Wednesday, September 3, 2014

IWSG Post – Tackling the feeling of not being good enough


I look forward to the IWSG posts every month. IWSG, a support group for writers started by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh posts on the first Wednesday of every month. We encourage and support other writers through our posts as well as talk of our insecurities, fears, anxieties and doubts. It’s very cathartic, venting out our feelings before other writers. For one they completely understand us and second they offer suggestions and advice which helps us cope. You can check out the IWSG website. To read the other posts click here.

This month I am going to talk of the feeling that all writers undergo. The feeling that we are not good enough. Every writer has faced this feeling at some point or the other. Especially when they have just read an awesome book that left their jaws crashing to the ground. After the brilliant book has been read, we are accosted with a feeling that we will never be able to write such a book. This feeling is also triggered by rejection.

This feeling of not being good enough also hits us when we are bamboozled with an entire host of writing advice: ranging from creating page turning stories, memorable characters which readers remember for a long, long time, ending each chapter on a cliff hangar, introducing surprise twists and turns, nailing that elusive voice, keeping the stakes high at all times and grabbing the readers eyeballs on every page.

Whew! That’s quite an achievement for one book. Keeping all this in mind, we work and work and work lots more on our stories ensuring that every bit of advice is followed and bettered.

Have you all ever felt that you aren’t good enough? How do you all tackle this feeling?



17 comments:

  1. Yes, yes and triple yes! This sounds so familiar, in fact my IWSG is a very similar topic. I think the only answer is to keep going, keep learning and growing as a writer. It's such a subjective business. Best of luck, Rachna.

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  2. Ha, I always feel like I'm not good enough, but I have to write anyway.

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  3. Yes! I always get this feeling, and it's stronger after I've read an excellent book...
    But then I remind myself that I'm NOT that author. I am me.

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  4. Always left with a feeling of could have done better!

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  5. All of us are not good enough at some point of time. We just have to work towards getting better. If we read some author who is better than us, they can also become an inspiration/ learning for us.

    Destination Infinity

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  6. Yes, I always feel like that. Sometimes I wonder if writing is just a hobby just for me.

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  7. I fight the feeling almost every day. All that advice doesn't make me feel inadequate, it makes me want to do it, but it's easier said than done.

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  8. I sometimes feel practically paralyzed by all the writing advice out there. I try to push it all aside and just write the first few drafts without all of that in my head. I turn back to it when I'm ready to revise.

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

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  9. I think we all feel that way--and it's comforting, honestly, to know others feel that way, as well. I have a feeling authors like Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling probably have that doubt more than the rest of us. All that pressure to live up to having such a huge fan base. It would be very difficult to write with all that noise in your head!

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  10. I have to include all of that in a book? I'm in so much trouble...

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  11. I wrote my post on this exact thing. And my solution: never compare yourself to anyone else. You are you and you have your own talents and gifts. Believe me, I struggle with not feeling good enough but then I think, I'm never go to sound like them. I'm only going to sound like me. So I better make this as great as I can. Just have faith in yourself.

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  12. Hi, Rachna,


    Writing is tough. But we must remember to write from our hearts, honestly. All the other "tricks" are expected, but we must also remember ebbs and flows. We need to build it, before we peak. SO much of this is lost in today's stories,

    Look at the classics. They continue to be timeless... Why? because the prose is real, beautiful, and honest. Not full of gimmicks. It's like movies with tons of special effects, but no real storyline. Special effects only go so far....

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  13. I feel that way whenever I walk into a bookstore. Seeing all those novels by famous authors with teams of editors/designers/publisher/etc., piled up on display, table after table, shelf after shelf...it's almost crippling.

    Then I go home, look at my WIP and think to myself... I'm writing for me, for my sanity, for my happiness. Whatever happens... happens.



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  14. Yes, I do struggle with that feeling. But then I try to take something new or different from the awesome book I just read and apply it to my writing. I think, "one day, it'll be me--a best seller" :)

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  15. Damn, I need all of that? Hmmm I'll slink off lol

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  16. I get this feeling all the time Rachna. I guess my only salvation has been in the few short story publications I've had.

    Not all advice is worthy of following. Choose wisely, Grasshopper.

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  17. I often feel this way. Meditation helps.

    By the way, Rachna, you've been nominated for "The Versatile Blogger Award". Here's my post on that one: Versatile Blogger Award: Delighted to Receive it!

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