I have reached a somewhat low point in my writing. The self-doubt that maintained a creeping pace for quite a while had now come on like a tidal wave and I'm drowning in my editorial insecurities.
Lately, I've noticed that the phrase, "I'm sure it will be rejected," precedes almost every statement that continues on to articulate what I'm writing next and where I'd like to see it published. The situation then spirals into a self-fulfilling prophecy as I find myself reluctant to bother writing the piece at all.
More often than not these days, I feel more like someone pretending to be a writer than the real thing. But I keep on with the facade because I don't know what I am otherwise.
I should probably try the "fake it 'til you make it" approach. But what if I never make it?
Support Team "Breast of Friends" in 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer
About Me
- Shanna Thompson
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Life through the eyes of a freelance columnist, reporter and aspiring book author.
Columns & Articles
Writers' Resources
- Absolute Write Water Cooler
- Agent Query
- Ask Allison
- Bloomsbury Writer's Area
- Copy Blogger
- Dictionary.com
- Freelance Writing Jobs
- Get Your Blog Noticed
- Learn The Nonfiction Book Publication Process With Momma Jenna
- Literary Market Place
- Los Angeles Writers Group
- Media Bistro
- Publishers Marketplace
- Publishers Weekly
- Steve Alten's Writing Tips
- Successful and Outstanding Bloggers
- The Publishing Contrarian
- UCLA Extension Writers' Program
- Writer Beware
- Writer's Market
- Writers on the Rise
BLOGS
- Angela Booth's Writing Blog
- Author-in-the-Trenches
- Authors' Blogs
- Bleeding Espresso
- BlogHer
- Charlotte's Web
- Confessional Highway
- Debutante Ball
- Inkthinker
- LipStick Chronicles
- Lit Agent X
- Literally, A Web Log
- Los Angeles Writers Group
- Maia Caron
- Maya Reynolds
- Miss Snark
- Not Afraid of the "F" Word
- Patricia Wood
- Pub Rants
- Renegade Writer
- Roughly Speaking
- RPL Communications
- The Writing Life
- Tracey's Taste
- Urban Muse
- Write With Meaning
- Writer Unboxed
- Writer's Life
- Writers' Group
- Zemblan Grammar
NEWS
COOL STUFF
StatCounter
5 comments:
I think we all have those feelings of self-doubt at times. Is there something specific in your writing that you're having trouble with? Could a writer friend meet you for coffee and be a sounding board? Or you might consider letting this particular project simmer for a few days. Take a break from it and work on something else. Sometimes that break is all you need and you go back to the piece thinking, "Aha! I know exactly what to do with this now!"
Hang in there. It's a tough road, but a rewarding one.
If you haven't done it yet, read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. She helps me everyday :)
If you're putting words on paper, or in your computer, you are a writer. Everyone who takes up the task has the same feelings. If you haven't read Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird pick it up for inspiration. I love her line, something about, thank God for crappy first drafts. Whenever I fell like I'm writing junk I think, "this is supposed to be junk, it is a first draft." Best. Kathy
www.lessonsfromthelaundry.com
I know exactly what you mean! I have a book out on submission with my agent now...every morning when I get up to check my emails (I live in Australia and my book has been submitted to US piblishers, so if sommething happens its is most likely to happen while I sleep) I say to my partner - who always looks at me, hopefully, expectantly, "it's going to get rejected, it's inevitable, everyone gets rejected first up, blah blah blah"
I don't know why I feel the need to say this when deep down I am really quite optimistic about it all.
I think...
anyway - I'm glad I happened upon your blog ...love finding other writers!
I saw a post where you were soliciting writer's for a writer's group. But it didn't have a way to contact you. If you are still interested, I may be interested as well. Let me know. We can minimize one another's self-doubt as writers!
Post a Comment