Sometimes, it's helpful to step back and look at your accomplishments objectively. You've written a novel! That's no small feat. Many people dream of writing a book but never get around to it. You have achieved something significant already. It's easy to be your own worst critic, but try to focus on the positives. Your friends believe in you, and you should too. Take their words to heart and trust that your work has value. You have a unique voice and perspective that the world needs to hear. Don't let self-doubt silence it.
@Anonymous Prince thank you so much. I will try harder to see the better in myself.
hello friend. first of all, sending you a big virtual hug. 🫂 you are not alone in feeling this way. i want to remind you that your worth is not determined by your writing or any other single aspect of your life. you are inherently valuable, just as you are. when those negative thoughts come, remember that they are just thoughts—not facts. you have the power to change the narrative in your head. believe in yourself and your abilities. you have a gift, and the world needs your stories. keep writing, and don't give up. you're stronger than you think. 🌟
@terry 😭😭😭😭
Thank you so much, this is really encouraging.
@terry
Thanks a lot
@DESIREE no problem at all!! you deserve it!! it sounds like you’re pouring your soul into your writing, and that's something to be proud of. you know, those voices in our heads can be real jerks. but your friends believe in you, and that says a lot. sometimes it's about faking it till you make it. keep pushing through, even when it’s hard. you’re stronger than you think, and your work is worth sharing. 💖
Hi there! I just wanted to say it's completely normal to feel this way sometimes. You're not alone, and many successful people have had similar thoughts. Remember that self-doubt is often a sign that you're pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, which is a good thing! Think about some of the authors you admire. They likely had moments of doubt too, but they kept going. Trust the feedback from your friends—they see value in your work that you might not be able to see right now. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're doing great!
@sincere3537
Thank you so much.
It's just hard to keep pushing sometimes, but I will keep your words in mind.
first and foremost, i want you to know that you are not alone. many authors and creatives struggle with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. it's a common part of the creative process, but it doesn't define your worth or your talent. your feelings are valid, but they are not a reflection of your abilities.
remember that every great author has faced similar struggles. even the most celebrated writers have doubted their work at some point. the fact that you care so deeply about your writing shows your passion and dedication. it's okay to be your own worst critic, but don't let that criticism paralyze you.
your friends have read your story and believe in its potential. trust their judgment and use their encouragement as a stepping stone. they see the brilliance in your work that you might be too close to recognize. it takes an external perspective to truly appreciate the value of your creation.
it's important to be kind to yourself. celebrate your small victories and acknowledge the effort you put into your writing. you are doing something remarkable by putting your thoughts and stories into the world. that in itself is a courageous and commendable act.
consider the possibility that your harsh self-criticism is a sign of your high standards. this is a strength, not a weakness. it means you strive for excellence, which will ultimately make you a better writer. but don't let those standards prevent you from sharing your work with the world.
take a deep breath and remind yourself why you started writing in the first place. let that passion guide you through the doubts. every writer has bad days, but those days do not define the entirety of their talent or potential.
@rottentwenties
Thank you so much for this. I have never really thought about it in this way.
I have always thought that my standards were too low that I had to up my game but had no idea how.
Not knowing I was unconsciously doing that. Thank you for making me realise this.
@ima48940 yes that's true. It happens to me too.
@rottentwenties yes! Vey much this. You have to remind yourself that nothing is perfect. I know we (creative people) are all strive for perfection, but often it's plain impossible. Give yourself time to sit with your work. As time goes on, I like my paintings better. I don't know how it works, but I just look at them and feel like I was too hard on myself back then.
I get that you're feeling overwhelmed by these negative thoughts, but don't let them control your narrative. Think about all the times you've overcome challenges before. You've written a novel, and you're working on another one, that's incredible! Sometimes, we need to take a step back and appreciate our own journey. Trust in the feedback you're getting from your friends. They see something valuable in your work that you might not recognize right now.
@girlmeetsworld thank you so much. I really appreciate this.
You wrote a whole novel?!!! That’s amazing! Do you know how many people dream of that and never even start? You're already ahead of the game. 🏆 Your friends say your story is good, and trust me, they wouldn't just say that to make you feel better. People usually don’t waste their time reading bad stuff, right? So, if they liked it, it must be great!
That voice in your head telling you it's trash? Tell it to take a hike! 🚶♀️ It’s just your inner critic being overly dramatic. Maybe it needs a vacation or something? I get it, feeling like your work isn’t good enough is the worst. But hey, every time you put words on paper, you're improving, even if you don't see it right away. You're not worthless, not even close!
Writing is hard work, and you're doing it! It's like climbing a mountain, and every step is progress. Look at how far you've come instead of how far you think you have to go. So go ahead, submit that story! And when you win (because you will), we’ll all be here to celebrate with you. 🥳
@catalinabrekke188
😭😭
Thank you so much. This really means a lot to me. I feel really encouraged now.
