“You’ve been waiting for someone to give you permission to be creative. Here it is, in writing, from an international bestselling author: YOU ARE ALLOWED. Now go make something.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
Somewhere along the way, someone taught you that creativity needs permission. Maybe it was a teacher who told you to ‘be realistic.’ Maybe it was a parent who said art isn’t a ‘real career.’ Maybe it was a culture that values productivity over passion and spreadsheets over sonnets.
Whatever the source, you internalized a lie: that you need someone else’s approval before you’re allowed to create. That you need a degree, a publishing deal, a certain number of followers, or a formal invitation from the Creative Committee before your ideas count.
Permissions You’ve Been Waiting For
| The Permission | Consider It Granted |
| Permission to call yourself a writer. | If you write, you’re a writer. End of discussion. |
| Permission to write something that might fail. | Failure is part of the process. It’s not a character flaw. |
| Permission to change genres or mediums. | You’re a creative, not a one-trick pony. |
| Permission to create just for yourself. | Not everything needs an audience. Some art is medicine. |
| Permission to take up space. | Your voice matters. Your stories matter. YOU matter. |
| Permission to be bad at it first. | Every expert was once a beginner. Every. Single. One. |
Why External Validation Is a Trap
- It puts your creative life in someone else’s hands. If they approve, you create. If they don’t, you stall.
- It’s never enough. One person’s approval leads to needing another’s, then another’s. It’s an endless chase.
- It trains you to create for applause instead of truth. The best art comes from authenticity, not approval.
- The people you’re waiting for permission from probably aren’t even thinking about you. They’re too busy with their own lives.
How to Self-Authorize
- Write your own permission slip. Literally. On paper. ‘I, [Your Name], give myself permission to create without apology.’ Sign it. Date it. Keep it.
- Start before you feel ready. Readiness is a myth sold by procrastination. Start now. Figure it out as you go.
- Celebrate your own work. Don’t wait for someone else to notice. Be your own first fan.
- Surround yourself with people who say YES. Find the cheerleaders, the encouragers, the people who believe in you even when you don’t.
Your Move, Creative
This is your official Book Maven Permission Slip: You are allowed to create. You are allowed to fail. You are allowed to try something new, change your mind, start over, and make something beautiful and imperfect. No more waiting. The world is ready for you.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
