I once read or heard somewhere the expression, “Don’t write with a ghost over your shoulder.”
I love to write and writing comes very easily to me. I write whatever is in my heart at the time and that seems to be working just fine.
Yet sometimes, I pause and hold certain things back.
This I’ve learned, is called writing with a ghost over your shoulder.
Maybe that ghost is the fear of negative opinions or judgments. It could be not wanting to disclose something that might offend, upset or make others feel uncomfortable.
It may be something from your past or present that you are hesitant to reveal.
Your fingers glide across the keyboard, then you glance over your shoulder at that ghost and say to yourself, I can’t write that…
Backspace, backspace, backspace.
Authentic writing is writing with the freedom and courage to honestly express what you want to express, without self-editing.
It should be every writers goal to exercise their own voice and write honestly from the authentic experiences that surround them.
It has certainly become my goal.
I struggle to rid myself of the ghost over my shoulder…Yet, I know that each time I push through my fear, ignore the ghost and post my writing anyway, the ghost loses his power.
The other day, Katherine from Mind Movies texted me and said, “I love your blog! You’re so honest and authentic, that’s why it’s so enjoyable to read!”
Take that, ghost over my shoulder!
Maybe it’s time for you to go find some other writer to haunt!
mylifeiswear.com 
interesting piece but dont send the ghost here
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Lol! Sounds like you have your ghost in check or you don’t have one at all. I’m still busy ghost busting!
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Get writers block and I am car full what I write Stephen King says when you struggle to write write anyway and when you read it you will be surprised how good it is he wrote all through his drug and alcohol addiction
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Hemingway said, “Write drunk, edit sober.”
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Wise man
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Lol!
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Nicely put. I have heard this phrased as: “Don’t let your editing hand overpower your writing hand.” And sometimes it’s really really hard.
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I hadn’t heard that one before but I like it! I think that I’m slowly winning the battle.
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I think of the ghost as a filter. The older I get, the bigger the size of my filter holes. Pretty soon I won’t have any at all. Get rid of your filter, hon. Let the words flow……
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No filters…that’s my goal!
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No ghosts allowed in your writing because it’s too fun…. I’d even bring the ghost busters out!!! You’re too good a writer to worry over any negativity as those people would just be idiots not to love your stories!!!
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First time ever hearing this. Boy my ghost has been working overtime these past few days. I’ve written three posts and deleted them immediately after finished writing.
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Don’t let that ghost edit you! Ghost busters!
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Will do! Theme song definitely playing in the background haha.
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You do know that the latest Ghost Busters movie had an all female cast?
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Yes! Haven’t seen it but want to. Melissa McCarthy can be hilarious!
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