Some People Need to "work-up-to" being Artists

by Andrea
(LA, Ca)

I'm enjoying reading and editing your work. This is a great idea. I just sent you the edited documents.

My only comment is on the chapter "Writing For Publication." You might consider acknowledging that many people who would like to be "artists" have been invalidated so often as children that they are terrified to create their art. I would bet that 80% of people have been told that they can't draw.

I've heard it many times. They loved drawing and painting but they were invalidated by parents, teachers, siblings, etc. They still have the urge to create, but unless they are given "permission" and encouraged by supportive terminals, they may only do it "for themselves" or not do it at all. I've know at least 4 people who have "become" artists (musicians, visual artists, writers) only after they've allowed themselves to see themselves as artists and this happened only after they had supportive friends who cleared up their false data and encouraged them to be the artist they've always wanted to be.

I can see that this chapter might push someone toward publishing their work, but it can also have the opposite effect - invalidating them once again, i.e., they're not an artist if they're not publishing their work. You might explain that it can be started on a gradient.

This may not be something you want to do at all but the tone of that chapter really bothered me.

My two cents. :-)