How to BEAT Self-Doubt as a Writer

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Watch my other video on fear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZuqooKKgt-ll5I

[@robertvoliton]

i feel so much better after seeing this thanks

[@aboycalledfish]

Heh. One of my biggest moments of self doubt was when I was trying to adopt a rabbit. I wasn't getting any responses back from the shelters I put applications into. I looked online and the forums all said that no shelter in their right mind would adopt out to someone who had never owned a pet before. It was just as bad as the "you need work experience to get this internship to get work experience" paradox. I balled my eyes out for an entire day while writing every shelter back and proclaiming how much I would love to adopt their rabbit. My brain was screaming "it'll never work" but my fingers said "I'll never give up!". Now I've have my bunny for almost 3 years xD

[@allegedlegend541]

Great video. You should do more like this. One thing I will add is that this battle is usually a daily struggle. Beat the critical voice into submission, but know that it will be back on another day, maybe even the next day. So always be ready for the next round of the fight.

[@Hero323]

Great advice. Needed to hear this.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

My main issue is worrying sometimes that no one will like my stories. I get around that doubt by reminding myself that as long as I love my stories, as long as I have fun and enjoy the process, that's all that matters. Of course sales are nice, but I don't think you should write for money, you should write because you love telling stories. Each time my critical voice tries putting me down about sales, I beat it back by reminding myself of that.

[@Bluehearte07]

This video came just at a time when I needed a boost for my writing. Thanks!

[@cristydlcMN]

Oh my goodness, did I need this today. You are a gem. Thanks for helping us realize we are not alone when we are in the room with THAT VOICE that is now starting to scream at us the closer we get to taking these brave steps.

[@theatheistpaladin]

Me, I embrace the suck. Everything I will write will be total garbage. The sooner I get all the garbage out, the sooner I can get on getting better. I will have to write, write, and write, re-write, edit, write agian, re-write, and edit some more. At some point I will be good at it. It going to be work. Even the best jobs you still have to put in the blood, sweat, and tears.

[@dorkified9]

Thank you so much for this! Self doubt has been a big struggle for me lately and I have been letting it prevent me from getting much of anything done. Your message here, about self-doubt being just a voice that can't actually stop me - well, I love that. I'm going to remember that when I sit down for my next writing session.

[@bigphilly7345]

Great stuff, Michael. I have a feeling once I FINISH my first book, a whole world will open. I’ll be able to say I already finished once, why can’t I do it again and again?

[@locosnake101]

Thanks for the advice. I believe that things that come straight from the mind- creative things- are always connected to past experiences and traumas. Think of your mind as a house and that house has guests that are all of your thoughts, experiences, and beliefs. They may come and go, but they are there. And when one of them starts to play music to loudly and starts being to much of a presence, all of them will be affected and complain. They need to understand each other in order to create and that's the hardest part of creating. But that's also the best part of creating is that you must evolve as a person in order to succeed.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

That is extremely well said.

[@cjpreach]

Michael - HOME RUN! TOUCHDOWN! GRAND SLAM! GAME, SET MATCH! (Insert sports cliche here.). I will listen to this one multiple times. Thanks

[@megeles]

When he was talking about the movie playing in your head over and over I thought he meant that novel you need to be working on. I know I'm not the only one who just has to write because otherwise that book is just going to keep nagging at me to write it.

[@windsonma8209]

For me it's that as well

[@Piqipeg]

Me too...

[@DeeBlaregold]

Oh, you’re right! I think all of those things. And I always say to myself and my family, that “I know if I just get the first book out, things will be different; I’ll be more comfortable.” Thank you for those encouraging words; I just enrolled in a publishing course. I think that will help me as well. 2021 is the year!😃📚

[@heathermacdonald6404]

I like what you said about the critical voice, Michael. "It can't really stop you." So simple. I'll keep it in mind. Great video! Thanks for your inspirational talks.

[@Aunty_Becky]

Thank You

[@e.w.norwood6182]

Excellent video. Extremely helpful. I'm dealing with that voice as I push through my first draft (94%).

