This week's blog post was a huge one: a step by step guide to the stages of writing a book:
Working on any writing project, whether it's a whole book or something shorter, can be very tough at times.
Sometimes, you'll get stuck on something to do with your writing (like how to write realistic dialogue in a short story, or how to hook readers at the start of a blog post) ... but you'll also have times when your battle isn't so much with the writing as with yourself.
Self-doubt can be hugely damaging for writers. It stops plenty of great writers before they ever have a chance of achieving their potential.
Self-doubt can raise itself through thoughts like:
- "I'm wasting my time, I'll never get published."
- "This is no good. I can't face letting anyone read it."
- "Maybe they're just pretending to like my work."
- "I'm just a hack. My writing might pay, but it's not got any real value."
- "People say nice things about my writing, but what's the point if I don't make any money?"
- "I procrastinate too much. I can't focus enough to be a writer."
Do any of those sound familiar? They're all things I've thought about my own writing, at some stage of my writing life. And they're all things that I've heard from other writers, too.
If you're struggling with self-doubt, here are three practical things you can do:
#1: Think of Something Positive to Tell Yourself Instead
Often, our own internal voice is a far harsher critic than any other that we'll come across.
When you start thinking something negative, like "I'm wasting my time writing," figure out something positive you could tell yourself instead. Imagine talking to a friend. You might say, "You need to put in that time to get better at writing" or "If you enjoy writing, then it's definitely not a waste of time."
#2: Set Small Goals ... and Achieve Them
If you feel like you just can't focus, or that you never manage to finish anything you start, then give yourself small, achievable goals.
Your goal might be to write for 30 minutes once a week. It might be to finish a short story draft. It might be to outline a blog post, or to come up with 10 ideas. Make your goal as small as you like, and then focus on achieving it.
Once you're consistently achieving your small goals, start making them bigger. Build on your successes, and you'll find yourself growing more confident about your ability to get things done.
#3: Have a Pre-Writing Routine
Do you find that it's really hard to get started on writing, but that it's (comparatively) easy to keep going once you start?
If so, a pre-writing routine might help you. (If the word "routine" sounds a bit cold and business-like, call yours a "ritual" instead.)
Your routine should be short, and involve the same steps in the same order each time. That way, it'll help you settle into writing mode.
For instance, you might make a cup of tea, put on music that helps you focus, write down your goal for your session in your notebook, write a quick rough plan for what you'll be working on, then start writing.
Don't let self-doubt derail your writing. Each little step you take as a writer can help drive self-doubt further back. Today, figure out the next small step you could take toward writing, even if it's something as tiny as getting out your notebook and spending 2 minutes clearing a space on your desk.
