Part of the my job as Head Geek is writing. A lot of writing, actually. When I first started, I expected the usual writing concerns: the challenge of writing a specific story from a specific point of view under a deadline. The challenge of having your work edited and critiqued by other people who may not share or appreciate your style. Dealing with writer’s block. Dealing with competing requests.
But I wasn’t ready for trust issues.
I don’t mean others not trusting me to deliver, or to meet their expectations. I mean my own trust issues.
- Will the reader want to come with me on the story I’m building?
- Will they hold it against me if this is the 3rd or 4th time I’ve written on the same subject?
- Will they be annoyed if I say something they’ve heard before?
- Will my editor catch my inconsistencies?
…and a million other moments of doubt which are really self-doubt.
To do this job, I find I need to re-invest in trust.
I do not need to write the DEFINITIVE essay on “xyz”. I simply have to write ONE essay on “xyz”. I need to trust that my audience (and editors) will give me permission to revise my opinion, to grow in my expertise, to expand on the original idea.
I have to trust that the reader is willing (happy, in fact) to come with me on this journey.