SUBMIT FOR REVIEW?

I just wrote the best article for Vocal – again. I know it because it has a catchy title, showcases the perfect picture, hooks the reader, and quite frankly, is riveting. I spent hours and hours and HOURS on it, plus I edited it a hundred times. So what’s left to do?

Submit For Review

Those three daunting words. They scare the hell out of me. I've lost sleep over them.

Submit For Review means I’m done writing, done editing, done.

But am I though? Am I done and ready to submit for review?

I begin to second-guess myself. Maybe I should change the title. And the picture. The article probably needs more editing. Maybe it’s not that good. Now that I re-read it, it's actually crap. No one would read it. No one would heart it. Certainly, no one would tip it. Forget it. I quit.

Sign Out

Goodbye!

Ugh. I’m never going to write again.

But,

For me, writing is like breathing. I HAVE to write. I have to write or I’ll die. My writing soul would die. I write because I have things to say. Interesting things. Crazy things. Informative things. I pick a “thing” and write about it. There’s no work involved. My fingers fly effortlessly over the keyboard because I love to write.

So what’s the problem? Why can’t I click the button "Submit For Review"?

Because the devil is whispering in my ear, telling me my writing sucks.

“Your title is stupid,” he hisses.

“You’re going to use that picture?" he jeers.

“You didn’t even say anything interesting!” he laughs.

“Why would anyone read your article?” he whispers.

He got to me and I begin to wonder if he's right.

Is the title stupid? Should I look for a different picture? Did I say anything interesting? Would anyone read it?

I don’t want to embarrass myself. After all, it’s going to be published. Published! The entire world could read it and think the same thing – it’s a stupid article, I’m the worst writer, and I had no business submitting it.

So, I believe the devil and quit. He loves that I quit and wins – again.

Somehow I need to stop listening to him and start believing in myself.

So what if he is right? Let’s just say he is. What’s the worst thing that could happen if I write an article, submit it for review, and don't get a tip, a heart, or even noticed by the Vocal team?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing because it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because I wrote it for me. I brainstormed an idea, researched it, wrote the article, edited it, and loved every minute of it.

And you know what else?

It got PUBLISHED! Vocal published my article!

Good for me! Bravo! Kudos! Standing Ovation!

Devil be damned! I’m going to keep writing. Writing about things that are interesting to me; the fascinating Leonardo da Vinci, the adorable axolotl, the eclectic Vocal challenges.

I Sign In.

I read my article again, switch two paragraphs around, and add another sentence. I'm happy with it. It's done.

Maybe someone will read it. Maybe someone will enjoy it. Maybe someone will be inspired by it. Maybe. But it doesn’t matter. I wrote it for me. Writing is my passion, and Vocal encourages my passion.

I look at the button in the corner.

SUBMIT FOR REVIEW

It encourages me --- "Your article is great! Click me! Click me!"

The devil taunts me --- "Your article still sucks. Don’t click. Don’t click."

I take a deep breath. I feel confident. I'm ready.

SUBMIT FOR REVIEW?

Click.