Am I good enough? If you are like me, you’ve asked this of yourself many times. Most of us ask it at one time or another, but creative souls seem to ask at some point during each creation. In the life of a novelist, the question often comes up right around the middle of a story. An idea comes, the first of the story flows, it practically writes itself, you know how it will end, but the middle? It wants to drag or sag. It’s been called the saggy middle by many, and when we hit it, many of us begin to doubt ourselves. We ask questions like: will I ever be able to pull out of these doldrums? How can I keep the momentum of the story going? And the inevitable, am I good enough?
If you suffer from self-doubt, please know that you are not alone. And remember that the answer is, “yes, you are good enough.” I believe that the desire to tell a story is innate in the human makeup. We learn by listening to the tales of those who’ve gone before us. A mystery enthralls us. We can’t take our eyes off a dramatic scene on the screen. The fact that you want to write means you’re probably a natural-born storyteller. If you’re feeling self-doubt, it’s normal. But it doesn’t have to rule you or stop your flow. Here are some ways to overcome those feelings of inadequacy.
- 1. And this is the biggest of them all – Never compare yourself to another person. We all have individual talents, processes, and timing. You’re unique. Embrace it.
- 2. Don’t let it stop you. Remember, we all feel this way at times. To succeed, you must feel the emotion but move through it. Either continue writing your story or take a few minutes to write in your journal. Whichever you choose, keep writing.
- 3. When you realize you are thinking negatively about yourself or your talent, tell yourself to stop those thoughts. Replace them with memories of times you have overcome obstacles, been successful, received compliments.
- 4. Keep a journal of your successes and open it anytime self-doubt creeps in.
- 5. Read books and listen to audio presentations that engender optimism.
- 6. Continue to learn your craft. Study story structure, grammar, pacing, characterization, dialogue. Read books, attend workshops, watch podcasts, or take a class. There are myriad free resources for writers online, at your public library. Take advantage of the tools at your disposal.
Beverly Sills, a woman with a world-renowned singing voice, once said, “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”
The world is waiting to hear your unique voice. Don’t let self-doubt paralyze you. I genuinely believe that you are good enough. If you’ve got the desire and have perseverance, you can overcome self-doubt.
If you have had success with other ways to overcome the “I’m not good enough,” voice, let me know!
Thanks, and Happy Reading – Happy Writing
Shirley Holder Platt
January 17, 2020