[@BlessedOne-jp1cy]

I wish I could like this 1,000 times!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mademoisellech886]

all I can say is: wow. Your content on writing is by far the most honest and the most helpful I ever encountered here on YT,...love and greetings from Germany. My struggle with self doubt is the following: I currently work on my first draft. when I write some passages and I think "okay, that's awesome" , ususally the next days, when I check my written content twice, I totally cringe at it :D I am simply super-critical with myself

[@karenthue8978]

This is the best video I ever saw on writing!!!!!

[@chipwalter4490]

Michael you are so right about this Season of Self Doubt that is hanging over us all right now. THANK U for pointing it out and giving remedies and encouragement. Your voice is inspiring!

[@susanmiller5912]

I think I need to watch/listen to this every day for a month, maybe a year!

[@windsonma8209]

Wow that is Increasable Thank You for Not Only the Awesome Advice but also Recently I have just Lost the Drive to Continue on with my Short Stories due to Personal Reasons I think I took about a week off because I have lost that Drive that I Mentioned. But Just this Past Week I have decided to just say "Forget It" well actually it's something else hare but I can't say it hare. Anyways I'm Glade that I did because It turns out that I actually got a lot done in that One day, considering Writing for me right now is only a Hobby that I do just for Fun. Where as before it was Not Only A hobby but I also had a reason to Write the for mentioned Short Stories of mine but sadly that Motivation has been taken away from me, again it's Personal. Now I guess I only write Them Not Only just for Fun as a Hobby as I have Said but also for my personal Use

[@clownfisk]

This is such a great video!! Thank you for this. I loved how you took it further and explained how the voices will get louder etc. and what we can do in that situation.

[@Socasmx]

This helped so much! I've been working on a story for years and haven't finished a draft. I'm nearing the end of a draft and panicking.

[@kandirussell5024]

I feel a little better about fixing 3rd person limited errors that I didn't know I had when I wrote my manuscript. Thank you Michael!

[@branfiction]

Fantastic video! I like the movie theater metaphor in particular as well as the phrase "self doubt is just a voice." Subscribed.

[@delzovx8448]

I watched your videos man and i say you're an absolute legend! 🔝💯

[@Meloyadina]

Thank you!! Completely on point!!

[@AruLOTR]

Wow, this video is pure gold. Thank you and greetings from Spain!

[@whitephoenix9]

Thank you Michael, this video could not have came out at a better time!

[@neopagan1976]

Thank you very much for such an encouraging video, Dude. You're the best. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@waltermanson999]

You are Amazing !

[@susanam.826]

Thank you so much, Michael! Very timely. :)

[@wylanvallotton4462]

This is really helpful. Thank you.

[@Carepedoit]

Thanks for this one. I will pass it along.

[@kyounokuma]

Great video. Thank you.

[@jluna9582]

great vid! 6:24 wait, wait, wait, how can you tell that someone is "so close"? are there any signs that you can share or is this some sort of unshareable gut instinct?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Some have told me how many words they’ve written. And it’s close to being done. :)

[@jluna9582]

@@AuthorLevelUp ahh, OK, that makes sense. Thanks!

[@AlbaPoulzen]

I have been writing for four years and love creating touching stories, but I tend to get stuck on what I just wrote and keep editing it until I feel good about it. This is a huge problem because I don't get much done.

[@pvp66]

Great 👍🏻 Video

[@AuthorpreneurPodcast]

What if that first "bad book" is the first in a series? Do you continue writing the rest of the series?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Yes, keep writing. You can always fix issues with book 1 down the road.

[@AuthorpreneurPodcast]

@@AuthorLevelUp Thanks, I've been struggling with this for quite some time.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

It’ll happen. You won’t know sometimes until the book is published that it has issues. You can always fix later, and I wouldn’t let that stop you. Sometimes you learn the most when you fail to execute. Nothing is ever permanent in self publishing though.

[@embrosapheo]

Thank you for this video do you have anything on muses for writing I listen to music off my normal mode of music. Right now its nighgcore and animation music renditions off popular music. And a painting on my desk.

[@christopherthehackdowning6402]

:)