Confidence, Contests, and Links

[alanajoli]

I've been thinking a bit about confidence lately, and how often it surprises me when people whose skills, particularly in writing, I admire admit when they don't have it. I read a lot of blogs where people who I know are amazingly skilled (and are often successful) reveal how nervous they are about the reception their work will receive, and I think, "How in the world are you nervous? You're awesome!"

But I suspect we all go through those bouts of confidence, or lack thereof, in different places and times. I rethink conversations where I feel I've misstepped to the point of beating them to death. I'm rarely nervous about submitting my writing places -- but I'm always nervous the moment before I know they're going to be shown to the public. Sometimes I appreciate those releases that I almost miss, because I don't have any time to agonize. My piece is already out there, and it's too late to worry it now!

I very much admire my family who are performers, because there's no distance from the audience reaction. They're either with you, grooving on your tunes and crying with your tears, or they're not feeling it, and you're on stage alone (metaphorically). I don't mind introducing myself to people at conventions or even singing and dancing to sell books (been there, done that), but those are just marketing -- for my passion, I'll hide behind my paper and ink, thank you very much!

What about you, bloggers? When do the nerves hit you?

--

I'm entering yet another context by using my blog. This one is for Cindy Pon's new book, Silver Phoenix, which looks amazing and has been rec'ed on several blogs I read. Here's the cover:



and book trailer:

How amazing does that look? It feels like the book I really wanted the wuxia novel Sword by Da Chen to be. (I loved the story behind Sword, but wished Da Chen had told it in the voice he used for the memoir introduction to the novel.)

--

Last, via gailcarriger, I would want an iPhone if it looked like this:

created by steamfashion.

If you're not reading Gail's blog and you're interested in steampunk (or just Victorian fun), I highly recommend stopping by and checking her out. She's got a lot of fun stuff going on over there.

Comments

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

Nerves hit in that point when I have something out, waiting with that endless doubt if someone is going to like it enough to ask for more, or to say yes. And the fear that they will say yes as much as the fear of the no.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally sympathize! I'm almost more nervous about the yes! "No"s are at least more common. :)

[bondgwendabond.livejournal.com]

Yes, nervous at all times, except when actually in the throes of a project. It drives C (my hub) mad, as he is one of those generally confident writers, and feels it is the only way to maintain sanity. Just not in my DNA.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Does that make writing a form of self-defense against nerves? :) A tangent question might then be whether you allow yourself to be pep-talked!

[bondgwendabond.livejournal.com]

I am much more amenable to drinks and burritos than pep talks, generally speaking. I wish I was more susceptible to them!

[inspirethoughts.livejournal.com]

I am right now in that nerve hitting position...I get nervous when my mind goes blank and I cannot utter a single word thta i can frame to a story or a poem. and right now is the state for me...nothing coming to brian to write...except for work on mind...gosh!

I feel I am naked and cannot cover, feel vulnerable in this state of mind and emotionally fragile too!

What is the last pictures? Some kind of book?

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Egads! I completely sympathize -- it is nerve wracking when the words don't come!

The last picture is someone's steampunk cover for an iPhone. I'd love to carry around something like *that* as my "pocket brain" (which is how lyster refers to his iPhone).

[inspirethoughts.livejournal.com]

Yes it is. I hope this is just a phase. :)

Wow...that is so cool! I would love to know where he bought it? or if he created it?

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Oh, the steampunk one isn't lyster's -- I just borrowed his phrase. I think if you go to the steamfashion community, you can see how the person tailored the iPhone case. :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I've gotten more and more nervous about showing stuff to people unless I'm in absolute please-critique mode--and sometimes even then. I find I open e-mails from friends and even family who've read my stuff with the sort of trepidation I used to feel when I opened e-mails from editors. On the other hand, as for the editors, if they reject the work, I don't mind it quite so much anymore (I think...)

I'm so, so happy, though, when a story works for people...

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

I had a moment like that not long ago, but with my music, not my writing. I finally got up the guts to print it out to give it to a friend who's also a musician... but then he had to leave before it finished printing, and I ducked out on actually giving it to him. Maybe someday...

[emilymorgan.livejournal.com]

Apintrix (do you know her?) wrote an interesting post a while ago talking about how, for her, writing-procrastination was a form of performance anxiety.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Ha! That does make sense. I don't think I know Apintrix, but I do like her idea.