Joanna Penn is the author of more than forty books, including The Successful Author Mindset. But she has doubts about her writing. I’ve written eight books, dozens of magazine articles, and hundreds of blog posts. And I have doubts about my writing. Both Joanna and I are perfectly normal writers. If you have doubts about your writing, you’re normal too.
Self-doubt is an inevitable part of creativity. Writers, regardless of their experience or success, grapple with questions like, “Is this good enough?” or “Will anyone care about what I have to say?” Feeling this way isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a reflection of the desire you have to produce valuable work. Recognizing that even accomplished authors experience these doubts is reassuring. It’s a reminder that self-doubt isn’t a barrier but rather a common companion to producing creative work.
Joanna puts it this way: “Embrace self-doubt as part of the creative process. Be encouraged by the fact that virtually all other creatives… feel it too… In fact, if you don’t feel any kind of doubt, there’s probably something wrong! And if you’ve reached the heights of imposter syndrome, you’re probably doing pretty well in your writing career.”
Now, there’s an encouraging thought. You’re doubting yourself? Hooray! That means you’re on the right track.
When self-doubt shows up, as it always will, instead of trying to stomp on it, Joanna suggests you handle it like this: “When you feel that creeping self-doubt, acknowledge it. Write down your feelings in your journal… and then continue with your writing.”
The writer’s ideal solution for this common writer’s dilemma is to do what writers do best: write about it!
