| A few years ago, I was sitting with a friend | | | | Maybe the word has a different effect on you. |
| looking at the results of a "personal values" quiz. | | | | Perhaps it inflates you. Maybe you only apply that |
| "It seems you are drawn to values reflecting | | | | word to someone who wears only black and |
| independence, creativity, and freedom. It suggests | | | | starves in Paris. I don't know. What I do know is |
| that you need a creative outlet and you share | | | | that you need to understand your own attitude |
| the values of an artist," my friend said. I shook | | | | so, when it turns up (and it will) you can recognize |
| my head. | | | | it for what it is, resistance. |
| "I'm not an artist." | | | | If you are serious about writing your first draft or |
| Sound familiar? | | | | your first novel, you are about to take on |
| "But you're a writer," my friend said. I shook my | | | | something that requires massive personal |
| head again and pushed the test back at her. | | | | commitment. Be sure the ground you are |
| "I'm more of a...craftsperson. I'm not an artist." | | | | standing on is stable. |
| She leaned forward and said the words that | | | | Questions to Ask Yourself |
| made all the difference in my life. | | | | Do you think artists are special people? |
| "Oh!" she said. "You think artists are special | | | | Do you believe everyone has the right to write? |
| people" | | | | Are you, on some level, looking for external |
| Until then, I did not realize I carried around this | | | | permission to write? |
| misconception of artists or even that the word | | | | Once you are ready, the tools are waiting! |
| "artist" made me cringe. | | | | |