Member-only story
My Mother’s Guilt and the Political Divide
My Mom hates my novel. I needed the help of moral psychology to understand why.
In May of 2018, I decided I would finally let go of my fears and finish the novel I had been writing for the past 6 years. I had abandoned the project so many times I had just stopped believing I ever would fulfill that lifelong dream, but this time I was serious about it.
I didn’t just finish that novel. I finished it, and then I wrote two more. Between that moment and February of this year, I wrote three books, one in each language I’m fluent in: Finnish, English, and Spanish. Yes, I’m a big ol’ nerd with no social life.
Immediately after finishing the first round of edits on the books, I did what you’re supposed to do: sent them to my beta readers (i.e., friends and family) to get their opinions. Get another set of eyes to read your work, help you detect what’s good or bad. So, no matter how scary it is sending your babies out into the world, I did it, proud of my accomplishment. What happened then?
Crickets.
It’s not surprising that people have a hard time reading your work, especially longer pieces like novels. You can’t get mad. Best-selling author Steven Pressfield says it best: “Nobody wants to read your Sh*t”. Hell, he feels so strongly about it he even wrote a book on the subject.
