Daily Post / Haiku : Tentative

write out a new dream
look! I have a follower
tentative hope dawns

haiku by M. Nakazato LaFreniere

When you first start something that’s different from your family or friend’s lifepaths, it’s hard.  Unintentionally, they discourage you by either treating it as unimportant, ignoring it or encouraging you to quit and do something more familiar, more practical.

That first follower and like is special even when you don’t know who it is. They are saying through action, “hey, this is cool”.  Often it is the first validation that your work is welcomed out in the wide world.

I get the whole philosophy, “write for yourself, damn the rest!”  But I am no Emily Dickinson writing 1800 poems unread.  I think if she had lived in our times, she would have blogged her poems safe in the anonymity of her family home. In a blog, you can share, find your audience as you find your own voice.

Eventually family and friends often come to accept and even encourage your path as you collect an audience, it seems to reassure them. The rubber stamp of others’ approval sways them.

If you are lucky enough to have that one, two, or few friends and family who encourage you unconditionally from the beginning, count your blessings. Treat them as the treasure they are because there are not many of them. Most have to be won over and when your own confidence and voice is building, your energy should be in writing, not wasted trying to make people believe in the validity of your work. Having to defend yourself saps the energy needed for writing.

It’s better to reach out, go to meetups of other writers.  Find the people who understand instinctively what you are doing and who also you can encourage.  It’s important to keep things balanced.  If you are a helper-type person (and I am), don’t let yourself get lost in helping other people find their voice. Keep writing.

I find I am like Pavlov’s dog, happy with each like and follower.  I am enjoying reading other people’s blogs for the first time. My sister and her children recently has just started reading my blog and like it.  My brother is still ignoring it.  My friends mostly think I ought to get the practical things done first.  I put the writing first now; it’s the first thing I do when I wake up (umm, after I water the plants–it’s too hot not to). They don’t understand the haiku.  Honestly, I don’t either.  It just happened. But it’s a path I have to follow now, wherever it may lead.

Who knew I love writing haiku?  I guess you did because you’re following me.  Thank you!

Reference:

Tentative
Daily Prompts
The Daily Post

Photography by M. Nakazato LaFreniere, 2017

A quick selection from Amazon, random things I mentioned today:


The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

Starting a Successful Blog when you have NO CLUE! – 7 Steps to WordPress Bliss

Psych Experiments: From Pavlov’s dogs to Rorschach’s inkblots, put psychology’s most fascinating studies to the test

Haiku: Japanese Art and Poetry

I’ve been accepted as an Amazon affiliate. Last month I got my first “buy”. Haven’t gotten a second one yet. Still I’m happy. The first buy means they’ll review your site and officially accept you and I got accepted! Now, I’ll usually get a percentage if someone buys something by clicking a link — for books it’s 4.5%. Amazon disclosure: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”