Self-doubt is a thief.

We’re using a new feature in today’s digital care package: audio! No pressure to listen, but if you’d like to, wait till I say go farther down. That’s when it’ll make the most sense.

Hey writer dear,

Remember the poll from last time about how self-doubt sounds? Well, I wanted to report back that zero (0!) respondents said, “N/A. I never doubt my writing.”

According to this Writer Dear survey, 100% of writers doubt their writing.

If you didn’t already, I hope you believe me now: Self-doubt is not a “you” problem. It’s not something to believe or take seriously. It’s just noise that comes with this particular territory.

Unfortunately, listening to the noise can harm us. If we let it, self-doubt can convince us that writing isn’t worth the risk. That it’s safer to keep our ideas and creativity and lessons to ourselves.

Self-doubt has stolen so many of my words. But over time, I’ve learned to fight back—and want you to be able to do the same.

Let’s make sure self-doubt steals as few of your words as possible.

1. List what you Know.

   Deep down, intuitively, you not only Know that what you’re writing matters, you Know why it matters. Make a list of those reasons. Re-read it. If you can, add to it. Then—give yourself a moment to feel those reasons coming true. ✨

2. Talk it out.

   Whose support best serves you when you’re doubting yourself? Do you need a pep talk from your favorite cheerleader? To commiserate with someone who gets it? What about someone who can offer guidance?¹ Take advantage of the fact that people want you to succeed, and are happy to help you do so.

3. Write yourself some fan mail.

   Imagine the most complimentary letter from a reader you could ever receive, and write some version of that to yourself.² Re-read and/or repeat as often as necessary. Mine is in the comments if you’d like to see it!

Okay, if you’d like to listen to the audio, now’s a good time.³ Scroll back up to the top and press the triangle for it to play.

I’m not trying to get you to eradicate self-doubt, if that’s even possible. I just don’t want it to stop you—ever. Especially because

Morgan Bridger

reminded me: self-doubt can be more than just a thief. There’s the shimmery side, too, where we feel self-doubt because we’re doing something new. Something brave.

So, here’s to not letting self-doubt stop us, no matter why we’re feeling it. Because you are talent, and you are truth, and you are worth it. Thank you for being a writer, and thank you for being a reader of Writer Dear.

~Kerry

1. 👋 Happy to help! Just let me know how!

2. If you’re comfortable doing so, please share yours, too—even just a line.

3. I mention both

Katie Hawkins-Gaar

and

Jennie Nash

in the audio. Check out their work!