You're not the only one.

A lot of writers feel this way.

Hello, writer dear.

Tell me—when you’re doubting your writing, what’s going through your mind? Just for fun, let’s get an idea of which thoughts are most frequent. Go ahead and click; it’s anonymous!

For anyone who chose option #4, holy moly, please tell me us your ways.¹ For so many of us, that faith in ourselves and our writing is, at best, wobbly. Especially during my most excruciating part of writing (drafting), I hear some iteration of “No one will care about this.” I’d like to believe I haven’t been taunted by that self-doubt every single time I’ve started something new, but . . . ²

It doesn’t mean I—or you—should listen, though. We deserve to have faith in ourselves, in our writing.

Emma Vivian

’s transparency is a relief. I don’t think we have as many conversations about self-doubt as we could; reminders that it’s rampant makes self-doubt feel much less personal, much less like a flaw we need to fix. Reminders also make us feel more capable of ignoring it and figuring out a way forward.

I suppose one of the reasons I’m writing to you about self-doubt is because I want to do my part in having this conversation. I want to remind you: you’re not the only one. Hard feelings are made so much worse when we think we’re alone in them.

But you aren’t.

And it’s not just me, or Emma, or you, who feels this way. Writers of all genres, experience levels, and forms of “success”³ forget: what, and that, we write is important.

It’s all important—our ideas and imaginings and inquiries. It’s important that we make tangible what’s abstract within us. It’s important that we give others the chance to connect with, be changed by, appreciate what we write. It’s important we honor our instinct to (boldly) use our words.

What you’re working on matters.

Keep going.

Now tell me this, writer dear—what are you working on? What about it thrills you? When, where, why do you feel self-doubt?

I actually do want you to tell me. The comments are a great place to try saying some things “out loud” among like-minded folks. Also, I’m glad you’re writing it! I’d like to encourage you, should you need that right now.

You’ll hear from me again in two weeks with some self-doubt-alleviating-strategies. In the meantime, you are necessary and brave and worthy. Thank you for being a writer, and thank you for being a reader of Writer Dear.

~Kerry

1. Seriously.

2. Oh! There are actually at least two. Both are micro—100 words and 50 words—so maybe I just didn’t have long enough to question myself?

3. How do we even define success?