What Is a Writer Without Insecurities Called?

Author:
Jane Friedman
Publish date:
Jul 16, 2010

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Today on Twitter, Jeanne Bowerman sparked a question in my mind that felt like the beginning of a joke that needs a good punch line:

What is a writer without insecurities called?

As much as I wish all writers to feel more secure (and empowered), a few immediate words come to mind:

Boring
Insufferable
Unpublished

Totally unfair, isn't it? But the thing that's always made writers (and writing) fascinating to me is the paradox of being supremely confident and/or motivated to spread a story/message vs. feeling like your work is total irrelevant crap. (I addressed some of these paradoxes in this popular post.)

What do you think? What is a writer without insecurities? Is it essential to have some doubt—or is it just a common demon to overcome?

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