Hi Joan
Firstly, thank you for this course:)

What surprised me was the number of negative messages given to two-year-olds, but I guess that’s when they are learning. Nevertheless, I was shocked at 432 negative messages. I was also surprised at the number of people taking degrees. It’s no wonder we experience self-doubt and yes, we do focus on criticism. In a world where more and more people are writing, it creates more self-doubt in me personally, and this is a difficult hurdle to overcome. In addition, I spend hours researching and editing because I never feel my work is good enough! I hope this course changes my perspective 🙂

Hello Joan Dempsey,
I have procrastinated long, and have finally taken the time to watch the first of your video recordings. Am now looking forward t the rest and I can feel my frozen self doubt condition begin to thaw. Thank you for lighting my way.

I am new to writing. I am planning on working on writing more this coming year. Looking forward to seeing how my writing life will become.

Hello Joan,

That something as simple as rephrasing a single question – ” Is my writing any good?” to ” How can I make my writing as good as it can possibly be?” – can have so great an impact on one’s entire attitude toward such an arduous craft – wow, eyes opened! The concept of a new perspective on writing is very interesting to me and I look forward to exploring it further with you in the next video.

The reminder that I am not alone and that I am in good company with those who share, in at least a small way, this self-doubt was helpful to me.

I am vey much a beginner, but I do write and occasional blog where there are a few who like it and follow it. However I’ve not wanted to try to put myself out there more in trying to get published because I am afraid I will find out my writing is a joke to “real writers”. The truth that as a beginning writer my writing probably isn’t good helps take the pressure off and I really appreciate the honesty!! I don’t need someone blowing sunshine in my ears. I would rather have honest critique, just not brutally honest please. 🙂

My question is how do I get better and what type of writers conference or workshop would you recommend for a beginning writer? I see a lot of them on line but most are for more advanced writers than I am.

Thanks for the video, Joan. It was much-needed. It was reassuring to learn that even a brilliant writer like Alice Munroe has self-doubt. I am reminded of a writers’ workshop I attended 25 years ago run by a terrific Australian woman called Pearlie McNeill, who said that in a previous workshop she ran the group decided on a slogan: ‘If a thing’s worth doing it’s worth doing badly at first.’ A good reminder that early drafts are not likely to be much good, and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up about it.

The video encourages me to listen and engage more, helped by your calm and level style. Thanks.

The doubt “I am afraid I am wasting my time and nothing will ever come of it” really resonated with me.

Initially I was surprised that time wasn’t expressed as the greatest obstacle, but in truth that’s really an excuse – if you really want to write you will make the time.

I hope these videos will stop me focussing on “Is my writing any good?” and instead concentrate on “making it as good as it possibly can be”.

What surprises me here is your calm, assured, comforting demeanor vs. the typical sales pitch which I’m so tired of running into. I’m so serious about getting this book, which has been simmering for years, out of me and onto the page and I’m ready for the tools you talk about. Appreciate it!

Hi Joan,
Thanks so much for helping fellow writers weather the storms of publishing. I found the video to be informative and helpful. Looking forward to watching the next one.
Thanks,
Mary

I was actually surprised that self doubt was the number one barrier that people identified. I thought it would be time. But maybe I shouldn’t be surprised because I retired Jan. 1 specifically to write and I am only now starting to do that. For myself I have found my self doubt comes to the fore when it comes to submitting things for publication or to agents. I’ve had a few poems published in small journals and a few years ago a section of my memoir was a winner in the San Francisco Writer’s Conference contest which meant that along with about 30 other short pieces it was published in a small book. At that conference 3 agents I spoke to were interested in seeing my work but I never sent anything for 2 reasons. I didn’t feel confident and I felt the memoir needed revision. So here I am, years later, only really just tackling that revision.
I have a question. I finished this 206 page memoir 9 years ago and I have to reread it before I revise. I don’t mind doing that but it doesn’t feel like writing to me. Do you think it’s ok to alternate rereading/revising with working on new material?
Sorry for the long comment/question. I thought this was a very astute video.

Hi Joan,

Thank you for your thoughtful approach to the subject of self-esteem and ourselves as obstacles in the process of writing.
I’ve been told I’m a good writer since I started primary school…and I think yeah, well, I’m OK…but I’m no (Sarah Perry, Donna Tartt, a.n.other fantastic, economic writer). I go to a ‘read and critique’ writing group and on the occasions I read, the responses are almost unanimously very positive. Again, I think yeah, yeah, it was OK – why are they raving about it? It could be a hell of a lot better. I enter competitions sometimes…never win. I write very sporadically due to poor motivation and cynicism about my abilities. And then…then there is the ‘class’ issue. I’m British. I was brought up in a working class family. I look at the education and upbringing of my favourite authors – educated at University of Posh, parents academics, artists, writers. My parents were a truck driver and a home-maker. Where are the working class voices in British literature, I ask myself? Who are the people reading manuscripts at publishing houses, if not the Camillas and Jontys of this world?
And thus I discourage myself.

