I'm in the final stages of prepping my manuscript to be beta read by my trusted writing buddies. My friends know the basic premise of the story, because they've helped me with the query. But the actual manuscript has not been seen by anyone but me.
Guess what I'm lacking? Confidence.
You know that feeling, right? That feeling of fear just before you send that newborn story to have it critiqued. It's a scary step in the publishing process--but absolutely necessary.
*Deep breaths*
When I'm feeling insecure, I like to search for inspiration. Here are some share-worthy quotes about confidence:
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. --Eleanor Roosevelt
It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not. --Attributed to Hanoch McCarty
We have to learn to be our own best friends, because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. --Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive
It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to. --W.C. Fields
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right. --Henry Ford
I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down. --Allen H. Neuharth
If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. --Vincent Van Gogh
Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable. --Wendy Wasserstein
A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort. --Sydney Smith
Friends, do you suffer from lack of confidence when someone else reads your work? Does fear prevent you from sending it out? Did these quotes give you the confidence to send it out anyway? Please share!
I like the Fields quote.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too stressed about sending my work to my test readers and critique partners. Maybe it's because I know I can still make changed and make the story better from their suggestions. It's when the final book goes into the world that's harder because whatever the criticism, I can't change it at that point.
Alex, Alex, Alex...it can ALWAYS be changed ;)
ReplyDelete(In my world)
I needed these quotes today! YES I am so insecure it isn't pretty. I cringe whenever my critique partner sends me her thoughts. We all want everyone to love what we write but it just isn't going to happen!
ReplyDeleteI love the Eleanor Roosevelt quote. =) I use it every day.
ReplyDeleteI worry, of course. But my readers always comment on things or recommend things that make the story better. In the end, that's what we want, so hard as it is, we just have to let it go!
ReplyDeleteI know this feeling!! I'm on my second draft of my current wip and dreading when I open it up for review. I trust the ladies that crit for me but it doesn't make it easier for me. I'm petrified one of these days they'll tell me to give up.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many books I've had published, I still don't feel confident to give advice to others. I do take the chance and send my manuscripts to editors but I'm always filled with doubt. The secret is to keep going despite them.
ReplyDeleteI really like the Elanor Roosevelt quote. And I'm always a bit nervous about a critique. But you're right. They're essential!
ReplyDeleteI lose total perspective on every book so I'm always curious what the beta reader and editor say. Hope the crit goes well. Love that Roosevelt quote. :)
ReplyDeleteI lack confidence and am afraid every step of the way, especially with my writing. Like you, I'll turn to uplifting quotes to remind me I'm not alone in these feelings.
ReplyDeleteGotta love that Van Gogh feller.
ReplyDeleteI want to kiss you for this post. I just sent off a ms that has been one #!@@! to write. I did the self-doubt trip the entire way, and I'm still in that mode. I'm going with Van Gogh.
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