Over the last week, the lovely ladies in Passionate Critters Critique Group have had more than our share of tales of writing with doubt.
If you're a writer, you've probably been there too.
"Am I good enough."
"Does my story suck"
"Sometimes I feel like I should give up."
Sound familiar?
Don't we all fight off the doubts on a daily basis?
We have to believe in ourselves, and believe that the words we have inside us are worthwhile. Not so easy, I know.
I truly believe if writing is your calling, is in your soul, then you need to get those words out of your head and release them in to the wild (Or you might go crazy!)
So then, to accomplish that goal, we have to sit at the keyboard or with a pen and paper - every day. Even when the words aren't flowing, even when the devil on your shoulder tells you to give up.
Don't give up.
Rejections, bad reviews, plots that you just can't seem to make work...so many reasons for us to doubt we have what it takes to make it in this crazy business called publishing.
Is there a surefire way to deal with the self-doubt monster living in your head? Gosh, I wish I knew (and if you figure it out...please share it with me!) But I do think he feeds on insecurity and fear. And if that's the case, it's going to be hard for me to keep the beast from growing pretty darn fat, because insecurity and fear are alive in well inside my head whenever I sit down to write.
But, since the only way to be a writer is to WRITE - then we have to ignore the doubt that pokes at our defenses and simply write. We have to show up everyday and keep pressing forward with the dream of creating beautiful stories. Kick that doubt-monster to the curb (even if he finds his way back home every damn morning as you open that WIP!)
I wish it got easier, but with each new book I start, the same doubts pop into my head. I agonize over my characters and the plot - so worried they'll be unlikable or my plot will be seem lame or even worse, predictable and boring. I would love to be so confident that from my magic fingers drip golden words...but I know better. I struggle with those words every day.
So, tell me, how do you get rid of the self-doubt monster living in your head?
This might sound weird but every night before I fall asleep, I try to have a positive thought about my writing. Instead of being awake thinking about plot holes and things that could go wrong, I work at truly seeing the positive. If nothing else, I wake up feeling that success is possible. :)
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