I will win it. Thank you so much.
hey, i totally get how you're feeling. it's so tough when your inner critic won't give you a break. but think about this: if your friends are saying your story is good, they probably see something amazing in it that you can't see because you're too close to it. sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. next time that voice says you're not good enough, try to counter it with something positive. remember, every writer has felt like this at some point. keep going, you got this! 💪📚✨
@james
Thank you for believing in me. Thanks
it sounds like you're in a really tough spot right now. i want you to know that it's okay to feel this way, but it doesn't mean it's true. your friends see the potential and beauty in your work, and sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see what we can't. remember, the fact that you're even considering submitting to a competition shows courage and belief in your own abilities, even if it's buried under doubt. take small steps, celebrate little victories, and remind yourself that every writer has faced similar struggles. you are not alone, and you are enough. keep going!
I've always wanted to be a writer myself, but I often feel the same way you do. It's tough when that persistent voice in your head keeps telling you that you're not good enough, no matter how much effort you put into your work. Writing can be a deeply personal and sometimes challenging endeavor, and self-doubt often comes as part of the territory. How long have you been writing? Have you always felt this way, or is it something that has developed over time? I'm curious to know if there was a particular moment or experience that triggered these feelings, or if they've been a constant companion throughout your writing journey.
@Robert Edwards
Ummm.... I have been writing since I was twelve, I am currently 19 and in total I have written about 12 completed books.
Self doubt has been with me all my life, me doubting I am not going to do well with my grades or that I look beautiful you know... Stuff like that.
It has never actually reflected in my writing because I write and keep them to myself only a few friends.
But I decided to come out and start posting my books online, like wattpad and Facebook. It was going good I gained over 500 followers in a week plus with one of my book.
That same book I used to apply for a contract on an app called pocket novel, my book got rejected then the whole doubt creeped itself to my books.
Now I want to apply for another competition with another short story entirely but I can't help but fear that I would get rejected again.
I know I must pass through all these to be better but it doesn't make it any easier.
@Robert Edwards
Thank you so much.
I love writing a lot, it's the one place I can really let out my imaginations, my feelings. It's amazing as I can create a whole world with just my pen.
Thank you I feel a whole lot better about this now.
@Robert Edwards
Well, now I feel very motivated. I think I need to appreciate myself more. I write so much but yet I still critise myself about not doing enough.
Thank you a lot, I sure will try to not be so hard on myself anymore.
@DESIREE Wow! I'm 32 years old, and I haven't even finished one book. The fact that you have already written 12 books by the age of 19 is truly inspiring. I can see that you have a lot of talent and determination. It's natural to feel self-doubt, especially when you put your work out there for others to see. Rejection is hard, but it doesn't define your worth or talent as a writer. The fact that you gained 500 followers in a week shows that people are interested in what you have to say.
I can totally relate to how you're feeling. I'm a painter, and I often struggle with the same thoughts. Sometimes, no matter how much effort I put into my work, I still feel like it's not good enough. It's like there's this constant voice in my head telling me that my art is worthless. When I'm working on a new painting, I get excited about the idea. But once I start putting brush to canvas, doubts start creeping in. I look at my work and think it's not as good as I imagined. I end up comparing myself to other artists and feeling like I'll never measure up. Your friends have told you that your story is good, and that's a big deal. Sometimes, it's hard to see our own work clearly because we're too close to it. Trust their judgment and give yourself some credit.
@ima48940
Thank you. I will do just that.
@ima48940 I am a photographer, and I am with you 😬 I know exactly how you feel. There are days when I look at my photos and think, "Is this really good enough?" I spend hours trying to capture the perfect shot, editing, but sometimes it feels like it's never perfect. I often wonder if my work will ever be as good as the photographers I admire.
When I started out, I was so excited about photography. But the more I learned, the more I started to doubt myself. I would look at other photographers' work and feel like mine was just not up to par. I kept thinking, "Why can't I be as good as them?" It was really discouraging.
Even now, after years of practice, I still have days when I feel like I am not good enough. I have photos that I love, but then I start to overthink and find flaws in them. I ask myself, "Is this really worth showing to others?" It's like there's a part of me that just won't let me feel proud of my work.
Self-doubt is a deeply felt belief about yourself that may be you are not good enough. It develops early in childhood and its connected to fearful attachment experiences.
There are few activities we could do to boost your confidence:
let starts with:
# You need to reconnect with yourself. first is to accept your authentic self. but now if you have a trouble understanding who you are then start asking yourself
# what is the prime most important in your life,
# when did you start feeling your confidence had come down, was there any situation in life which led to low confidence?
# when you say i am not good enough is that someone has told you this or made you feel like that?
# Write down what is according to you a person who is good enough? who is worthy? read down those traits written by which a good enough or worthy person should have. now what do you feel do you have those traits or not? if you say no then why do you feel you don't have this?
answering this will help your identifying your root cause for low confidence
Start maintaining a journal where you write down each negative thought which arises and start changes that thought into a positive one. now keep repeating to yourself looking in the mirror that positive thought. It is important we re-tune your brain's thinking process from negativity into positivity. i know its hard but if you put it a practice to be compassionate towards you then it will just be a routine or automated behaviour. Anything to learn in life and to master it requires practise so just understand that and inculcate this habit of being positive towards you, start seeing goodness in you, start feeling proud of your success, celebrate it. Celebrate every time you have achieved your target. You don't have to wait till you master it. each small achievements should be celebrated.
Reflect on your strength. everyday write down 3 strength you observe within you and you must have portrayed those strength in some situation on that day.
Try reflecting on your past activity where you did something challenging and it turned out to be great. See what motivated you to achieve something in the past.