We all have two voices talking in our heads- the inner critic and the inner motivator. Who is speaking louder at any given moment determines a lot!

I think writers have a particular variation of these.

On the one hand, there's the inner voice that says OMG NO-don't show anyone, don't tell anyone, don't self-promote...go hide in a corner. If you're any good, the world will find you and you'll be at the top of every bestseller list (which is of course not terribly realistic).

On the other hand, there's the inner voice that says look at you, brave thing! Putting your work out there! GO!! SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!! Tell everyone about it!! Speak up!! The world won't know about you unless you make some noise!!

And these two voices argue with each other a lot. At least they do in my head.

Which one wins on any given day is anyone's guess. I saw a request on a Facebook group asking for recommendations for romance books. This is one of those moments when the voices argue in my head. Should I say, hey I wrote this thing. I think it's not awful. People seem to like it. Should I? Dare I?

I ended up not saying anything. It felt too much like bragging, too much "look at me." So the "hide in the corner" voice won out that day.

I did find my courage another time this past week and sent a request to a reviewer to read Still Us, so the brave voice won out too. Haven't heard back.

What I like to do is to actually write. Not self promote.

Anything involving the latter is a struggle! I'm trying to push myself a little, though. Because I did write a thing. And I think it's not awful. And people seem to like it.

But, yikes. This feels awkward. I'm talking junior high level awkward. Like discussing one's bowel habits over dinner awkward. Or like in an anxiety dream where you're the only one who's naked in a crowded room. Yeah. That level of awkward.

Sigh...the struggle is real. And awkward.