Ditch the Anti-Editor

Is this construction marker that matches my shoes and trousers telling me to choose the better editor?

I was at a swanky book launch last week (a definite contrast to my sweaty weekend of packing and moving boxes), and the author started talking about her ideal reader. Not just any reader, mind you, but THE reader. The one she had in mind while pouring her heart onto the pages.

It got me thinking: We're all authors, aren't we? Maybe not of bestselling novels (yet!), but of our own life stories. And just like that author, we've got an audience in mind as we're writing our chapters.

But here's the million-dollar question: Are we writing for the right audience?

Enter the Anti-Audience, or is it the Anti-Editor? You know who I'm talking about:

- That boss who never quite got your vision

- Those siblings who grew in wildly different directions from you

- That kid in 3rd grade who made fun of your hair (I bet you looked adorable!)

If you're letting their imagined responses influence your decisions about your work and life, I hate to break it to you, but they're never going to let you become who you want to be. They're the Anti-Editors, and they're holding the red pen of regret over your life story.

So, what's the alternative? Glad you asked!

Instead of writing your magnum opus for these naysayers, try asking yourself: What do I want to be known for?

- Bravery?

- Boldness?

- Generosity?

- The ability to turn your passion for sustainable living into a thriving community garden? (Now that's some green-thumb goals!)

Now, imagine if your audience was people who embodied those qualities. What would shift in your story?

Better yet, what if those were the people you were actually showing your work to? Or – ooooooh – what if they were the people you were spending your time with?

I know, I know. We all want validation. It's as human as accidentally using the wrong emoji and sending your boss a peach instead of a smiley face. (Awkward!) But what if, just for this week, we played around with seeking that validation from people whose opinions truly matter to us?

This Week's Experiment: Rewrite Your Audience

1. Make a list of 3-5 qualities you admire or want to be known for.

2. For each quality, think of someone you know (or know of) who embodies it. This is your new "ideal reader" panel.

3. Throughout the week, before making a decision or sharing your work, ask yourself: "What would my ideal readers think/advise?"

4. Bonus challenge: Reach out to one person who embodies a quality you admire. Share something you're working on or a decision you're facing. (Pro tip: Start the conversation with "I really admire your [quality], and I'd love your perspective on something...")

5. At the end of the week, reflect: How did this shift your actions or feelings about your choices?

This isn't about ignoring all criticism or living in an echo chamber. It's about choosing influences that align with your values and aspirations. It's about writing your story for the readers who get you, not the ones who want to red-pen your dreams into oblivion.

So, let's flip the script on those Anti-Editors. Let's write our lives bold and brave, with the kind of flair that would make our ideal audience stand up and cheer.

Who knows? You might just find that in curating your audience, you're actually curating a pretty amazing life. Maybe you'll even inspire others to turn their balconies into mini urban farms or start a neighborhood book club that discusses eco-fiction.

Until next week, my fearless fellow authors. May your pens be mighty, your Anti-Editors be silenced, and your dreams be as ambitious as planting a forest... one community garden at a time.

P.S. I want to hear about your Anti-Editor exorcisms! Hit reply and tell me: Who's in your new "ideal reader" panel? Bonus points if they've inspired you to start a cool project!

With love, admiration, and only a dash of rebellious spirit, let’s keep rising higher together ✨,

Aransas

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Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday, featuring Kerry Brodie, the founder and executive director of Emma's Torch. Emma’s Torch is a non-profit social enterprise based in New York City and Washington D.C. Their mission is to train refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking in the culinary arts and to empower them to build meaningful careers. Their students participate in a full-time, paid culinary training program in addition to training at the Emma's Torch restaurant, cafe, and catering social enterprises.

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