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Y'know that voice in your heard? The one that tells you things like "You're not ready" or "This is too hard" or "Why bother you're not really a writer!" 

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Yeah. That voice!

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For years my voice has been a woman named Gladys. She's just awful. I have tried to figure out where she comes from,  why she's there, what she wants, expects... I thought naming her would give me power over her, but somehow that made it worse. She has a name, a personality, a point of view, and she has a lot to say. And none of it is good. 

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Arguing with her, ignoring her, attempting to convince her she's wrong does not work. Giving her something else to do does not work. 

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But what if I don't have to even engage with Gladys? What if I fire Gladys? I mean, if my inner voice needs a personality I'm going to give it one that I can dismiss. 

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Please meet KEVIN. Kevin is a San Francisco finance bro from the 90s. He parties at the Marina, he's in a lot of debt, he wears his sunglasses on the back of his neck, he tells people he hangs out with Gavin Newsom because he went to Plumpjack once. You know Kevin. We all know Kevin. 

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Kevin is full of shit. He doesn't know anything about being a writer, a mom, someone who takes herself seriously and has a sense of humor about it all. He doesn't know anything about me, has nothing valuable to offer, and mostly just takes up space where he isn't wanted or needed. 

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When Kevin pipes up to tell me something I say "SHUT UP, KEVIN!"  Bye-bye Kevin. Bye-bye voice trying to do whatever it is those voices are trying to do. 

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Yo are all welcome to Kevin. If Kevin doesn't work for you, find your own version.  Someone you can easily dismiss, who doesn't know your life. Why would you listen to someone who doesn't know you or your life?  Whether its Kevin or someone else I know they are full of shit. 

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Tell them to shut up and move on. You can deal with the other stuff in therapy. And if you're name is Kevin, well, when we make TSL shirts that say  "Shut Up, Kevin" you can get one that says "I'm Kevin." Embrace it. You're helping writers everywhere! 

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Kthanksbye and ciao. 

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