What to Do When You Doubt Your Writing Ability

After taking the summer off, I’m so excited to return to writing. As I sit to write this blog post, however, something happens: I feel stuck. Nothing comes to mind to write about. I am frustrated, but I’m pretty sure I know why I’m feeling this way: I’m doubting my ability as a writer.

Do you feel this way too at times? From what I hear and read, even writers who have been published multiple times doubt themselves. What’s up with that!?

Doubt derails our writing

Have you experienced any of the following?

Feel paralyzed

Begin to criticize every word you write

Think your writing dream is futile

Sink into discouragement

Recall previous writing rejections

Feel hopeless

First steps for fighting off self-doubt

I know–because I’ve been in this place before–that if I don’t take action immediately, the self-doubt will just get worse and derail my ability to move forward with my writing. So I take the first step I recommend for fighting off self-doubt: I start to pray.

Then as I pray for inspiration and direction for my writing, a certain phrase keeps coming to mind: shake it off.

Hmmm…I’m not sure what that means in this situation, so I do a biblegateway.com search of the word shake and come up with powerful truth.

“Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; Loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” (Isaiah 52:2)

Reading this verse from Isaiah leads me to visualize shaking off the doubts that are making me stuck. And I picture shaking my whole self vigorously! As I do, I pray to be loosed and set free from the captivity of my doubts. I’m shaking it all off, Lord! I pray.

Next, I read Psalm 21:7, “For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Now in the Psalms I find a different take on the word shake. This verse and the next show me how not to be shaken by doubts. Just like the king, I can trust in the Lord’s love. By soaking in His love, I will not be shaken by my doubts.

And one more gem found in Psalm 30:6, “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.'” Another reminder that my security–about my writing or anything else–will be found in the Lord.

Don’t you love how we find answers in God’s Word?!

Do you need to shake doubt off! Take the first step today, shake it off with prayer, and rest in the Lord’s love. You also might want to do your own search of the word shake and see what else God leads you to.

What are some other strategies you take to shake off self-doubt? I’ll blog more about this next week!

Don’t miss out on the writing opportunity below! 

 ~Melanie

Next Step Coaching Services wants YOU as our GUEST BLOGGER!

We are looking for writers who can blog about their publishing journey, whether self-published or traditionally published; good or bad experience; book or any other type of writing. We’ll use these guest posts throughout the year.

If interested in this opportunity, please email Melanie at [email protected]. In your email give me a few sentences about why you want to guest blog and a brief summary of what publishing experience you can share with our readers.

Can’t wait to hear from you!