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…
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- Unpublished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?
Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
