Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, has this to say about doubting yourself:
"Every other month I am ready to quit writing. The inner dialogue goes something like this:
'This is stupid.I am making no money.There's no career in poetry.No one cares about it.It's lonely.I hate it.It's dumb.I want a regular life.'
These thoughts are torture. Doubt is torture. If we give ourselves fully to something, it will be clearer when it might be appropriate to quit. It is a constant test of perseverance. Sometimes I listen to the doubting voice and get sidetracked for a while.
Don't listen to doubt. It leads no place but to pain and negativity. There is nothing helpful there. Instead, have a tenderness and determination toward your writing, a sense of humor and deep patience that you are doing the right thing. Avoid getting caught by that small gnawing mouse of doubt. See beyond it to the vastness of life and the belief in time and practice."
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We all have doubts about our decisions, our choices, our careers. Doubt is like getting nibbled to death by ducks. There is no way to back up, it surrounds you. Make a decision. Right or wrong, you will know, but if you doubt, you just sink deeper into doubt. Give yourself a break and accept that good writing takes practice. Excellence does not come quickly, or just because we are tired of trying. Excellence comes from not giving up.
About the Author: Quinn McDonald is a writer and nationally-known speaker who has achieved the "Professional" designation from the National Speakers Association. Contact Quinn through her website, QuinnCreative.com.
thank you for such good and kind advice – above. R
thank you for such good and kind advice – above. R
thank you for such good and kind advice – above. R