Hi Joan,

I thoroughly enjoyed your video! I had to rewind a couple of times because I was waiting to be asked to send credit card details! You are so very generous to give your time and energy to people who want, or need, encouragement, and it’s free! I am the kind of writer who starts a brief e-mail with the words “Just a quick note,” and ends up sending a short story. Some people ask “why don’t you write a book?” I have to admit that I have a dozen half finished novels. I don’t plan, or plot, I just write, and then when writers’ block hits, I put the work aside for the day of inspiration that never comes. I hope your videos contain a few words about discipline! In the late seventies I was enduring a miserable few years, and I wrote poetry from dawn ’til dark because it was cathartic. Occasionally, so many decades later, I find these poems in the wilderness of my files, read some and think “gosh, these are good for a kid in her 30s!” Then I put them aside as I imagine my great-grandchildren rolling on the floor laughing at them, when they are old enough to read. Then I think “they are so Rod McKuen: deep, childish, and some sort of meaningful,” and then I think, “but Rod McKuen was rich and famous!” Do all writers argue with themselves, and desert their novels simply because they don’t take the time to nut out the next move, or simply forget about them? I also have a worrying feeling that I couldn’t possibly be a good writer because I was out of school and working at 15. My only real education is reading. If I had no book to hand I’d read the jam jar labels. (Remember the old saying “this letter would have been shorter if I’d had more time?” That’s me!) Maybe a word on culling in upcoming videos? Anthony Trollope advised writers to read through and cut out all their best bits! I understand that, Anyway, thanks Joan. Nice to meet you!

Hi Joan,
This was great, thank you for for taking the time to make these videos and share your knowledge.
I understand the need to practice the craft in order to progress to being able to write well, and I try to do that. However I struggle as a recovering perfectionist which can really slow down my writing. A lot of what you said resonated with me, particularly regarding the solitary nature of writing and how it magnifies doubts. Also I wasn’t always interested in writing, it arrived a little later in life and that has added another kind of doubt.
Looking forward to the rest of the videos.
Judy

Hi Joan,

Thanks for this. Great video. It’s good to get perspective. I’m made numerous drafts of my current novel and with each set of comments from agents, I tinker and tweak to the point where I’m unsure whether my writing is any good or whether it’s my plotting, or maybe I’m just writing something that isn’t mainstream/saleable enough. It all gets very confusing.

I’m looking forward to video 2. See you then.

Hi Joan,
Thank you for this thought-provoking look at re-framing our perspective on being a writer. What compelled me about the video was that my number one deterrent to writing is exactly what you discovered. I’d like to say it is lack of time, but when I’m honest with myself, and my #1 encourager (husband), I know it is the fear of failure and rejection. However, once I begin writing, time flies; I’m engrossed with using the word that conveys my meaning and not settling for getting close; I’m happy; I want to get back to it as soon as I can. I just need to become a robot and walk into My Room and sit in the chair, open up the document. Then I engage my mind in the story and it’s too late to find an excuse. Hooray!

Now, I hope this sticks with me through the rejections. I have only published articles for professional journals and written some short dramas for our church worship or youth skits and have one essay published in an on-line magazine – now out of business. So, still a newbie when it comes to submitting.

I knew I was not alone, I am in good company, I knew about rejection and for low self esteem… I have low self esteem bad. I just don’t know what to think about Initial writing, probably isn’t any good. That one really bothered me. I was thinking it had a lot to do way back when I was in the six grade. The teacher gave us an assignment once a week. You picked out a photo of a dragon or a funny looking monster and had to write about it. I would get excited and I would fill the page up with words and just knew the teacher would love my stories. Week after week, I would get the stories back with red marks of so many mistakes and each time It would get harder and harder to write a story. After that I didn’t care. Until 10 years ago when I started writing again. Now I am at the point where the teacher is going to mark my pages and I can’t go any further with my story. I have to find away to get past that stage and its hard.

Thanks Joan. I liked listening to you and taking in all you said. I think I’m coming slowly out of my ‘self-doubting’. Having worked as editor for 25 years I have been able to see something good coming out from a good number of other eriters’ manuscripts. It’s different though now that it’s y own writing.