FEAR AND FAILURE

ABOUT FEAR

(Yes, please write down your answers in your notebook!)

1. What fears do you have?

2. How have they held you back from your creative goals?

3. What fears are holding you back now?

We're addressing our own fears because fear usually stops us from being our true selves. And it's our true selves, where we will find our creativity. And by the way, it's okay to have fear. It's normal.

I know you have the creative drive and won't let fear stop you. You have the creative itch. Right? (You wouldn't be taking this class otherwise!) Your inner voice is also the key to your creativity. Oh, and your inner voice is also pretty darn brave.

OVERCOMING FEAR

REAL TALK: FEAR

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT FEAR

COURAGE AND CRITICS

THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

POWER OF WRITING GOALS DOWN

I believe in writing goals down. I just know it works for me. And it works for life goals too. I think when we write our goals down, it becomes more real. We commit to it and believe in it.

Here's an article about the importance of writing your goals down to achieve your dreams.

And it doesn't just work with words; it works with pictures too. See how powerful picture books are?

For me, I knew I wanted to make picture books since Art School. At Art Center, I met a few storytellers that I admired but didn't know if this goal was really attainable for me. At SCBWI, I met Peter Brown and Dan Santat. I heard both of their stories and it inspired me. I saw how hard they worked and how dedicated they were to becoming storytellers.

They made the leap. They went to the same school I did. So I thought if I kept working at it, I too could become a storyteller.

I visualized it so many times. I can't tell you how bad I wanted it. And then in 2012, it happened. You guys know the story! If not, read about my journey on my blog.

Here's the commence speech by Neil Gaimen, titled, "Make Good Art." It's a great speech.

COURAGE EXERCISE:

Write down a statement of who you are. Put this on the first spread of your journal. Imagine it to be your title spread if you were making a picture book.

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Next answer the following:

What do you love doing?

What are the skills you need to improve to make your dreams happen?

Who are some role models you can learn from and model?

Visualize and draw yourself.

OVERCOMING FEAR

(Yes, please write down your answers in your notebook!)

1. Who have been some "people angels" in your life? How have they helped you overcome fear?

2. What motivates you?

3. How can you use fear as a motivator?