Most people think that with the Inner Hero book, I no longer have an Inner Critic. [Snort] HAHAHAHA! Or course I do, and he’s not going to go away. That’s the whole purpose of the inner hero idea–to create an alter ego that has your permission to kick the inner critic’s butt.
One of the big steps in dealing with an inner critic is knowing when something makes you happy and reveling in it. Dogs do this naturally–they roll in revolting things because it makes them happy. Cats chase after red-light dots with crazy abandon. But people don’t express happy very well. We create an excuse like drinking to say “I got carried away.” We should all get carried away more often.
I’m just back from the CHA convention (Craft and Hobby Association) in Anaheim, California, and I had two enormously wonderful things happen.
1. North Light (my publisher) had me do a book signing. I asked Seth Apter and Rosaland Hannibal, book contributors, to sign the books with me. (Seth is not in this photo, that’s Rosaland on the right). After all, three signatures is better than one. And I’ve never seen that happen, so I thought it would be fun. And it was. Pure fun. My editor, Tonia Jenny, was there for moral support and took the photos. How nice was that? Tommy Semosh (also from North Light) made books, chairs and pens appear. And we signed books and talked and laughed. Pure joy and excitement.
2. I was talking to someone at the CHA booth when a woman came up and recognized me from my column in Somerset Studio magazine. “Are you the Quinn McDonald?” I was sure she was thinking of someone else. “Probably not,” I said, and then she asked if I did the column. She said nice things. I did not tell her I was a worthless human or a talentless troll. I said, “Thank you,” and meant it. I allowed myself to feel good. I allowed my ego to inflate. Carefully, and not too much. Because sometimes it just feels good to be recognized and praised.
I did not “jinx” anything by feeling good about myself. The world did not come to an end. Nothing bad happened to “counterbalance” the good. Happy is a wonderful feeling. But you have to allow it to happen.
—Quinn’s Inner Hero book is launched. There will be a Phoenix-launch at Changing Hands bookstore on Februray 20. Save the date, she wants to see you all there.
QuinnCreative 
Congratulations Quinn. You deserve every bit of praise you receive from those of us to whom you appear super-human. Try to remember, even when you deflect the praise and adoration with self-deprecation or inner-critic fed dialogue, some of the praise sticks to your soul like sparkly burdocks of love.
I was part of a multi-author book signing this fall and I kept thinking, “Someone is going to figure out I’m a fraud and make me leave.” But they never caught on, and I had a lovely time in spite of myself.
I think every creative person goes through that feeling of “I’m such a fraud.” It’s a shame. I do think I’ll walk through the neighborhood, proudly showing off my sparkly burdocks of love. What a great image, Ray! I love it!
What are burdocks please?
Burdocks are plants with pink or purple dry flowers that develop seed pods with re-barbs–curved hooks. We used to call them tag-alongs because they stick to anything. Like the Sonoran Desert Cholla cactus, they are opportunistic. There are also some health benefits associated with them. Here’s an article with a photo: http://www.northcountryfood.coop/burdock.html
Ah, thank you. The image of sparkly burdocks of love now makes perfect sense! It’s a bit like the bidibid we have here although not at Otaki Beach! I remember having to pick the barbed seeds of my clothes and out of the dog’s fur . . . they’s slightly smaller than my little finger nail. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/new-plant-page/bidibid-2.html
Yes, if you have dogs, you do a lot of burdock picking, and I know the bidibidi, too, which we had when I was growing up and rode our bikes all over the place. The little round burrs were always in our bike tires and socks. Isn’t sprakly burdocks a great image? Love it!
I was at an Artists Play Day and was showing the group the prototype for a book I was working on, and Kaitlin said “Sue is always so creative with the book structures she finds to use” and I hesitated, speechless, marshalling self-deprecating words, when Theresa (whom I’d just met) said “say ‘thank you’.” Such a good lesson … wish I remembered it all the time!
