I've found it very stressful starting to share my writing more professionally. To attach myself to it, even at a distance (it being all online and self-published via KDP)

A strange mix of emotions. I think I'm finding it really hard to wrestle with the idea of something so personal being handed over to the world.

The time I spent 'unpublished' was time I could delude myself into believing that I successful as a writer... I mean, I wrote stuff and that's what it means, to be a writer... right?

Well, I'm learning that there is a lot more to it. Chiefly allowing people to read and judge your work. I've got a very fragile ego, it turns out. I don't think the ratings matter to me.

I think it is just the dent to my sense of self. The longer I wasn't being judged, the more I held this stasis of false security in my own ability.

Ridiculous. The best thing for it is to keep getting my work out there. The only way to truly get better is to learn from real people what they like or dislike about my work. If it is constructive, I'll improve. If it is just subjective, I can still try to keep it in mind for the next piece that I write.

Roller-coaster. Crazy. But really important to make a start.

So I've claimed my Goodreads Author Profile and away we go...