Selfdoubt is a writer's constant companion from "summary" of The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes
Self-doubt is a writer's constant companion. It is the shadow that follows them wherever they go, whispering in their ear that their words are not good enough, that their ideas are not original enough, that their talent is not worthy of being shared with the world. This inner critic can be relentless, gnawing away at a writer's confidence and sapping their creative energy. It can make them question every word they write, every sentence they construct, every idea they dare to put down on paper.
Even the most successful writers are not immune to self-doubt. In fact, many of them struggle with it on a daily basis. They may have published numerous bestsellers, won prestigious awards, and received glowing reviews from critics and readers alike, and yet still, they doubt themselves. They wonder if they can ever live up to their past successes, if they have anything left to say that is worth saying, if they will ever be able to recapture the magic that once flowed so effortlessly from their pen.
Self-doubt can be paralyzing. It can prevent a writer from starting a new project, finishing an existing one, or sharing their work with others. It can make them second-guess every creative decision they make, agonize over every word choice, and obsess over every rejection or negative comment they receive. It can turn the writing process into a torturous ordeal, filled with anxiety, self-criticism, and despair.
And yet, despite all of this, writers continue to write. They push through their self-doubt, they silence their inner critic, and they find the courage to put their words out into the world. They do this because they have a deep-seated need to write, a burning desire to express themselves, to tell their stories, to share their ideas with others. They do this because they know that writing is not just a vocation or a hobby, but a calling, a compulsion, a part of who they are.
Self-doubt may be a writer's constant companion, but it does not have to define them. It is possible to acknowledge its presence, to learn from it, to use it as a source of motivation rather than a source of discouragement. It is possible to embrace the uncertainty, the vulnerability, the fear that comes with putting oneself out there, with baring one's soul on the page. It is possible to find the courage to write, despite the doubts, despite
