PS: For those prepping for NaNo, and for my friends: The Voice of Doubt

This week’s NaNo prep email says:

     This week, figure out what you think your main obstacle to NaNoWriMo success will be. Once           you’ve identified the obstacle, come up with a three-bullet-point plan to overcome that hump.

My main obstacle is myself — or, more specifically, The Voice of Doubt.

I suspect there are many Voices of Doubt out there.

Maybe your Voice of Doubt says, “You can’t possibly write 50,000 words in a month” because you never have before.  You will — if not now, someday. Just keep the good work up.

Maybe your Voice of Doubt says, “This stuff you’re writing is garbage.” It’s a first draft — it exists to get the shape of the novel out on paper. You’ll refine it later in edits.

Maybe your Voice of Doubt says, “Your plot is so stupid.” I have one word for you: Sharknado. Feel better?

My Voice of Doubt says, “Why bother? You’ll never get published.” Every day, I get better and better, closer and closer.

What is your Voice of Doubt? Take away some of its power and make it merely a voice of doubt. Contradict it, or agree with it and turn it around: “Maybe I haven’t had a novel published yet, but I’ve had several academic journals published, and I’ve published a couple personal essays in liberal religious journals. And I have 28 readers on my blog!”

 (And I still want to know who you are!)

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