Writers, Toss Out Mr. Doubt

I just now read a piece by an academic who has published many articles. She had decided to try writing a personal essay while attending a writing group class in Italy. She was so new to this kind of writing that she was truly shaken by it. Heeding the encouragement of the members of the class, she wrote the essay, found a top magazine that she wanted to submit to, and pushed Send. 

Like many of us, once she'd pushed that Send button, she got a little nervous. 'What have I done?' was her first thought. 

The writer was experienced in writing in her academic field, but writing about a personal experience was quite different. If scared her. It's a feeling many of us have shared. Sometimes, Mr. Doubt moves into our writing area, pulls up a chair, and commences to bug us. The sad thing is we often let him stay. 

It's important that a writer believes in him/herself. If not, how can they expect others to believe in their work? Others like editors, and then Readers. 

Consider the woman I wrote about above. Yes, she was writing in a different genre, but if she had the ability to have many academic articles published, she was capable of moving to a different style of writing. She needed to have had a heart to heart talk with herself.

This is what she might have told herself. "You're not a brand new writer. You've done this writing gig a great many times, and you've had success in publishing many articles in your field. You know the method, you know the tools of the craft, you know the submission process. If you can do all that, you can write in a different genre and be successful." 

The key would be for her to believe what she's saying. To believe in herself. To believe that she can find some success in a different field. The fact that she's already a published writer should be a big factor in the way she thinks of herself as a writer. 

So, what happened to the essay she sent to a top magazine? Within an hour, she received a reply and acceptance. Most likely because her topic was of great interest with what is going on in the Middle East right now. What if she had not hit Send? What if her belief in herself failed totally? Happily, she overcame her doubt and hit that important button to zip her essay to the editor. Most likely, she'll be sending Mr. Doubt right out the door, slamming it shut after him. 

Today's poster quoting Theodore Roosevelt fits quite well here. "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." Remember to accentuate the positives in your writing life, and keep moving on.