billmaxwell

For some reason, the DW posting screen is always really crunk-looking and fucked up on my screen at work. I shall prevail over it, however!!

Writing group last night. We have a new member, and she is a sculptor, artist, published author, and runs her own publishing house (hence, published author). If I'd been in an up, positive sort of mood I'd have found this very cool.

Instead, she totally rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm not sure if it was me, or her. Very abrasive, abrupt, and had very "editor-y" crit for everyone who read. As well as comments like "I didn't believe you" and "that just doesn't work for me" and "nobody wants to know about your nasty drug abuse experiences". LOL, obviously she's rather opinionated.

And, none of those comments were for me...after I'd sat for awhile, planning to read what I'd written (a rather blog-like piece about the first months after my son's birth), I started to get that tight feeling in my chest, and then I felt my heart start to pound, and flop around, and the vision started narrowing a bit...I haven't had a panic attack in years. I haven't had any sort of speaking-in-public fear in even more years. I'm normally very comfortable, with speaking, with sharing my work, and with critique.

But I chicked-shitted out. Did not read. I couldn't handle her listening to a somewhat unedited piece about a very difficult time of my life, and saying "That doesn't work for me". Too personal, or something. Or maybe I'm just too sensitive to ever be a successful writer.

So normally I really like our group, but I felt OMG UNSAFE last night. Part of me hopes she doesn't return. Another part just says please grow up and deal with this.

My thoughts right now are that I won't share writings about my life if she's there, I'll just share fiction. I can stay a little more objective about that. I think. Also, need to go over the techniques for coping with panic attacks again. It's been so long since I've had one, I had no idea how to calm myself last night.

Memo to me: learn how to do cut-text on DW. Can't be all that different from LJ, yes? Anyone have this info to share?

I am not sure what's making me reluctant to post at DW. Often when I try to get some of my thoughts and emotions down, they just flee like leaves on the wind. Or, they often consist of things I like to hide from.

That's probably a more frequent occurrence, in all honesty.

Right now I have few enough people following me here that I probably don't have to worry about someone commenting and saying something to the effect of:

1) Hey, you're a complete idiot.
2) Your problems are all your own fault, so STFU.
3) Quit complaining about that shit and DO something, you ineffectual asshole.
4) All that navelgazing isn't going to do dick.

Mainly I think I worry about this because I think those things about myself. I have a lot of problems, and I feel like they are my own fault. I do lots of talking myself out of the various things I could do about them; e.g. go to a therapist, leave my husband, find a new job, etc etc etc.

I do this because I pretty much feel like it's hopeless. There is something wrong inside me, something that makes me make the wrong decisions, chose the wrong people, take the darker fork in the road. I'm a fuck-up. And a coward. And I seem determined to take apart any chance I have at happiness and well-being, piece by piece.

There is nothing worthwhile here. Carry on.

Wow, this was supposed to be a post in which I worked my way around to being positive. Clearly that wasn't meant to be.