| What is this annoying, insidious angst that permeates | | | | applying that philosophy to myself.I guess I have |
| my psyche? In all other regards, I'm a moderately | | | | been slowly improving. Having taken part in an |
| confident guy. I'm secure in my abilities to be a good | | | | author's fair, having been called a "local author" by |
| father, husband, employee, friend, gardener, etc. And, | | | | newspapers and radio hosts, having been dubbed |
| heck! Lots of folks tell me I'm a good writer. I'm | | | | "Genesee Valley Writer," has helped. As I receive |
| passionate about my writing. I consumed by my | | | | more and more reviews from strangers (those who |
| stories. I can't stop, can't envision life without it.Yet, I | | | | don't "have" to tell me I'm good), the anxiety has |
| have this persistent fear that I will be "outed" as a | | | | lessened a tad. But still, each time I know someone is |
| fraud by the next highbrow literary critic that comes | | | | reading the book, this annoying worry niggles around |
| upon my work. Even though complete strangers | | | | in brain. Will they like it? Will they see through me and |
| have given surprisingly glowing reviews to my first | | | | spotlight the flaws? Will my still-fragile author ego be |
| (and worst) book, even though my readers tell me | | | | smashed?It's so silly. I really hate it. I have to stop |
| otherwise, I can't get over the fear that a "real" | | | | caring that when I've bared my soul to the world, it |
| writer will some day come along and renounce me, | | | | might get trounced on, smashed, and spattered with |
| sending banishing me into the netherworld of faux | | | | criticism. I guess it's time to admit... I am a "real" |
| writer fools who tumble around with ridiculous stories | | | | writer. And that's a step in the "write" direction.Aaron |
| and are woefully inadequate when put to the task.I | | | | Paul Lazar |
| know it's absurd. I've told friends, many friends, who | | | | Paul Lazar resides in Upstate New York with his |
| write beautifully, that they are writers simply due to | | | | wife, three daughters, two grandsons, mother-in- |
| the process. If it's in your blood, if you can't stop, if | | | | law, two dogs, and three cats. After writing in the |
| your day is filled with the details of the next chapter, | | | | early morning hours, he works as an |
| if you write for therapy, then you are a writer! You | | | | electrophotographic engineer at NexPress Solutions |
| don't need a degree in English Lit or Composition to | | | | Inc., part of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, |
| qualify. Heck, my degree is in Engineering. You don't | | | | in Rochester, New York. |
| need a degree, period! And yet, I have trouble | | | | |