them on my blog or monthly substack.
I love this. I am so glad you write in these spaces, polished or perfect or not--perfection in writing feels like an ethereal thing. It’s a sliding scale totally dependent on the perception of the reader. I too have entertained an MFA, but it is not for me in this season. I hadn’t thought about the fact that we get to publish our words on the same space as other better-known writers, but I love thinking about the leveling of the field...it reminds me that every voice matters, however practiced (or not) or polished (or not).
“Perfection has kept me from profligate creation, even in my own private journals and documents. If anything ever gets posted for the public it’s because at some point I disciplined myself to let it go, warts and all.” Well, if ever there was a piece to usher me into the world of sharing, this is it!
I went back and read your first piece again and realized how they fit together--this post and your first foray into Substack! I’m glad you’re here, being imperfect and vulnerable with the rest of us. ; )
I liked this and needed to read it. Thank you 😊
Oh Tresta, you’ve done it again. I’m so glad you wrote this. I’m so glad you write at all. ❤️
"I’ve rarely held back on something because I was afraid of how vulnerable it was for me or how it would make me appear ... What holds me back is the fear and the knowledge that, in fact, I do not present things perfectly." You iterated this strange feeling I likewise have when people comment on my vulnerability. When I post something more vulnerable, it's usually because its sat with me for a while and I feel as if I have processed it, but what keeps me from publishing it is the fear of it not being perfectly communicated or beautiful enough. I like the idea of freeing myself for things that aren't quite as "perfect" as my inner editor might deem and simply publishing them on my blog or monthly substack.