Proud Mum Alert!

My teenage daughter has won a local talent contest with her singing, this weekend. Of course, I always knew she is brilliant but it’s nice to know it’s not just me being an ‘X-Factor’ Mother and deluding myself about my princess. I kind of knew that, too, as she has Distinctions and Merits in formal music examinations, to her name.

This is not (merely) idle boasting, but actually relates to my writing. Bear with me.

I was thinking about a writer’s need for external validation (E.V.). Okay, my need for E.V.

I have been prone to shore up my wobbly writerly  (sorry Spellcheck, but I do love that non-word) confidence with evidence of E.V. such as print-outs of my marks on my M.A. course. These have been double-marked and double-checked before being awarded, so they may be a reasonably reliable indicator of my possessing some ability  in creative writing.

I also like to enter competitions which (a) don’t cost anything/much and (b) seem friendly and not too intimidating. Writing competitions. Not singing- all the bribery in the world would not persuade any judges to validate my vocals, externally or otherwise.

The problem arises when your course finishes, and you go through a bit of a comp drought, and you really should be disciplining yourself to finish your novel anyway. Yes, self-discipline i.e. without deadlines and hopes of shiny prizes and people patting you on the back and reassuring you that you are not a complete nitwit, every two seconds.

I need to hone my I.V. (you can work it out!) skills and find a level of confidence which is motivating but not wildly disproportionate, like the faith of some of those besotted, tone-deaf mums.

Although…. I am looking forward to a fortifying shot of E.V. in a fortnight’s time, when I receive my spanking new degree certificate and get to wear my high visibility ceremonial red gown, in front of the applauding, adoring masses.

I hope the mortar board I’ve ordered is big enough.