Tyler, who has lived in Baltimore since 1967, has set almost all of her 19 novels in Charm City. Yet, she says, “when I answer questions about Baltimore, I feel like an impostor.” Somewhere, she suspects, “the grandmothers are whispering, ‘She doesn’t know a thing about Baltimore!’”
After living in Baltimore for much of her life, writing 19 novels, and receiving the Pulitzer Prize (among other awards), Anne Tyler still feels like an impostor. She still wonders if someone might point out all she doesn’t know about the city she’s lived in and written about for 45 years.
I’ve not read her books, but I’m so glad her fear of someone pointing and laughing and telling her she’s wrong hasn’t kept her from writing anyway. Because watching and reading about the world’s Anne Tylers gives me courage, reminds me that even though it sometimes seems as though I’m standing in a circle of straight up fear, I do not stand there alone. That maybe that circle is for the brave ones, a prerequisite to beauty and influence.
We can let fear shut us up, or we can roll it up like a newspaper and shout life through the center like a megaphone. And even if someone’s already said it, or someone else could say it better, or if comes out all messy and wrong, we will still be breathing. The clock will still tick by another minute. The sun will still come up in the morning. Because the world spinning ’round does not actually depend upon my being right. Shocking, I know.
Would we always hide from wrong? Because maybe wrong carries a gift in his hands, reminding us of our smallness. Our need. Our humanity.
Pick up the pen, the needle, the dish, the fabric, the gardening shovel. Move to the rhythm of that thing that makes your heart come alive. And as the questions and taunting and mocking begin, as the voices say you don’t know a thing about Baltimore, smile. Agree. Be willing to learn. Open your eyes. And tell us what you know.
this makes me want to find time to write today. thank you.
shelley.´s last [type] ..The Book Diaries
lovely, and thank you!
Stacey´s last [type] ..Warming up…
Once again you have spoken straight to my heart. You have no idea how badly I needed to hear those words. Thank you!
I always feel like I can look life right in the eye and smile after I have been by here.
Just knowing I am not alone in standing in that circle of straight up fear (love how you put things!) makes me breathe a little easier, smile a little faster, and move forward knowing I really am going to be okay.
God uses you, Emily.
He truly does.
Choosing one day at a time to be brave,
K
Amen!
This was the nudge the “good girl” designer in me needed this morning! Thankful for you!
mmmmhmmmm.
Kit´s last [type] ..Waiting for Sunday
I don’t know what to say except someone knew that I needed to read this.
I have been WORRIED { almost to the sick point } about teaching High School Sunday School since youth pastor offered my the opportunity over a month ago. Who wants to teach HS about Romans 8?! yikes! Predestination, anyone? On Sunday, I wAs OVERprepared. And right up until the class and at points throughout it, I said “NEVER, will I do this again”…but afterward, I thought: “That was fun, I wanna try again”…glad fear didn’t stop me…although next time, I’ll have to take some action for not letting it get the most {not better} of me like it did this time…
Jasper @ crunchylittlebites´s last [type] ..I have a new pet
kendal´s last [type] ..the third cup
Sometimes I feel this way writing about Jesus, or the Kingdom. “Psssh. She doesn’t know anything about it. She’s such an impostor.”
I have been a Jesus girl for 18 years, but I know there is still much I don’t know and don’t understand. Still, I write what’s on my heart and believe, somehow, He has put the words there. We are all impostors, saved by grace, after all. <3
Cara @ WhimsySmitten´s last [type] ..Overcoming the World
So true, Cara!!
I’m wrestling with fear everyday, most days walking away with a bleeding nose at best, but I will NEVER give up. And yes, being humble before your Creator is more powerful than we sometimes think….
I bet we’ve all got a little bit of fear to overcome. Thanks for this great post!
Lisa´s last [type] ..My Epitaph
Anne is me. Fear of being wrong or an amateur or an imposter just sucks the life out of me and out of my burgeoning art. And yet this is where I live way too many days. Thank you for writing this. The timing is perfect. I’ve been thinking about it so very much these last couple of days, afraid my ideas and dreams are too silly, already done, or just too…dreamy. Time to “roll up the newspaper” and have a good shout. : )
Scooper´s last [type] ..Everyday Grace: Messy Anger
Thank you for this amazing and well-timed encouragement! I know what I need to do – - it’s just taking that first step. I’m always afraid of disappointing others, but I should only be fearful of disappointing God. And I can only do that if I don’t do what I know I need to! OK…think I’ve got it now:)
Brooke´s last [type] ..Weekly Photo Challenge: Journey
Thank you.
by the grace of God alone, i choose to “shout life through the center”!!! love His words pouring through you.
adornedlife´s last [type] ..the Body
I have started reading Grace For the Good Girl over the past week, and your words have spoken directly to my soul. Thank-you for being an example of vulnerability, for telling your story, and for allowing the Lord to touch my heart through the truth you share. It truly was all for such a time as this. May peace rest lightly within you and your home this Easter Monday.
