An occupational hazard
To be a writer is to be afflicted by crippling self-doubt. It takes only a Google search of “crippling self-doubt” to confirm this. It’s not surprising. If a writer writes for an audience, they bring their works out into the daylight.
If they’re showing their friends what they’ve written, they’re afraid of being judged. Because friends often skip over the Facebook post, they’re never quite sure if they’ve been read. Because friends are often afraid to hurt someone’s feelings, they will be wary of compliments.
If the writer submits for publication, they’re afraid of being rejected — and they will often be rejected, because their work is competing against others’ writing.
What to do about self-doubt
There are several articles on the Internet about how to deal with self-doubt. See here and here for examples. I don’t want to hash over these excellent articles, so I’ll write from my experiences and hope the advice is helpful.
- Keep writing. Being a writer is a calling, even if not a penny is made on it. Write your way through the fear.
- Keep improving, especially if the goal is to become published. Relish the feeling of improving. Take all criticism as room to improve.
- Find support. Whether this be a Facebook group or your friends or spouse, find someone to express your frustrations to.
- Stop negative self-talk. There are apps on iOS and Android that teach a journaling method that contradicts negative self-talk with realistic thoughts.
- Remind yourself why you’re writing. Reconnect with the joy.
A takeaway
Writers aren’t the only ones with self-doubt; it crops up when we have to speak publicly, at our jobs, and any place where we step outside our comfort zones. What are your solutions for self-doubt?
Words Like Me 