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| Thanks to ALEX CAVANAUGH |
As the year 2013 comes to an end I’m reassessing the INSECURITIES that plagued me. These are the ones I drag around in a big sack; others only nibble at my heels like annoying puppies.
- I’ll never finish writing this book.
- If I do sell this, reviewers may shred it.
- It’s not as good as my last book.
- It’s not as good as X’s book!
- No one will read this book.
- I can’t write worth (fill in blank).
- Why did I ever think I could write?
Are any of these familiar? May 2014 see some of these fade or disappear entirely.
All of these have run through my mind. I stomp these thoughts out, but they do return.
Yes all of these are familiar. Good luck this May!
These are definitely familiar! I am with you though and hope they will go away in 2014. I usually try to stay positive- but thoughts do creep in and need to be dealt with from time to time. 🙂
Best of luck to you! Keep smiling!
~Jess
Hi Lee,
None of them are familiar in my mind. Then again, my writing is about sharing experiences with the one person who is reading whatever I wrote.
I have no worries about comparing my writing to others. I write just for therapy and hope that my writing can be of help to others.
That's it for me.
All the best and stay smiling, even through gritted teeth.
Your starstruckest fan,
Gary!
Thanks for the well-wishes for 2014. Yes, I'm ready to toss in the towel for this year and start fresh. Loved the last one. I say it to myself all the time!
M.L. Swift, Writer
Hi Lee – a new beginning is what we need so often .. I'm getting that now – and you will too .. with thoughts – Hilary
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I've been toiling half-heartedly with WIPs all year, along with this ringing in my ears: "It's not right. I can't write it. It'll never be good enough. Why can't I think up a great idea? I'm such a loser." I sure hope 2014 is nicer to us. *crossing fingers*
This is probably the best IWSG month I've had this year. What great comments! Thanks so much.
I echo everyone f those insecurities or have in the very recent past). Here's hoping they do disappear as you gain confidence and success form great reviews and excitement.
Ah yes, they pretty much all sound scarily familiar. I love your wish for 2014.
WE'VE ALL been there… But it's natural. Once we realize what we've accomplished those insecurities should slip into an dark and and be immediately covered never to be seen again!
Yep, they sound quite familiar! In fact, I realized that part of the reason I wasn't writing was that I kept getting gripped with anxiety and thinking it was a joke that I was even doing this and "pretending" to be a writer. Messed up.
The Warrior Muse
Can so relate. You've got me curious about May 2014. A new book?
Have you been crawling around inside my head? Unfortunately, insecurities are a big part of the deal we've struck with whatever being latched us to our keyboards. I'm still not sure if that's a benevolent being or not. 😉
Great IWSG post!
You need to take that big sac and toss it off the nearest cliff *and tell those puppies to nip someone else's heels*! Now, go back to writing, cuz you're d^mn good at it!
WriterlySam
You must have stolen my list, Lee! I own all of those. 🙂
I do think the insecurities go with being a writer, though. We write because:
A. Our emotions are closer to the surface.
B.We are more keenly aware of our emotions.
C. Or we are just plain nuts.
Personally, I'll go with C.
Oh yeah, very familiar. Think I've got a t-shirt somewhere with these written on! Wishing you success in 2014.
Yeah these are all very familiar to me too. Why do we do this to ourselves??
Yeah, we all go through that. I hate it. But the good news is you will finish that novel, you will receive good and bad comments, but you'll rise above all and you'll keep writing. Just have faith in yourself 😉 Best of luck!
You and I are sharing many of the same insecurities this month! On the bright, a little insecurity keeps us from getting too cocky, right?
ooh count me in! This insecurity party seems perfect for me…. BUT you totally will conquer each fear and you will overcome them. I'm signing up for that better 2014 as well 😉
It's kind of like facing your fears and getting over them. Just do it! Let the chips fall where they may, but never regret not having enough fortitude to try. Here's to the release of your next book, Lee.
I knew it! I'm not the only writer with those ideas on my back. Yay! Oh, wait. That's what IWSG is all about, isn't it? Thanks all for stopping and giving me the support I need. Now I'm off to do the same for all of you.
Crikey. Some of those never go away!
Do they?
I guess not. *sigh*
Writer In Transit
Oh, lordie, I've experienced all of those awful emotions, and no, not sure it ever goes away totally–maybe declines into a dull ache??
Yeowtch! Sounds familiar! Toss 'em, as Alex said!
Funny- I have the EXACT same worries and insecurities!!You are not alone.
http://www.morgankatz595.blogspot.com
Sounds pretty normal to me, lol! I think each can bite us at any given time. What's interesting is once we conquer each creative project, our list changes dramatically. 🙂
Sia McKye Over Coffee
*raises hand* Can I join you in the corner for insecure writers? At least I'll be in good company. 🙂
That is me up there. Some days the insecurities are so distracting, I end up not meeting my goals for the day. So when that happens, I step away from writing/editing, breath in, watch a movie or take a nap. Usually things look better after that.
Ha, I think every writer thinks those things, probably on a daily basis. It's when you're actually not thinking about them that you get some writing done.
Been there, thought that!
Reassess them and then toss them, Lee.
I must say that all of the above are very familiar. VERY familiar indeed. But I keep writing anyway. I keep giving my characters an avenue to speak. Why? Because, with insecurities and all, I love it and I just can't help myself. 🙂