One of the main problems you may face as a writer is standing up to your inner critic. Being overly self-critical can be very dangerous; stopping you dead in your tracks. It is all too easy to tell yourself to give up, that there is no point, that you will never get anywhere.
But saying things like this to yourself is untrue and the kiss of death to your creative spirit!
So how do you control your inner critic and learn how to shut it down when it is threatening to ruin your writing career? Here are some examples of what it might say, and exactly how to respond.
‘You’ll never be as good as [insert name of your favorite author)’. We can’t help but compare ourselves to authors who have been and gone, ones who’ve had successful and seemingly effortless writing careers, whose fans adore them, who are praised by the media and their peers, who win awards and make millions. Of course, there are going to be writers out there who are more successful than you, but this shouldn’t stop you from writing. Nor should it give you any reason to think that you can’t be that successful too.
There is no one right way to write, many different authors have become successful for various reasons. Write for your audience and yourself and know that you are unique, your stories are written just the way they should be and comparing yourself to others will get you exactly nowhere.
‘Your book will be a flop.’ Your self-critic will always try to make you feel like a failure and will fill your head with thoughts of giving up.
Don’t let it win.
Your inner critic has many tricks up its sleeve. They’ll range from petty insults to targeting your biggest fears and insecurities. However, knowing how to respond, to shut it down and feel positive about your writing will only help spur you on to become a better more productive and more exciting writer.
So whatever you do stand up to your inner critic, and never let it stop you from writing!
“A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking.” Unknown
“It’s okay that I am a little strange, I’m a writer.” Satine
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A few BOOKS BY TRISHA SUGAREK
