Does self-doubt stop you from writing?

Have you wanted to write an expert blog post or submit an article on your expertise to a publication but self-doubt holds you back?

I’m not a good writer. 

I don’t know if my writing is good enough. 

Who wants to read what I write?

Can you relate to any of these thoughts? 

The journalism world is changing (slowly). But people do want to read articles written or featuring people who actually know what they’re talking about. People want expertise, they want scientific data to back up claims and they want value.

How many times have you clicked on a headline only to discover it’s clickbait? Disappointing, right? The article is fluff and you feel frustrated that you wasted your time even reading it. This is why we need more professionals to take the knowledge they have tucked away in their minds and share it with a wider audience. You could make a difference, not only in your practice, but with your words, too. 

Have I convinced you yet? No, probably not.

There’s probably that niggling: “Yes, but…” that stops you from taking the leap.

I’ve spoken to other psychologists and therapists who say they want to write blogs or write about what they know but they “don’t know how to write” or they’re not confident in their writing.

But the only way to get better at writing is to start writing. 

You don’t need a fancy writing degree to tell you how to write, everyone has it in them to write something. It just takes a little practice (and self-belief). 

I share some tips below on what to do when self-doubt gets in the way.

When self-doubt holds you back from getting started

Okay, the first thing to do is write without expectation. Write as if no one will read it. If we think too much about our audience or what people might think of us then we’ll interrupt the creative flow and become too fixated on every word and sentence we type rather than the message.

Start by writing just for you. 

If you’re not sure what you want to say, try journaling. Set a timer for 2 minutes and just write whatever comes to mind. This can help if we have too much going on in our thoughts and we need to get it out of the way before we have the space to write something else.  

When self-doubt gets in the way of making progress

When you sit down to start and you’re faced with a blank page, it’s a little overwhelming. So, start with the structure first. Fill out the easy stuff. Where your header will be, sub-headings, your intro, body and conclusion. Once you have that, you have your structure. You have a starting point. 

And you are no longer staring at a blank page

When self-doubt stops you from publishing

So you have a blog post ready to publish or an article ready to pitch to a publication, now what? Are you second-guessing whether it’s any good? Are you having doubts about whether anyone will connect with what you wrote or will judge your opinions? 

The reason we can get in our heads too much is because sharing something you’ve written makes you vulnerable. You’re putting a part of yourself out there and there’s a risk that people won’t like it, or agree with you, or they may judge you. 

It’s scary, I get it. I’ve been there. 

One thing that has helped me develop technical skills as a writer and helped me overcome my fear of judgment is to get feedback from a trusted person. This may be a friend, a colleague or a professional writer or editor. This can give you objective feedback on not only the writing but also provide you with the reassurance and the support you need to take the next step. 

I have received feedback on my work so many times over the past decade that I’ve lost count! Whether it be for creative fiction writing or non-fiction articles, having someone else’s eyes on your work is invaluable. I’ve been part of writing workshop groups and writing groups, I’ve worked with editors and mentors, and critique partners. Yes, each time I send off my work, it is a little nerve-wracking. But the benefits far outweigh any risk there may be to my ego. 

Feedback has helped me find ways to improve my writing, think of things from a different perspective and identify my strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge gives you some creative control because you can find ways to highlight your strengths and work on the areas you find more challenging. If you’d like to read about my experience of hiring a structural editor for a previous fiction manuscript, you can read that here. 

Receiving feedback on my writing has helped me grow as a writer and increased my confidence, too. I think feedback on our writing is so valuable and it can really take you out of your head and make the most of what’s on the page. 

If your fear is that your writing is not good enough, then getting feedback from someone who provides constructive feedback can actually help you improve your writing. And, you’ll probably find that it’s really not as bad as you thought. 

Don’t let self-doubt hold you back

If self-doubt is getting in the way of writing something new, finishing it or sharing it with your audience, then try removing all expectations, taking advantage of structural elements of writing and getting feedback on your work. 

Contact Me

If you’d like feedback on a blog post you’ve written or a fresh set of eyes to edit a piece you’ve completed or help with pitching a publication- get in touch today. 

And if structure is what you need, try my blog template and eBook, it has everything you need to structure your blog post. You simply fill in the blanks!