All writers have to find a way to deal with the internal negative voice that tells them their work is crap and not worth pursuing. Or, as I often like to say, the game of conventional publishing success is far more psychological than you might think.
Some of the most famous writing advice in the world is about managing inner conflict. Anne Lamott, for example, is well known for the “Shitty First Drafts” concept (from Bird by Bird): She gives you permission to write poorly as a way of getting around that negative voice—or to just accept that your stuff isn’t that good. But no worries, you’ll make it better.
Or Steven Pressfield, in The War of Art, discusses his concept of resistance. He argues that the negative voice you hear is the result of fear, and that “the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
In the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, Devin Murphy finds inspiration to continue his creative struggle in the journals of John Steinbeck, who was extremely critical of himself. Murphy writes:
I kept reading the journals until I found a line that seemed most apt for summing up all these criticisms he launches. “The gray birds of loneliness hopping about.” This it seems encapsulates his inner hydra of self-hate, a genius poet of vile perched on his shoulders.
Read Murphy’s full essay, The Gray Birds of Loneliness.
More from Glimmer Train this month:
- Writers Aren’t Who They Think They Are by David Ebenbach
- Beesting, Kneecap, Lozenge by Dan Murphy
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
[…] view post at https://janefriedman.com/creation-and-doubt/ […]
Yup. This is a topic I write about a lot on my blog, The Rejection Survival Guide. I like to personify my self-doubt as “self-doubt demons,” and my dialogue with them produces amusing and cathartic posts like this one: https://rejectionsurvivalguide.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/letters-to-my-self-doubt-demons/
[…] Friedman recently wrote a blog titled “Creation and Doubt are Enjoined Twins.” She also references an article by Devin Murphy in Glimmer Train, “The Gray Birds of Loneliness,” […]
Thanks. I needed that.
Nancy Lamb (Crafting Stories for Children) called this inner voice of doubt (or worse) “The Spoiler.” It is often a parent or a parental figure’s voice. She suggests talking back to it, and getting sassi. I do, Buster!
The more I talk to people, the more I realize the inner critic is so strong in everyone. Writing is just more solitary and the periods between getting feedback and encouragement can be so long. It makes it harder to fight and quiet that voice. I do think that fearing something is a great reason to plunge into it. Facing a fear is the best way to reduce its power.
[…] https://janefriedman.com/creation-and-doubt/ Do you suffer from doubt? I know I do. I worry that my writing isn’t good enough. I hope to conquer this fear in the days ahead. […]