If you’re a writer (or any kind of artist), the odds are you’ve struggled with doubt and I bet there have been days when it has been downright overwhelming, perhaps even enough to make you want to give in and give up.
Fear not, doubting one’s self is human nature, but (and this is a big BUT) it’s also part of human nature to overcome and triumph over one’s doubts.
YOU can do it! Yes, you can!
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
– Douglas Adams
Don’t get me wrong, deadlines are important and I prefer completing work earlier rather than later, but when I focus too much on a deadline I end up stalling and if I am not careful, I get completely stuck.
The key for me to get past this is to try not to think about the due date, get to work right away and finish early.
It wasn’t always that way. I used to be the last minute master of disaster, but that was exhausting and depressing, and I rarely (if ever) completed my work on time.
When I finally realized how refreshing and rewarding it is to complete work early I began winning the internal struggle of starting. I still struggle, and I guess I always will, but I also continue to get better at starting and finishing!
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A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.
– Sidney Sheldon
I am in no way comparing myself to God, but I do love this particular quote, because on days when I struggle to find the right words and everything I write seems inane, or the words just don’t come, I read it and remind myself it’s not always going to be easy.
Sometimes passion is hard work and I need to roll up my sleeves and press on.
(Tweet that, if you like.)
This quote is also helpful when my inner critic mocks me by telling me other writers are so much better and, of course, they have it easier. “They can write at will.” It tells me. “It’s easy for them.”
Yep, and the grass is always greener…
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If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.
– Somerset Maugham
How many of us worry about whether we are any good or not? Writing is subjective. Stop thinking about it and just do it.
If you keep writing, you’ll get better, so don’t stress yourself over it.
(If you want to tweet that, click here.)
At least, that’s what I tell myself, and I think it’s working! And that leads us to…
Robert Benchley
It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.
– Robert Benchley
It took me fifteen years to decide if this quote ticked me off or made me feel better.
But he’s got a good point, don’t think about it – do it.
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Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer.
– Ray Bradbury
Practice and persistence is the key to victory. Don’t give up, keep going, keep writing!
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I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly.
– Edgar Rice Burroughs
That’s the truth of it, isn’t it? Be compelling, tell an interesting story and the rest will take care of itself.
We tend to put way too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, to dot every i and cross every t, and yet, what we should concern ourselves with is writing a good story.
Let the editors edit. All you need to concern yourself with is writing something remarkable. This leads me to my final quote for this post…
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Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.
– Barbara Kingsolver
You’ve got something remarkable to say, so say it!
(If you agree, tweet it.)
I hope you enjoyed these quotes, now it’s your turn…
Share your favorite quote in the comments about overcoming doubt.
