5 Practical Ways to Overcome Writer's Doubt

Whether you're a fledgling or twenty years in, doubt can get the best of any writer. In this post, we'll discuss five practical ways to overcome writer's doubt. 
 

• Overcome Writer's Doubt by Setting Intentions 

 One way to overcome doubts about your writing is to set intentions. Intentions are not the same as goals, though. Goals focus on milestones you may want to hit during your writing journey. Intentions focus on what sort of writer you wish to become while on that journey.  
 
Your intentions might be phrases like “I write even when I'm afraid”, “I write even when I don't feel like it” or “I write out of curiosity, not perfectionism.” 
 
Knowing what sort of writer you want to be will help relieve your doubts because you control how you want to show up.  
 

• Overcome Writer's Doubt with Positive Feedback  

 Look back through any reviews or kind words about your past stories—this may feel a little embarrassing! But pin these sources of positive feedback around your desk anyway. Then you'll have solid evidence to contradict your inner critic when it comes knocking. 
 
If you have yet to share your work with others, take the time to compare your first writing attempts with where you are now. Note how much you've improved. Does your dialogue sound more natural now? Are your characters more believable? Is your plot and pacing tighter? 
 
Reflecting on how your writing has strengthened will give you proof that you can keep growing as a writer and will help soothe growing doubts. 
 

• Overcome Writer's Doubt by Conjuring Your Ideal Reader 

 Whenever you have doubts over whether your story is worth telling, picture the one person who would love to read your work the most. Then, flesh them out as vividly as one of your characters. Think about things like their name, age and living situation. Where do they work, what are their reading habits? Do they have a favourite trope? 
 
Go into as much detail as you need to bring your biggest cheerleader to life. Writing through doubt becomes easier when you know that one person absolutely needs to read your story.  
 

• Overcome Writer's Doubt by Not Writing 

 Sometimes, when the doubt and anxiety surrounding writing get too much, the best thing to do is to walk away. Get up and leave your desk. Go and do something else.  
 
To take an inspiring break, you could try read a passage from your favourite book or watch parts of your favourite film. Go for a walk with nowhere in mind or try immersing yourself with art at your local gallery. Try become interested in a project someone close to you is working on, or find inspiration in the success of other writers. Do whatever you need to do until the gravity of writing pulls you back towards your desk. 
 

• Overcome Writer's Doubt with Creative Sprints 

 Sometimes doubt forms because what we are currently working on feels much bigger than us. If this is the case, it's time to cut your project back down to size. Turn your story into a series of creative sprints.  
 
Creative sprints could be: 

• Finishing a scene within a day. 
  
• Finishing a chapter a week. 
  
• Developing a character arc by the end of the month.  
  
• Naming all the side characters by the weekend. 
  
  
  

 It's essential to have a deadline for each of your creative sprints. Deadlines will add time pressure. And time pressures take away any energy that may have once been given over to doubt.  
 
You can also soothe your writer's doubt by developing a writing habit. 
 
For more writing tips, check out our Top Tips for New Authors.