On feeling like it's not good enough

Of all my blog posts so far, this one seems to need the least amount of setup. We’ve all been there; that nagging feeling that hits us when we’re at our most frustrated point.

Like pouring salt on an open wound.

The feeling that whatever you’re working on isn’t good enough and nobody will care about it anyways. It’s a feeling all creatives have felt at one point or another. And as someone who has definitely felt that many times, I’d like to offer my own insight on this inevitable feeling of inadequacy.

It was around the time I had finished the 800th revision of my manuscript where that feeling crept in and I found myself doubting everything I had written thus far. It was also about my 800th time feeling that. I wanted to give up, feeling like I would never finish writing my book and even if I did, it would never be as good as I wanted it to be. I fought this feeling for years. And I had given in and given up many times.

It was definitely when I started surrounding myself with other authors that those feelings began to dissipate.

I joined a writers workshop group, attended a bunch of publishing conferences, and met a lot of authors from multiple genres, listening to their stories. I listened to people that had succeeded, people that had failed, people who were indifferent about it all. I learned that I was not alone in this struggle and that everyone had their doubts. It encouraged me to stop thinking my work wasn’t good enough and instead focus my energy on just getting the damn thing done.

Which is exactly what I did.

But know this. Even now as I write this with a completed book and other projects in the works, I still get that feeling. But now I see it differently.

It’s wildly necessary.

Doubt breeds perseverance. That feeling of “I knew I could do it” or “I told you so” gives you back any confidence you may have lost along the creative process.

It sounds cliche, but trust that process. Doubt yourself. Feel like shit. Go through whatever internal struggles you’re going through. And if you have to give up, give up. But just come back. That’s what they don’t tell you. It’s ok to give up. But you have to find the courage to come back.

If I can do it, anyone can.