tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post3149053696820964188..comments2024-03-29T00:35:40.557-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: When You Feel Like the Worst Writer in the WorldJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86990878448523935382015-09-30T17:05:23.256-04:002015-09-30T17:05:23.256-04:00I loved this post and it's great to know I'...I loved this post and it's great to know I'm not alone. I tend to feel like the worst writer in the world when I check my sales and see that I haven't gained any new readers in a while. It makes me feel invisible in this great sea of writers all trying to get their work out there. Sometimes I feel like a failure but your post has made me realize that I'm doing the best I can and I shouldn't be so hard on myself!Taylor Fenner's Bookish Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13558519625439500114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-31723216860252543122015-09-25T11:25:31.263-04:002015-09-25T11:25:31.263-04:00It's this kind of insecurity that keeps me on ...It's this kind of insecurity that keeps me on my toes. The rest of the time, I have no idea what I'm doing. ;) Mariam Kobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03538911373668958558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2261990542140215722015-08-20T18:50:01.838-04:002015-08-20T18:50:01.838-04:00I needed this post. I finished my first book a mon...I needed this post. I finished my first book a month ago and now editing. This explains why my earlier mountain top excitement has plummeted. Editing is so hard. If one more family member says, "I thought you were finished with that book?" DJ Exumhttp://djexum.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-37578299391447685122015-08-20T14:01:42.528-04:002015-08-20T14:01:42.528-04:00Great points, Jody. Thanks for this post! I'm ...Great points, Jody. Thanks for this post! I'm in this exact same spot and have been there for a while as I work through all the different levels of editing on my soon-to-release book. There have been more times of discouragement than I expected. I know it doesn't mean it's a bad book, but I think that as we constantly look critically at our work - and others do as well - it can leave us tangled up, sometimes even wondering what we're doing in the first place. I have to remind myself that those feelings are really a blessing in disguise. They have us staying on our toes, giving 100%. Even if the finished product doesn't hit that home run with everyone, we can walk away knowing that we did our absolute best. Always easier said than done, of course. ;) So I'm so thankful for this post and to know that you hit those spots yourself, and to read your pointers on how to take it all in stride. Thanks!Joanne Bischofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12850714020955061159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-47512012548094531192015-08-20T13:59:43.785-04:002015-08-20T13:59:43.785-04:00Jody, I've come to believe that every writer i...Jody, I've come to believe that every writer in the world, whether published or not, suffers from some degree of the Imposter Syndrome. Thanks for the reassurance, as well as some of the explanations.Richard Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15993592219849830777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89095040108214714472015-08-20T13:25:56.053-04:002015-08-20T13:25:56.053-04:00Great post. It's kind of comforting in a way t...Great post. It's kind of comforting in a way to read about other writers experiencing the same anxieties and worries, whilst at the same time finding ways to push past these fears. It's encouraging. :) Thank you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065333261884327076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73074436693698743452015-08-20T06:38:46.970-04:002015-08-20T06:38:46.970-04:00I host a small village inside me when I create. Th...I host a small village inside me when I create. The loudest voice is my own teacher's voice ('Really? You're going to put that there?), my doubting Thomas (Don't know why you thought this was going to turn out okay), the chorus of dissenters (You suck!), the characters themselves (would you get on already and keep writing). Doesn't matter how many awards, how many publications, how many times on the best seller list, those happy moments never last when faced with the other reality of 'making good art': fear, distraction, uncertainty, unbelief, doubt, a lack of perspective. Thank goodness we get to hear other people just like us say similar stuff to what we're thinking so that we don't give up altogether. Thank you Jody.TK Roxboroghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16396099477818776758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-36584845415708342002015-08-18T20:44:00.310-04:002015-08-18T20:44:00.310-04:00There are definitely times when I'm trying to ...There are definitely times when I'm trying to write when my inner editor goes ballistic. I start second-guessing every word I try to jot down and it takes me forever to finish whatever I'm working on. During times like these, I start asking myself whether I really have the talent to be a published author. What helps me push through these times is thinking about the praise that I've gotten for my work in the past, and also considering the fact that just about EVERY writer, no matter how successful, has thought something similarly about their own writing abilities. I also remind myself of a quote I read that went something like this: lack of belief in your abilities will destroy you long before lack of talent does. I've just gotta keep pushing through times like these to get to the reward of creating something I'm proud of.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13798626791586581211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-74233400823738821392015-08-18T17:50:49.987-04:002015-08-18T17:50:49.987-04:00You are not alone, Jody. I rarely like my books af...You are not alone, Jody. I rarely like my books after reading them over and over again during multiple rounds of editing. And reviews sure keep us humble...and sometimes scratching our heads, especially when opinions vary so widely on the same book--which proves how true your #3 is. Sounds like you've been very busy, lady! I'm guessing readers will LOVE the fruit of your labors.Julie Klassenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705990274394936247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30190132997791145912015-08-18T10:29:18.453-04:002015-08-18T10:29:18.453-04:00Very encouraging post! Applies to other areas of l...Very encouraging post! Applies to other areas of life as well, whether it's mothering, sistering, daughtering, or whatever we do on a regular basis, it's just too easy to feel like we're failing. Where do these unrealistic expectations come from?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783350310611096039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89952831745006947572015-08-18T10:23:26.187-04:002015-08-18T10:23:26.187-04:00Well, I'm not published....yet, but there are ...Well, I'm not published....yet, but there are days where I just don't want to write because I think--"What for? There are so many better writers out there?" Yes, there are many times, I feel like the worst writer in the world. Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17149138881304481080noreply@blogger.com