Hi - trying to kick self-doubt in the teeth

[Les of Edith Weston]

I should be too old for self-doubt.
I'm not.
I am steeling my psyche to accept that rejection is not humiliation but a matter of taste. (Or at least that is how I am trying to con myself into shoving my writing into the public domain, thus laying my soul open to criticism from people who don't know me.)
It's tough - and I do know it will get tougher.
My hope is that this community is polite but not sycophantic - I'll do my best to contribute positivism and humour.
Warm greetings to all who have managed to read as far as this

 

[Island Writer]

Hi Les of Edith Weston and welcome to the fray!

You will find a lot of like-minded people here... and many of us suffer just as you do. I have an index card pinned to the top of my laptop: I CAN DO THIS. It helps in a small way to keep my mind in positive territory! I have endless notes posted around the house that give me positive messages... including this from the world no. 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic: Your convictions must be stronger than your doubts.

The power of positive thinking is an incredible thing.

Have you read Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way"? I find her Morning Pages help to clear the mind of all the negative 'crap' I wake up with. Definitely worth reading - here's a link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Artists-Wa...&qid=1469458325&sr=8-2&keywords=julia+cameron

My last piece of advice: the best thing is to get your work out there, learn from the feedback (especially when it hurts) and to celebrate your achievements, however small.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Hi Les of Edith Weston and welcome to the fray!

You will find a lot of like-minded people here... and many of us suffer just as you do. I have an index card pinned to the top of my laptop: I CAN DO THIS. It helps in a small way to keep my mind in positive territory! I have endless notes posted around the house that give me positive messages... including this from the world no. 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic: Your convictions must be stronger than your doubts.

The power of positive thinking is an incredible thing.

Have you read Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way"? I find her Morning Pages help to clear the mind of all the negative 'crap' I wake up with. Definitely worth reading - here's a link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Artists-Wa...&qid=1469458325&sr=8-2&keywords=julia+cameron

My last piece of advice: the best thing is to get your work out there, learn from the feedback (especially when it hurts) and to celebrate your achievements, however small.

Thanks. Thoughtful and thought provoking words.

 

[Sea-shore]

Warm welcome to you Les. We are a friendly bunch. One can never be too old or young for self-doubt.

 

[Boopadoo]

Hello and welcome! There's no place better than Litopia to help work past any thoughts of "is my work good enough."

 

[KG Christopher]

Hi Les, good luck with the writing, we are a polite bunch. Stroll on down to the Flash Club and have a go at some instant gratification, you won't be surprised.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Welcome to the Colony. Self-doubt is fuel and rejection letters, from literary agents and publishers, are campaign medals.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Sycophantic? Not a chance. Friendly, yes, polite, yes, and I can't think of anyone here who won't totally get where you are coming from.

Just be brave, mon brave.

What else can we do?

 

[Lex Black]

Welcome to the Colony!

 

[Patricia D]

Hello and welcome, Les.

 

[Marc Joan]

Welcome

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Welcome, and join the crowd of self-doubters. You'll find lots of folks here to believe in you when you can't muster it yourself!

 

[Peggy Lou]

Welcome.
Rejections are horrid and heart-wrenching but helpful too. At least so I tell myself.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Thanks for great welcome.

 

[Richard Sutton]

Hey there, Les! Well met. Besides, self-doubt is the fuel that gets the fire burning. If writers didn't harbor all kinds of fears , worries, and generally poor self-esteem, we'd be fresh outta ideas.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

If you don't know him, Charles Bukowski had much to say about writing and self-confidence.

I like his poem So You Want To Be A Writer, which is full of merciless common sense, tinged with poignancy.

 

[KG Christopher]

It's hard to get a good singer to start, but its even harder to get a bad singer to stop.

 

[James Marinero]

Welcome and stay positive!

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Cheers

 

[K.J. Simmill]

Welcome, it's great to meet you

 

[David Newrick]

Welcome @Les of Edith Weston and keep your self-doubts to yourself, we have enough of our own thank you very much

See you around the Colony.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Welcome @Les of Edith Weston and keep your self-doubts to yourself, we have enough of our own thank you very much

See you around the Colony.

Too late, David - a problem shared is a problem divided - and I've kept a wee bit especially for you! Thanks for the welcome - It's been great for a new incomer!

 

[Lisa Holden]

Hi Les, I'm new too and, like you, attempting to grow a thick skin! It's great to meet you.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Hi Les, I'm new too and, like you, attempting to grow a thick skin! It's great to meet you.

Thanks Lisa - welcome to you too

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Looka- here everyone. See this closet? We can store self-doubts in it.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Looka- here everyone. See this closet? We can store self-doubts in it.

View attachment 1410

A gloomy damp closet of the sort beloved by mushrooms and crime scene photos from the 1950's. There lurks a danger that self-doubt grows strong in there to attack anyone opening the door and letting it loose.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Fungicide, Les. Or sunshine.

Spent a decade on a book, two years querying, recently revised after a few months lying fallow. I don't doubt this though; that it will do nothing but lie there foxing if I shove it in there with the self-doubt.

Anyway, it's obnoxious not to have a few doubts. As KG said, and it is true, why is it that the worst singers are the ones who don't sit down.

Deathly vice in a writer, performer, well....anything but a rhino in a cloud of flies.

Imperviousness.

Kicking time.

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

If you don't know him, Charles Bukowski had much to say about writing and self-confidence.

I like his poem So You Want To Be A Writer, which is full of merciless common sense, tinged with poignancy.

i think that I shall pin the poem on the wall to remind me why I want to write - thanks for the pointer

 

[Carol Rose]

Welcome!

 

[Les of Edith Weston]

Welcome!

Thanks, Carl Rose