Summary

John C. Davis expresses gratitude to fellow writers for their inspiration and support, acknowledging his growth as a writer through their collective wisdom and bravery.

Abstract

In a heartfelt essay, John C. Davis thanks the community of writers on Medium for their encouragement and camaraderie. He admits to initially struggling with self-doubt and the desire for validation through claps and comments. However, with the guidance of his writing coach, he has come to understand the importance of genuine connection and self-expression over external approval. Davis considers himself a beginner in the writing world, despite having published two books, and is committed to improving his craft through critique groups and daily writing practice. He finds solace and strength in the shared experiences of his peers, who teach him that making mistakes is part of the learning process and that authenticity in storytelling is paramount. The fear of judgment is diminishing as he embraces vulnerability and the pursuit of self-discovery through writing. Davis aspires to one day inspire other writers as he has been inspired, recognizing that writing is fundamentally about building relationships and connecting with others.

Opinions

Davis values the connection with other writers and the role it plays in his personal and professional growth.
He believes that writing is not just about the end product but also about the process of self-expression and personal discovery.
Davis has learned to see the lack of immediate response to his work as a marketing challenge rather than a reflection of the work's value.
He acknowledges the importance of a writing coach in refocusing on core values and the essence of writing.
Despite his achievements, Davis identifies as a beginner, emphasizing the continuous journey of learning in the writing profession.
He appreciates the courage and kindness of fellow writers, which motivates him to overcome his fears and continue writing.
Davis is actively seeking feedback and engaging with a critique group to enhance his writing skills.
He is inspired by the collective bravery of writers who share their truths without fear of judgment.
Davis's ultimate goal is to foster meaningful relationships through his writing, aspiring to inspire others just as they have inspired him.

Thank You to the Inspiring Writers in My Life

You are my heroes

I read many beautiful stories on Medium. I read stories of the day-to-day struggles with faith, relationship issues, and how miraculous life is.

I want you, the inspiring writers, to know that I appreciate you.

Over my very short time as a writer, I have discovered that I am happier when I am in communication with other writers. This is not easy for me. I tend to be a loner, ego-centric, and concerned with how others see me.

I often judge my work as sub-par because I don’t get as many claps or comments as other writers who I see getting thousands of claps and dozens of comments.

Today, I’m grateful to say that I see the response issue as more of a marketing issue rather than a lack of interest issue. And believe me, it’s taken me a while to get there.

Thankfully, my writing coach reminded me recently that I need to focus again on connection with others and expressing what is important to me rather than how others are responding.

My coach helped me to remember the reason I started writing in the first place is that I need to express and connect.

When I read your stories and heartfelt feelings here, I am connected. I am moved to look inside of me to discover who I am. I become curious to learn what makes me tick. I also learn the mechanics of becoming better at the craft of writing, so that I can connect with you.

I am a beginner in the writing world.

Yes, I am a beginner. I have written and published two books, but I have barely scratched the surface of learning how to survive and make money in this business. I make tons of mistakes and get frustrated and tired.

You are teaching me that making mistakes is part of the process and that every beginning writer makes them. You are teaching me to speak my truth, to tell my story, to not be afraid of what other people think.

You are also reminding me that I am very much like you. I am courageous, caring, kind, and approachable.

Regarding the mechanics of writing, and just getting better at the craft I am in the process of joining a critique group to get feedback on my work. I’m spending more time everyday writing. Go figure! To call me a writer I need to write. A lot.

The fear is lessening.

The sense of fear of what others will see in me is lessening as I continue to express myself.

This is probably why I am most grateful to you. It is that you remind me that I am OK just the way I am. Your collective and individual bravery help me to keep writing.

It seems that my goal now as I write is to find out who I am, and then figure out the best and most loving way to express that.

You are inspiring me to reach this goal. In this quest to express I pray that I can learn to care about you in the beautiful way that you are caring about me.

Ultimately, writing is about relationships.

I want to thank you again for being a light to guide me. I pray that someday I will become vulnerable enough to remind a writer somewhere that they too can express who they are. If I learn how to inspire, then I have indeed learned from you.

Thank you again to all of you amazing writers. You are my heroes.

I am tagging some of my favorite writers here on Medium. Please be sure to check out these amazing and inspiring human beings:

Amy Marley, Carolyn Riker, Neha Sandhir, Trista Signe Ainsworth, Simran Kankas, Charlotte Zobeir Ali, Rochelle Silva, Martine Weber, Dipti Pande, Hollie Petit, Ph.D., Bob Jasper, Bruce Noll, Wendy Unger Schapira, Ramandeep Singh, Suzanne V. Tanner, Selma, Lanu Pitan, Ivette Cruz, Tom Byers, Bingz Huang, PunitaWrites, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Charlene Fate, Bridget Webber, Agnes Louis