The inner working of Patricia's mind (AKA Blog) - Patricia Lynne, Independent Author

Confidence Crisis - #IWSG

2/4/2014

Ack! I almost missed IWSG. If not for the Facebook page, I would have forgotten.

Insecure Writer's Support group is posted the first Wednesday of every month. It is the brain child of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. Get your fears and insecurities out or give words of encouragement. We're writers, let's support each other!

If you read my last #writemotivation update then you'll know I'm having a confidence crisis. I have notes from two people for Out of Secrets and I have been putting off looking at them for months. At first, I wasn't sure why. I just kept finding reasons to put it off, to do something else and avoid thinking about it. Finally, it hit me: I wasn't sure the story was any good.

My recent reread of Snapshots has left me uncertain about every story I have sitting on my hard drive. Are any of them good? Worth editing and publishing? Do I have the skills to make them good enough?

I feel alone – even though I know I'm not. I've been assured that I'm not the only one feeling this way. A comfort, but that doesn't answer any of my questions or solve my confidence dilemma. I suppose the only answer may be to work through it and prove to myself that I can write.

28 Comments

M.J. Fifield link

2/4/2014 10:01:09 pm

I know I've said this before, but you're definitely not the only one who feels that way. And I also know it doesn't solve the confidence crisis. The only thing that I've found that helps is to just keep going. Keep writing.

Patricia link

2/5/2014 05:38:04 am

I plan to keep going. No stopping me.

Alex J. Cavanaugh link

2/4/2014 10:23:23 pm

Glad the Facebook page reminded you.
What MJ said - just keep writing. And go ahead and read the feedback. It'll probably make you excited about that manuscript again.

2/5/2014 05:38:47 am

I finally opened notes yesterday and it wasn't as scary or horrible as I felt. =)

Cherie Reich link

2/4/2014 11:25:31 pm

Oh, I know what you mean! As soon as I get a critique or notes from my CPs or beta readers, I feel panicked that they will hate everything about the story. Usually it's not quite that bad, but even when I read the notes, I often have to take several days, or weeks, before I delve into making changes. But I've noticed the notes are not as bad as they originally seemed. Every single time, they aren't. Beyond the panic, we can continue with the story and make it better. :)

2/5/2014 05:39:29 am

Same here. I always put off the notes for a while – although not months – before diving into them.

mooderino link

2/5/2014 12:31:40 am

I think we all go through times like this and eventually confidence returns (i have no idea where from) and at some point it will disappear again. I think of it as part of the process and try to keep writing through it.

mood

2/5/2014 05:40:02 am

Mine can disappear and stay gone for as long as it likes. ;)

Faith McKay link

2/5/2014 01:25:59 am

I sometimes like to read through the story. Just stop everything else, and read it. While there are rough spots, I can always find spots that I like, and I make a list of those while reading. I keep this list nearby, to remind myself that there are some things in this story worth saving and to remind myself that I do, in fact, have things I like in my writing. It really, really helps.

I hope that you find someway to remember that you like writing, and you like telling stories! It will come. Grip it when it arrives!

2/5/2014 05:40:45 am

That's a great idea. I'll have to give it a shot and see if that helps whenever I have to edit.

Larry Kollar link

2/5/2014 01:39:26 am

I've blogged about that before; I call it Writer's Angst. Sometimes, for me it's an excuse to not do the hard work—if it's irredeemably horrible, why bother, right?

Wait it out, it'll pass. Read some of your better reviews if you need a boost. :-)

2/5/2014 05:41:22 am

I like the sound of Writer's Angst. Sounds cooler than Confidence Crisis. LOL

Carrie-Anne link

2/5/2014 06:04:10 am

It's hard work editing, revising, and rewriting books you wrote a long time ago. It can feel really frustrating at the time, but after it's done, I have an awesome feeling. The process gives me a chance to prove how much I've grown as a writer over the years, as compared to when I thought "editing" was just putting gold on top of dross and not really changing or junking any of the bad material.

Patricia Lynne link

2/11/2014 09:22:57 am

After plugging in a few of Snapshots' new edits, I got really excited. It's great to see the story start to glow.

Corinne OFlynn link

2/5/2014 06:07:56 am

I totally deal with this. It is good to know that we're not alone in the crisis/angst. I think you just have to muddle through and know that the more you do it, the better your work becomes.

2/12/2014 09:55:01 am

I think knowing we're not alone makes it easier to get through the angst faster. =)

Jamie Ayres link

2/5/2014 07:02:16 am

You are not alone for sure! My second novel just got published, and even though the feedback has been fantastic, every time I think about it being out there, I have a little panic attack. The trick is to shut off that little voice inside your head that says you're not good enough. Otherwise, you'll never get anywhere.

2/11/2014 09:24:01 am

Normally, I'm good at ignoring that little voice, but sometimes it just likes to yell in my ear. >.o

John Wiswell link

2/6/2014 12:55:37 am

We all get the terror that our work sucks from time to time. That's part of the basic critical loop of being a creator. But if the agnosticism about quality persists, seek outside voices. Get new test readers or hire a professional editor with good credentials for honest feedback. Regardless of the feedback we get, we have to be ready to adapt. I still think being afraid of sucking is worse than sucking, because the fear prevents us from fixing it if it's bad, and from giving it to people who'd love it if it's good.

2/11/2014 09:25:12 am

I always seek outside opinions for each story. Although, lately, it's been a struggle to find some people who have time to help me out. =(

Jocelyn Rish link

2/6/2014 06:50:10 am

You're definitely not alone. And it often seems to me that the people who don't question their writing are the very ones who should be. Those who worry and fret are constantly working to make it better, and that then DOES make it better.

2/11/2014 09:25:53 am

Yeah, I believe if I stop worrying about the quality of my writing, then I will stop striving to improve.

Leanne Ross link

2/6/2014 09:08:34 am

I wish I could tell you that of course you're a good writer. I wish I could say the same for myself. Some days I think I really have it and then something knocks me on my confidence butt. The thing I KNOW is that I am a better writer today than I was a year ago. I'm miles ahead of myself from five years ago. Every book I read and every word I write helps me improve. I'm sure you're the same way.

Leanne Ross ( readfaced.wordpress.com & @LeanneRossRF )

2/11/2014 09:26:47 am

I feel the same way. Some days I think I suck, but I know I've grown as a writer with each story regardless of whether or not they see the light of day.

Rebecca Bradley link

2/9/2014 01:58:47 am

Patricia, You said yourself that you know you're not the only one to feel this way. I do hope that you manage to work your way through this. Keep at it. You can do it.

2/11/2014 09:27:29 am

I have managed to work through it. It never lasts and I just have to push through it. =)

Tui Snider link

2/12/2014 05:50:01 am

I'm so impressed by all your writing accomplishments!

I don't have anything to sage to add to all the great comments ahead of mine. Some really good ideas in there. I like the one about just reading through it.

As my release date nears, I find that my confidence is matched by little bouts of doubt. Luckily, I've got a big to-do list to distract me.