Self-Censoring Your Writing?

I was recently sitting at a small dinner party with friends and the partner of one of them leans over and asks – so how much of your play is autobiographical?

It was in reference to my play "Nicola Cheeseman is Back".

I wasn’t exactly surprised. In fact, I was primed for it because it was not the first time I’d been asked that - and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.

This is what happens when you’re a middle-aged woman who writes a one woman show about a middle-aged woman.

People say things like – “are you Nicola Cheeseman?” Or “were you really married to, and left by, a man called Dougie.” Or "I didn't know you were in a band."

Spoiler: I wasn't.

I try not to get irritated by questions that negate the craft, skill and imagination required to create a cracking story from nothing because I know it's generally well meaning. I know people love the idea of a story being true. We love hearing personal stories and we're curious creatures – I get it!

Do parts of my real life end up in my work? Of course!

Our lives and internal world are a rich treasure trove of everything we have ever seen, done, felt, or thought about – why wouldn’t we plunder it? But while we all sprinkle some “real” into our stories, most of what you find in fiction is pretty much what it says on the can – fiction.

But it's somewhat wearying to know that, no matter what you say, some people will assume that everything you write is about you. And while that’s quite annoying – it’s only problematic if the fear someone might confuse the life of your character with your actual life or opinions makes you start self-censoring

This censoring isn't about what’s best for the story as it’s about not wanting to be judged or viewed in a particular way. Nobody likes being judged and putting your creative work into the world definitely makes you vulnerable to the opinions of others.

Feeling that fear? Need to stop censoring?

A few things to keep in mind…

👉🏻Fear of judgement and criticism is part of being human.

🔥 Right now, in this moment, nobody else can see your work - it's just you - so this is the time to be fearless. You'll have time later on to make decisions about what stays and what gets cut.

✍🏼 You're putting your ideas and creative work out into the world - you're going to be judged no matter what. So, let's accept that and carry on.

👉🏻 And finally - people don’t think about you and what you do as much as you think they do. 😀

Go well!

Author: Kathryn Burnett

The Productive Writer Guidebook - eBook

The Productive Writer Guidebook - Paperback

Want to be a more productive writer? Dive into our brand new book! Check it out here.