ACK! Sometimes you just hit me right between the eyes!!
JoAnn´s last [type] .."MOM! WHY ARE YOU BWOWING YOUR NOSE?!?!"*
Love!
Christy´s last [type] ..Conference Weekend
Ah, Emily. You, once again, have given my soul a place to breathe, the space to face my fears and move forward. Beyond thank you!
Maureen´s last [type] ..Life Out of Death
“We can let fear shut us up, or we can roll it up like a newspaper and shout life through the center like a megaphone. ” SLAIN.
I think you might already know of my mortal fear of being wrong. It’s dissipating in my Golden Years and I find that I like life better with that fear fading at its center.
Flower Patch Farmgirl´s last [type] ..Deep Fried
Love this line.
Erika´s last [type] ..Around the Mill – April 2012
Thank you Emily. I get to do something this week that both excites me and terrifies me, and your words today are just the encouragement I need.
brenda´s last [type] ..My Life is an Open Book
I love the imagery of the newspaper megaphone. Great encouragement – thank you.
Becky K´s last [type] ..God Doesn’t Ration Candy Bars
Absolutely, positively what I needed to hear today. Thank you for yelling it my way through your newspaper megaphone. I hear you. I am so glad I got to hear you. Hugs across all the state lines to you.
LolaGirl´s last [type] ..Nearly Missed Monday
Dang. This is some really good stuff. This might be my favorite thing that I’ve ever read here on this blog. I need this so much. And it goes so well with what I was experiencing yesterday during Easter. Good Stuff.
Meg´s last [type] ..On Having A Daughter
The world spinning ’round does not actually depend upon my being right
I wish I would have gotten this when I was 6.
Ah, now this makes me think. I’ve been kicking around a very tricky idea for a post and was feeling completely scared to go “there.” Sort of semi-went-there in a facebook update earlier and one person unfollowed me right away. Who knows if it was because of that (but my fear wants to freak out about it!) I think I need a little time with Jesus to find out, for sure, if He wants me to jump in that circle of straight up fear….. hmmm.
Laurie Wallin´s last [type] ..Parenting Changes Us. Let’s Change it Back! {GIVEAWAY}
Someday, I’m a-gonna tell you how much this one meant to me.
Jennifer@GDWJ´s last [type] ..Every Morning Is Easter Morning From Now On
Thank you for this post! I always get nervous right before I hit the publish button. This reminds me to keep putting it out there and move forward.
Thank you for serving up copious amounts of bold.
Encouragement came to me in the form of your post this day, and I am grateful.
The passion I feel for writing has been infused with a newness because you chose to write this for me, smiling here.
elizabeth´s last [type] ..Sweet Forgiveness
I’m glad God laid this message on your heart today to share with us. Really encouraged by everything you said, Thank you so much!
You have articulated this beautifully, and I absolutely agree. Thank you for the encouragement, it warms the soul
Melissa Sharman´s last [type] ..On Courage, and Naming Your Fear
You’re speaking my language!! “When will they figure out I’m not really a writer?” Even after 4-plus years of weekly columns? They’ll see right through it someday…
Thank you, friend, for being honest with us and giving shape to our feelings.
Well said. I love your last paragraph. I plan to read your post at my Women’s ministry meeting today.
Standing in that circle with you, Emily. Thank you! I look forward to meeting you at the She Speaks Conference.
Dolly´s last [type] ..Saying Good-Bye to say Hello
Great post. I wanted to chime in and say that Anne Tyler’s books are excellent. She may not be my favorite author, but I’ve check out numerous one from the library and enjoyed them all. The characters seem so real. The ones I remember best are: Breathing Lessons, The Accidental Tourist, Digging to America, the Tin Can tree.
If you needed another reading suggestion….
Most of us learn best by doing. We will never know everything there is to know, but the more we do, the closer we get. What is better, to know a little about a lot or a lot about a little? In my husband’s squadron, they use the phrase “Penguins on the iceberg” to describe the amount of information they can hold in their brains. They choose to forget the little, less important things and just reference them later than to store them and risk forgetting a vital piece of information…or letting a penguin fall off the iceberg. If we try to know everything, chances are something else we know will fall out of our head and we will no longer remember it. Our brains are capable of holding a lot of information, but it is difficult to train it to hold all of it. Never, ever stop trying to learn, but also never, ever be ashamed for not knowing it all.
Lisa White´s last [type] ..A Case of Identity Crisis