That’s SO true! It’s important to encourage people to be nice. And when we are overly self-deprecating, we train people to stop praising and start picking.
Thanks so much Quinn for inviting me to be a part of the book and of the signing. I am so happy for you on your well deserved success!
My inner critic tells me that I need just one-tenth of your marketing genius, Seth! And thanks for signing the books with Rosaland and me–I know the people really appreciated seeing you twice in a day!
Happy for you! The event looks like fun.
This year I found an appointment diary that says “Live what you love”. I bought it on the spot to use as a journal. To complete the set I used letter stickers to write the same on my actual appt diary. Let´s see how that goes to find and live what makes me happy.
Btw, I missread “You deserve every smidge of accolade” by Beth P as “You deserve every smidge of chocolate”.
Oh, I’ll take the chocolate! Yes!
Huge Congratulations oh talented one! 😀 You deserve every smidge of accolade too!!! Imagine nothing exploding or breaking when you allowed yourself to feel good about compliments! Who knew?! 😀
Hugs my new friend
That is So right–nothing exploded or went bad and I felt good for a few minutes. Wow!
To “the” Quinn McDonald, writer of Somerset Studio magazine, creator of QuinnCreative blog, reformer of her life, attainer of dreams and maker of fine art, respected and loved: CONGRATULATIONS!
(okay, now is the time to bow)
:chuckles:
Really, a great accomplishment! Good wishes to you.
[Takes a deep bow, overbalances, lands on her tush. Laughs her head off]. Some things work better than others.
Bravo and Congratulations on a job well done!!!!!!
Thanks JeanCherie!
Quinn, you deserve every bit of praise and thanks! So glad you had fun at CHA, I was living vicariously through your photos.
I have a lot to share with you, Traci.
Ah Quinn. As usual, you’ve gone and made me smile. Talentless troll [snort, wheeze]. I have been enjoying your art journey, tips and humor for a while now ( I’m thinking it’s about two years or more–is that possible?) Keep knocking down that inner critic and inviting us along on the journey. Looking forward to getting my ink stained hands on your latest book.
It’s so important for people to know that knocking down the inner critic is a life-long task, and you keep having to invent new ways to do it. People who think I have conquered mine are in for a BIG surprise. I’ve been blogging for seven years, mostly on creativity. I’m so glad you’ve been here a while, Lynette. It keeps me from thinking I’m typing in the dark.
I am enjoying your book a lot, and have barely started it. I do wish that the print for the main body of text was a little darker. The print under the pictures is quite a bit easier to read, for me. Abraham Lincoln said, “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.” Lotta truth in that. I’m glad you had such a great time at the book signing. It would have been total excitement for me.
I so agree. I wish the type were bigger, plain and simple. I asked my editor if the reason were that I was too yakky–too many words for a book that has a set number of pages. She said no, that book designers favor small type. Alas, even with new lenses in my eyes, I want bigger type. I sympathize.
Congratulations! When you meet Oprah — and I bet you will — tell her hi for us!
I will never, ever meet Oprah, and it’s not on my list. Although I respect her as an incredibly smart marketer and empire-builder, my goals are to meet Brene Brown and Martha Beck.
Congratulations Quinn, well done!!
It’s an uphill climb to joy!
Why? Why uphill? Why can’t we simply slide into a lovely pool of delight? Why not just open our eyes, change our perspective and smile at the sheer beauty of the sky? There’s a full moon tonight (maybe tomorrow night for you USA folk) . . . look up and enjoy!
Because we enjoy things more when we work for them.
Absolutely, that deep satisfaction that made sticking your neck out, attempting the new, persevering . . . yes, there’s always and uphill climb to that kind of joy. I guess I’m talking about slidding into the simple pleasures, the ones we can find every day, if we’re open to them. A small bird catching insects in flight or a smile in a stranger’s eyes . . . I like smiling at strangers, not a full on grin you understand. That would be creepy!
Ahhh, yes, I look for those rich and small pleasures. Most of them are missed, but they are delicious!