What Is a Writer Without Insecurities Called?
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- Unpublished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?