Editor’s note: To be inspired to write in these difficult times is hard. With so much going on in the world, it can feel impossible to carry on writing when such monumental events are unfolding before our eyes. So this week we’re re-publishing one of Mary’s most popular posts to help re-inspire you to write.
Stay well!
Are you inspired to write?
Or does your writing never feel quite good enough?
You are not alone.
All writers feel like that at times.
And there is a simple reason why you may not be inspired to write.
Hidden within us is the writer we are born to become. And this inner writer urges us to improve our craft.
That’s a good thing.
But the process starts unraveling when the gremlins of fear, doubt and shame start to bombard us with negative messages:
“You haven’t got what it takes!”
“You’re hopeless!”
“You can’t write!”
“Everyone else writes better!”
Are these thoughts familiar?
I bet they are!
The question is, would you talk so harshly to someone else?
If a new writer were to show you her or his work, how would you respond?
Would you respond with kindness and be supportive?
I really hope so! And that’s exactly how you need to treat yourself.
Because as a writer, you’ll always have doubts about whether you are good enough. It doesn’t matter how successful you are, you’ll still feel inadequate at times and this will affect whether you are inspired to write or not.
Elisabeth George wrote the following in her journal (after publishing twelve bestsellers):
I’m reading John Le Carré’s The Constant Gardener right now. Frankly, it’s making me feel more inadequate than I’ve felt in a long time.
As you can see, at times even successful authors doubt their ability to write. If there is only one thing you take away from this post, let it be this:
Your feelings of inadequacy have no bearing on your talent as a writer. Click to Tweet
The messages that the inner gremlins of fear, doubt and shame give you are the negative voices of the past. Voices of your parents, care-givers or teachers. They had a huge impact when you were little–and you still believe them, don’t you?
It’s time to free yourself from these gremlins!
It’s time for an antidote.
The antidote of inspiring quotes from writers who have gone through their fear, doubt and shame, and have come out the other side.
These inspiring quotes will boost your confidence as a writer
Be inspired to write!
I hope you feel inspired by these quotes. I do! All of them were collected by our wonderful DreamTeam.
We all need to be encouraged and inspired to stay true to our calling. You may want to bookmark this post so that you can get a regular shot of inspiration.
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