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Write for yourself, not for others from "summary" of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
When you sit down to write, it is easy to get caught up in thoughts of what others will think of your work. You may worry about whether it will be good enough, whether it will be well-received, whether it will be successful. These worries can be paralyzing, preventing you from truly expressing yourself on the page. But the truth is, when you write for others, you are not being true to yourself. You are not tapping into your own voice, your own experiences, your own emotions. You are not allowing yourself to be vulnerable, to be honest, to be authentic. When you write for yourself, on the other hand, you are free to explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or criticism. You can delve deep into your own psyche, uncovering truths about yourself that you may not have even realized were there. You can write from a place of pure passion and creativity, without worrying about whether your work will be marketable or popular. You can write simply for the joy of writing, for the satisfaction of putting words on the page. When you write for yourself, you are also more likely to produce work that is truly original and unique. By tapping into your own experiences and emotions, you can create stories and characters that are unlike anything else out there. You can infuse your writing with your own voice, your own perspective, your own sense of humor. You can write in a way that is authentic and genuine, resonating with readers on a deeper level than if you were simply trying to emulate someone else's style.- Writing for yourself is a form of self-expression, a way of connecting with your own thoughts and emotions in a meaningful way. It is a way of honoring your own inner voice, of giving yourself permission to be vulnerable and honest on the page. When you write for yourself, you are not seeking external validation or approval. You are simply allowing yourself to be who you are, to express yourself in a way that is true and authentic. And in doing so, you may just find that your writing resonates with others in a way that you never could have imagined.
