Want to be inspired? There’s a telesummit going on that is free, and even though it’s been going on for a few days, it’s not too late to register and get in on the calls. You can listen to audio replays for the next several days, too!
It’s the Inspiring Women Summit!
One of the best topics I’ve heard thus far comes from Amy Ahlers and Christine Arylo, who discuss the “Inner Mean Girl Reform School.” While they left me chuckling, it’s a serious subject for most of my gal pals, who will beat themselves up over the most trivial thing. It hurts to hear beautiful, smart, accomplished women call themselves losers, ugly, worthless, and more.
For me, the inner mean girl has been chatting away in my ear about my blog and my writing in general. She’s gotten ever more creative, purring into my ear about my lack of audience for The Foreign Language of Friends and the upcoming Blood and Loam, and wouldn’t life be easier if I found something else to do? But then recently I met a fellow writer, a local woman. I had bought her book and peppered her with lots of questions. One of them was, “Are you working on something new?”
“Of course,” she said evenly. “I’m a writer, and that’s what writers do.”
Oh, yeah, that.
So I’m going to have a little chat with my “Inner Mean Girl,” using some of the suggestions that Ahlers and Arylo provide. Then I plan to check out some of the other inspiring women on this telesummit! It’s not too late to get in on the action!
Have a great weekend. See you next week!
You are a great writer, and I wait for your posts 🙂
Thanks, Nikky. You made my day.
Nadine, Tell that mean girl voice to hit the trail! You are a fine writer. Like Nikky, I look forward to your posts. You provide well-written, thoughtful, graceful posts that I really enjoy. Your “Foreign Language” is on my to-be-read list–it’s in my Nook waiting for me!
Thanks, Tina. The mean girl had me fooled this time because she sounded so persuasive. I guess she’s figured out that putting me down doesn’t work!
The summit sounds really interesting. I think all writers have that inner mean girl. This is great: “Of course,” she said evenly. “I’m a writer, and that’s what writers do.” But I’d modify that to include our own writing projects, not just those we’re being paid for. I have a tendency to push my own personal projects to the bottom of the list, feeling they’re less worthy somehow.
I love how my readers are such a mirror for me. I want to say things to you like, “Keep at those personal projects! They’re important!” And yet this is exactly what I haven’t been telling myself. Let’s keep at this together!
The trick is to feed her (the inner voice), chocolate every now and then. That way you can wave it in front of her nose when she gets the magnifying glass out. 😉 Shuts mean girls up pretty quick and if not, look in a mirror and dot her in the eyes 3 Stooges Curly-style. I love your writing hon. Keep it up and your chin. 🙂
Hmm, I like the chocolate idea! Bribery seems to work well with those negative inner voices.
Nadine, I think the “mean girl” serves to drive you; to show her who’s boss. It defeats the purpose to beat yourself up over a lot of what the mean girl says, but I do believe she puts things in perspective. That said, I don’t usually take my mean girl too seriously. I do, however, see her as a challenge to strive to improve my writing with every post I publish. I love your work. Your writing is superb which goes to prove that you’ve given the mean girl a “whoopin,” like my daddy used to say! 🙂
Definitely, Bella, reframing the role of the Inner Mean Girl makes a difference. Some women are giving theirs a name and drawing pictures of them so they can get a visual and put her in her appropriate place, and to keep her from running the show. What surprised me this time was that she was so darn sneaky in her tactics! I guess I have to be more vigilant to make sure she’s not just getting more creative with her sabotage. Thanks for the kind words! It’s great to have you and Roxy to turn to online!