story update report (extremely late) · 12:06am Oct 19th, 2018
I'm halfway through writing December. I keep feeling paralyzed and second-guessing every haiku I write. I wanted to finish it a few months ago, because I thought it'd be funny to give people cold winter-themed poetry during the hot summer months (for most readers). Now I'm just aiming for the 1-year anniversary of when I originally wrote October for the writeoff.
I also have January planned, but it feels scary to go on that long before my gimmick overstays its welcome.
I'm also halfway through writing that "tutorial" or analysis, which I didn't want to post until I'd updated at least a little. But after learning a few things, I feel less certain than ever that I know what I'm doing. Other people on this site are experts in poetry. I'm just poemsplaining.
How do you even tell the difference between IMPOSTOR SYNDROME and just plain IMPOSTOR?
Does this count as fishing for self-pity? Or does bringing up Impostor Syndrome ironically mean that I think I'm actually really awesome and trying to humblebrag about it?
This is why I hate talking about this subject!!!
To make this post less stupid, here's something I noticed. You know those party boardgames where you have to draw something on paper, and usually others have to guess what it is? Every single one of those is calibrated for people who don't like to draw. Those who avoid it as much as possible, and when forced into it can only make some stick figures. It's to get them out of their comfort zone and have a laugh, because the challenge comes from everyone being bad at it.
Throw in someone who likes to draw - even a little - and the entire game gets unbalanced. They make everything look unfair. Everyone else feels self-conscious and goes back to apologizing for their stick figures. Unless they're drunk.
"People who don't draw" is the target audience because most people fall in that group.
(There's a few exceptions, I've recently found some drawing games that have clever rules that put everyone at a disadvantage.)
I guess the takeaway here is that if you can do something a little, even if you feel like you're worth very little, remember that the majority of people don't do it at all. Maybe they could quickly reach your skill level if they just tried learning it..... but most of them don't want to. They'll think you're exceptional and talented just for trying.
And for that matter, if you really want to learn something... just try it. Instead of comparing yourself to the best, simply have fun with it. You don't have to be Usain Bolt before you're allowed to run. Bob Ross taught "The Joy of Painting" more than actual painting techniques. There's a feeling you get when watching his show, like you could be totally free and and ego-less and create something, and it'll turn out amazing just because you made it. Capture that feeling and use it for whatever hobby you wanted to do.
You're very kissable.
Also my family loves those games. They're immensely fun to play with small kids.