Don’t Listen To The Doubts

Some of you may know that this past year, I went through major writer’s block. Due to some person family emergencies, I found myself seriously affected and couldn’t write. Several months would go by and I couldn’t write. I couldn’t even get myself to even think about writing.

So what happened? I started listening to the doubts. You know, those little thoughts that get inside your head and make you doubt everything you do? Yeah, those pesky things. What do they “say” exactly? Here’s a few examples:

“You’ll never make it as a writer anyways.”
“Why even bother? You’re not good enough”
“You’ll never be successful.”
“This story sucks.”
“You aren’t a writer. You’ll never be a writer.”

Let’s just say, those doubts can be pretty mean sometimes. In the past, when those doubts came into my mind, I was able to just shrug them off and keep writing. But, this past year, certain situations left me emotionally vulnerable and exhausted. I couldn’t fight them off. I felt like I couldn’t at that time.

A couple of months ago was the time where I realized that it was time for me to get back into it. I had to dust myself off and tell my characters stories. They needed me for that. Their story couldn’t continue without me. My dream of being a published author couldn’t be shattered just because some nasty doubts crept into my head.

Lately, I’ve been doing really well. I’ve been averaging about 2,000 words a day and I do write every day now. Yesterday, I made it to 4,000 words which was a great accomplishment for me. Just a few short months ago, I wasn’t writing any, so to go from that to around 4k is pretty amazing.

If you find yourself  yourself in a situation where the doubts are taking over, take a step back and collect yourself.  Think of why you wanted to be a writer in the first place.  Think about the story you are writing and why you wanted to write it in the first place.  Don’t let those doubts take over.  Think positive and keep moving.  Anyone can make it if they try hard enough.

I am opening up my blog to anyone interested in writing a guest post here.  It can be anything writing or reading related, so if you’re up for it, either comment on this post or send me an e-mail at thestoryinme@gmail.com

Also, my “Interview With The Character” blog fest is next Friday and we need more participants! All you have to do is conduct an interview with a character in a story you are working on (or planning on working on). Ask them questions and then answer them as that character. It really is a lot of fun and helps you get to know your characters. Post that interview on your blog with a link to this one. On that day, stop by this blog and check out the post I’ll make with the links of everyone who is participating (and read my character interview, of course…). You can sign up by commenting below or send me an e-mail at thestoryinme@gmail.com with your name and blog link. 🙂

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Don’t Let Stress Win The Battle

My manuscript is really progressing as of late and I couldn’t be more excited.  I think what is making it so much easier than before is, well, my attitude.

Let me try to explain.  After I graduated college, I was under a lot of stress (and I still am). All I keep hearing is how hard things are going to be.  Throughout my life, I was never handed anything on a silver platter. I’ve always had to work hard, so it’s not like I was expecting life to be one huge song and dance number.  I admit, I let stress take  control of my life. I couldn’t focus on writing. All I focused on was trying to find a job and trying to pay off my student loans. Everything else was pushed aside.

Until January came around and I realized that I couldn’t just let my dreams and goals fall apart because of one little word. Stress. We all experience it. Even when we’re writing, it’s there, standing right behind you, making sure its presence is known. Sometimes, it will cause a plague of worry inside you, making you feel like you’re going to fail if you even try.

But, the thing is you have to try. You can’t let stress or worry win the battle. I was about to just throw up my hands and let stress win.  But, in my heart, I knew I couldn’t do that because I had a story to tell. This story wasn’t going away.  I’ve learned to take a few deep breaths and clear my head.  When it’s time for writing, I merely shut the door and get to work. Because it’s my time.  I just can’t sit back and not share my stories with the world.

So, if you’re feeling stressed that day and you think you just can’t do it, take a few deep breaths and know that you can. Push all those doubts out of head that you’ll never make it or you’ll never succeed. They’re wrong, you know.  Take a few moments and shake it off. Then, sit down and start writing again.

If I’ve learned one thing throughout this whole process it’s this:

You have to believe in yourself before you can really expect others to believe in you.

It’s all in your mind.  Create some positive thinking and the creativity will start flowing.

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