Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash

Writer, are you a perfectionist? Are you struggling to get just the right words on the page? Do you feel like your work is garbage?

Then you should really watch the Kiri and Lou episode “Good Advices”.

Kiri and Lou is a stop-motion animated preschool show full of big ideas. It’s about a dinosaur and a mammoth who are very silly and childlike, singing songs and racing through the forest. Today’s blog isn’t about them, though. It’s about their friend Small.

Small is an artist. She’s good at writing songs and painting pictures. She loves being with her friends, but she also needs time away from them, time to make her art. She is timid when her friends ask to see her work, and she often doubts herself.

Does this sound familiar, writer? It does for me. I love being a writer, but I also struggle with it. Being creative isn’t easy. There are times I’m convinced my writing is terrible and I should just stop. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to share my work because I’ve told myself no one will like it. I’m often caught up in my own head, believing the Devil’s lies rather than what God says of me.

Small also experiences these feelings in “Good Advices”. When she is sad, she asks grandmotherly dinosaur Pania for advice (or “advices” as Lou calls it). But Small is the size of an insect, so Pania can’t see or hear her. Pania is a vegetarian and she’s in the middle of lunch. Unfortunately, Small is standing on a crunchy leaf…

Yes, Pania swallows her up, but Small is okay. Pania’s cavernous tummy is full of leafy greens. Small goes exploring and finds something unexpected – her grandparents. They have a happy reunion full of song and dance. Suddenly, someone comes to Small’s rescue (watch the episode to find out who). Grandma and Grandad choose to stay – “We’re very comfortable. Aren’t we, dear?” says Grandad.

They encourage Small to reach out whenever something is bothering her, so she asks for advice. “I dunno what’s wrong with me. I haven’t been feeling myself lately,” she says.

“Are you painting?” asks Grandad.

“No. Well, not for ages,” says Small, shuffling her feet.

Small’s grandparents are surprised. “You have to paint! You’re an artist,” says Grandma.

“No, I’m not! I’m terrible,” Small whimpers.

“Oh, nonsense!” says Grandad.

“You have a great talent,” says Grandma.

“Really? Do you really think so?”

“Yes, of course!” Grandad looks Small in the eye. “Paint. Every day.”

With that, Small is rescued, and Grandma and Grandad wave goodbye.

I cried when I first watched this episode. There are so many things in this scene that resonate with me. I’d argue while it is appropriate for children, this is really an episode for adults, and especially for artists who are struggling with self-confidence.

We never find out why Small is sad, or what provokes her to stop painting. It’s implied she’s been very hard on herself. Why paint if your artwork never comes out the way you want it? Small and I are cut from the same cloth. When I finish reading my work, I frown and ask, “Why did I write that?” I’m a perfectionist. If the words aren’t coming to me, I grow angry. When I hear other people read their work, I start comparing myself and grow jealous. Hearing criticism is difficult for me, too. I question every comment, even the positive ones, and believe I’m a terrible writer.

I’m not terrible. You’re not terrible, either.

When we listen to the Devil’s lies ad nauseum, we want to throw in the towel. But if we listen to what God is really saying to us, we find that our writing isn’t as bad as we thought.

Small needed to stop thinking so hard and hear the truth from her grandparents. They remind her of her worth and her talent. They help her get excited about painting again.

This scene hit home for me as I lost my grandfather in 2020. PawPaw always wanted to support my writing. He was an avid reader, and though we weren’t very close, we were connected through stories. He loved reading mystery novels just as much as he did Calvin and Hobbes. He was excited that I wanted to be a writer, and he would pass along ideas for my stories.

PawPaw died during the height of Covid, so I didn’t get to visit him before he passed. In a weird way, this episode gave me closure. It reminded me that PawPaw supported my writing and still does. He’s cheering me on from Heaven as part of the great cloud of witnesses. Small and her grandparents were a wonderful example of why writers need support.

Writer, find the person who will be your cheerleader. Maybe it’s your best friend, your mom, your sister, a grandparent. This person loves you and loves your work. They want to encourage you, and they are helpful and honest about your writing. This person believes in you and wants you to succeed.

What if you don’t have a friend or family member like that? Then find a writer friend. Join a critique group or chat with other writers at a conference. Find someone whose work you enjoy and see if they enjoy your writing, too. Lean on this person for support in your writing career. They will help you get out of the mental ditch you’ve dug.

There’s one more person you should turn to when you’re convinced your work isn’t good enough: God. Pray before you write. Ask Him to let His words shine through you. When I give my stories over to God, I find the words come easier to me. Sure, writing is still a struggle, but I know He will provide the right idea at the right moment. Most importantly, praying over my writing reminds me of my worth in Him. I am not defined by the words I write, but by what He says of me.

My favorite line in this episode is from Small’s Grandad: “Paint. Every day.” I’d like to give that a writery twist: Write. Every day.

Write when you feel sad or mad or happy. Write when you’re at your worst and when you’re at your best. It could be for an hour, it could be thirty minutes. It could be a paragraph, a scene, a chapter. It doesn’t have to be good. It doesn’t even have to be great. You just need to get words on paper, consistently. Slowly but surely, God will stir your heart and remind you He gave you this gift for a reason.

Now that you have this good advice(s)…go write.