How do you get rid of self doubt when writing?

Question

I'm young, i've written a 121,885 word novel in the mystery/adventure/fantasy genre. now as i'm going through one of my final revisions, i find that i am going through a writers block halfway through the book. my main problem is my terrible self-esteem when i stare at my work. i'm actually a very confident person, but even when people say it is good, even when i know that it is actually publishing material, i am almost erupting in tears because i know my dream of becoming published is never going to happen. as i ask this question on self doubt, you are first going to ask if it really is good, or you'll doubt me just as i doubt myself. but i guess that is how the world works. how can i know that my novel is good enough? how do i stop freaking out about it? any other questions that i didn't ask and you can answer, please do. thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You need to learn how to separate your ego from your writing. In order to be successful, you need a thick skin, and you need to be able to distance yourself from your work.

Normally, when I complete a manuscript, I put it away for a few weeks before revising it. When you walk away and come back, you can look at it objectively. Guess what? Maybe your first draft really does suck! There is nothing wrong with that. Once you can acknowledge it without seeing it as a personal failure, you can address the problems.

I am a publisher of speculative fiction. If you would like, I would be happy to look at your first chapter and give you some advice. Send me an message and I will tell you where to send the first chapter.

Answer 2

First of all, you've finished a novel! Whether you're still revising or not, you have a full book of your own words and that is something to be proud of!

If you want to be published, though, your self-esteem is going to take a beating. Repeatedly. That's just a part of the business, especially when you're just getting started. Have you given any thought to finding an agent? That would be my first recommendation. You don't even need a completed manuscript to find an agent. I would recommend the 2007 Guide to Literary Agents (first link below) as a place to start.

Now on to the self-doubt. I think every author has it - or at least all the ones I know or have read about. So you're in good company! Do you have any friends who are writers? You should all get together and trade manuscripts, start your own writer's workshop. Set up some ground rules like "First, say what was good, then say what needs improvement" - it's a very energizing experience to discuss your work with like-minded people, and I've gotten a lot of good feedback from workshop groups.

Other than the workshop idea, I'd suggest reading about writing. That always helps me. I like "Writing Past Dark" by Bonnie Friedman. The subtitle is "Envy, Fear, Distraction and Other Dilemmas in the Writer's Life." Others I know recommend "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg, which I have but have not yet read through. Sometimes just reading about the craft helps, too, and my favorite book for that is "Writing Fiction" by Janet Burroway (it is kinda expensive, because it just released a new edition, but I have the one previous to this, and it's really good - you can probably get an older edition used for a lower price).

I hope this helps. Just keep writing. As long as you love what you're doing, that's what matters.

Answer 3

I understand what you are going through. I've been writing my whole life and have yet to get anything published. Hopefully, this year I will be published. My advice is to get away from the book for some time, then when you come back you will fill better about the book and yourself. I thought for years I had writers block, only to find out recently it isn't that but my own fears. No one is confident 100% of the time. We all get down and need to find our way back. Be proud of yourself. You have written a book, you like and others like. You will be a published author. That I have no doubt.

Here are a few quotes I've picked up along the way. I keep a set with my computer and another with my writing tablet. They have helped me. They may help you.

Always have something in the mail. Always have something working for you. What you write today and think is brilliant in time won't compare to what you will write. When you write something use it. Don't save it. Get it out there and let it live.

Write. Write. Write. Whether you think it's bad or good you will never know unless you finish the story and submit it to a publisher. My job as a writer is to write, not to judge whether it is good or bad, that is the publishers and readers job.

If I think about my work, as being anything but good, I would never have been published. Everyone has fears. The answer is how you deal with the fear. The way I do it, is by allowing the fear to help me instead of hinder.

Writers block doesn't exist. If you could never write a word, including your name, you don't have writers block but something medically wrong. But if you can write one word, then write.

You should never write with the idea of being published. It only adds stress and shows in a non-affective way in your writing. By writing with the joy of writing you will write. Not just write but write good plot moving page turning stories.

I wish you luck but I don't think you need luck. You are on your way. Keep writing, writing, writing and you will be there. I would love to read your book. Let us know when it's published. I will be first in line. Kudos!!!!!

Answer 4

The ABSOLUTE best way to get rid of your jitters and to have it edited correctly is to do the following:

Have someone you aren't REALLY close with read it (for example, don't let it be a relative). Then, make sure they don't know anything about the genre you are writing about. If they can read it and understnad it, and enjoy it, then you are all set.

If you want to get something published, make sure you have a damn good editor. I got my degree in editing and edited a screenplay that won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999. I have edited many peices of work, and have written my own stuff...and I'll tell you something that will always run true: You will be your own worst critic. My stuff is 100x better than all the crap that I am editing, but I am so anal, that it has to be perfect. You are just like me. Just calm down, rewrite, revise, and send it to a company....but find someone who will edit it for you first or they won't read it if they find misspellings and stuff. I personally charge about $10 per page and $1500 per act of a screenplay, and that is considered to be on the medium scale.

Good Luck

Answer 5

You can't really know whether it is good enough to be published or not...All you can do is trust that you did the best job that you could. Right now you are your worst enemy. You have to stop holding yourself back and just do it...Present your novel to someone, actually to many. This is the only way you will discover whether or not your novel will make it. Everyone goes thorugh these sort of doubts and some do not succeed but many do. You owe it to yourself to get these answers. I would take a deep breath...If you need - ask you friend for truely honest feedback, because that is the only thing that will help you move forward.

If it means anything to you...Hats off to you for putting in such effort...I have trouble commiting to a ten page paper.

Good luck to you!

Answer 6

First of all, you deserve major kudos for writing something that long! *applauds* You should congratulate yourself for that fact alone.

As for publishing, it is admittedly difficult to do. There are several things you can do to find out what your options are. I would advise finding someone you trust (a professor, or someone who is familiar with writing and the publishing world) and ask if you can share a sample chapter with them and get some of their opinions where to submit or what to revise.

In the meantime, keep writing. It's really hard to ignore the voices of self-doubt (and I struggle with them myself on a daily basis), but in the end, you just have to start something new and tell them to shut up while you work. Writing other projects will give you new perspective on your novel, and you'll get to hone your writing skills.

Hang in there, and good luck!

Answer 7

If your asking wether or not your book is going to get a literary award, theres no way to tell. I can tell you that the longer you hold on to the book, the more minor adjustments your going to make, until you give the book to someone to read for the first time adn they dont understand it. You grew with it from the begining, but your at risk of losing the little bits that add up to the big truth your book it trying to portray. Dont let it lose that first time readers appeal, this is, after all, your first published work. you have time to grow into it, give your readers the same chance.

Answer 8

Get drunk and write. I know, I know but it does help get over writer's block, or, you can just force yourself to keep writing and eventually the block will probably pass.