Our Writer SuperPower
How do you see yourself? As a smart, capable, persevering person that others see you as? Or do you scoff if you’re complimented? If they only knew the real me, you may think. It’s no secret that we’re always harder on ourselves, that we have difficulty seeing ourselves the same way other people claim to see us.
It’s true the world over, I’m sure, but we, as writers, actually have an incredible advantage. It’s our job to show the world what people—our characters—really think on the inside. It’s our job to show that contrast between how the rest of the world views our protagonist and how they view themselves. As writers, we have insight into that duality that others may not.
The key, then, is to apply that very same empathy we use on our characters on ourselves. If we know there’s a disconnect between our protagonist’s view of themselves and how the world sees them, then isn’t there a chance that same disconnect exists within us? That maybe, just maybe, our own thoughts and emotions may not be as logical or objective as we may think? That maybe we are smart and capable and skilled at persevering?
And if, at the very least, we can acknowledge that truth—that maybe our opinions of ourselves aren’t based solely in fact—then, like the characters we write, we are well on our way to our own resolution. Maybe, even, our very own happily-ever-after. 🙂