Writing for Myself

The more time and energy I devote to my writing and art, the more I am learning to write for myself. For a couple of years now, I've had an obsession with others seeing my work- whether it's showing my family my latest drawing or waiting obsessively to see if my story reached the front page.

When I was younger, though, I did this all for myself. If anyone saw my drawings, it was because they saw it while I was drawing it or one piece I was particularly proud of. Nobody at all saw my stories; they were included in my diary. (Good thing, too, because reading my old diaries gives me a little slice of nostalgia I want to keep to myself.)

Now, though, I'm making an active effort to enjoy writing and drawing for what it is. As I've grown better, I've found that I want to everyone and their mother to give me praise. But that's not what it should be about. And while I still might check the status of my latest story a couple times a day, I'm not going to feel compelled to write the next chapter of stories because others are interested in it, or draw my family members' characters in a pic so they will appreciate it more.

Just a little story of me getting a little more mature.