Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Exposure has a broad range of applications. I’m thinking in terms of public attention and risk as an intentional act to validate and to learn, while potentially sharing for others to benefit.

I helped launch a community arts center and both envied and admired those who were willing to put themselves out there. Especially those learning to play an instrument or sing and going to their first open mic. 

It was the intentional moment when they publicly exposed themself to scrutiny. 

When I present at conferences I expose myself. It forces me to consider not only the content, but my presentation of the content specific to the audience. I anticipate questions. It becomes a learning experience for me and validates my self confidence in the subject area.

Like most things there are more opinions than absolute truths. You have to learn how to learn from the experience.

This year I decided to take my writing more seriously. I always enjoyed it. I take great pleasure in what I call scholarship, which to me is reading, writing, researching, and thinking creatively. I try to do it every day.

I joined the Greater Lehigh Valley Writer’s Guild and began participating in their Writer’s Cafe in order to expose myself.

I listened the first two times before taking the big step and reading my fiction. I got feedback and am trying to read and give feedback  each week.

When you put effort in, even when you say, “it is a little something,” you invested in it. It is meaningful.

Negative criticism can be hard and positive criticism can feel good. Both are learning opportunities. 

Until you take the risk you won’t know how you will perform or your work will hold up. My daughter was a competitive chess player and I told her what I learned wrestling. You can win and not perform well, the same as you can have a great performance and not win.

The measure should be against yourself. How did you perform in comparison to how you prepared and what you are capable of? When you can answer that you can guide your growth.

You have to learn how to take criticism and critique to improve your work and yourself as a writer. Conversely, it has forced me to learn how to critique my own work and others.

This is a challenge as well. If you don’t know what the person is trying to accomplish it is hard to critique. Some people are writing for the pure exercise of writing, others want to be published.

I’m quickly learning that what seemed to be a nice thing to do, exchange manuscripts and give feedback, isn’t as easy as it sounds if you want it to be of benefit.

The other consideration is in giving advice. Are you giving advice that is broadly applicable or specific to how you would do it, and not considering the individual’s circumstances.

All of these things expose you. They help you to grow and learn and this is always a benefit.

By intentionally engaging in activities that contain risk and are conducted in public you can hone and validate your own skills and learn, while potentially sharing for others to benefit.