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12 pages but...

By Marcio - Posted on 04 November 2009

Hello there everyone, if you don't all know already, this is my first time participating in Naplwrimo, it is also my first time trying to write a play! Got 12 pages written, which I am happy about and I am enjoying telling this story of mine. Just got a little bout of the "jitters" today so to speak.How do all of you seasoned Playwrights deal with self doubt? Does it disappear once you have achieved a certain level of success? Thanks for the quote of the day, very inspiring indeed!:-)

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Daily Check-In Station

Thank you!

Submitted by Marcio on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 11:53am.

Will definitely take all of your advice to heart! It's good to know I don't stand alone!

BLD

Use Self Doubt to Help You

Submitted by Punter on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 7:08pm.

I agree with all the other comments here. I have only two suggestions (and I'm now doubting myself as to whether they will be helpful).

When I am feeling doubtful, I try to either:
- take a break (5 - 120 minutes) and do something that refreshes me (weed the garden, play with the cat, eat icecream, exercise)
- focus on editing, or other left brain activities like plotting and structuring

My biggest problem is when I let the doubt lead to procrastination. Which is what I'm doing now.

So, yes, umm, back to the play ... (and goodluck)

Everything in life should be as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler - Albert Einstein

Self Doubt here to stay

Submitted by lindsaywriter on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 6:32pm.

Alas it's the truth. You're always looking at other writers, thinking they did it better, you're always thinking your work is sub par, you're always thinking it could be different.

They key is what you do with all those thoughts. If you let it stop you writing, you're sunk. That's key. Always stay writing, always move forward, and never leave the page blank. Even if it's a sentence or two. Writing wins over self doubt every time.

Self doubt, that little bugger.

Submitted by Admin Rhino on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 3:01pm.

Ha. Yes... what Toni said. :-)

Don't try to tell the self doubt to go away. It just turns into an argument in your head where you have to take sides. Just say to yourself "hello self doubt, I hear you and I'm still going to write today because you know, that's what I do and I can do it and I'm good at this even though you might not think I am".

The more you tell it to go away, the peskier it will be.

If you haven't read Natalie Goldberg's "Writing down the Bones", get yourself a copy! It's filled with inspiring advice.

You're doing good! Glad the quotes are helping. Toni selected a whole bunch of good ones for the month, so we'll keep them coming for you.

Good luck!

Go Rhino, go !

ahhh yes, our old friend self doubt

Submitted by solarcirclegirl on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 12:54pm.

I have achieve a very tiny amount of success, but I've been a writer of several different stripes, and I've been writing since I was very small, and I hate to say it, but self doubt NEVER goes away. It's always there, nagging you, trying to trip you up, make you stop working and creating.

The only thing that works for me is to just keep writing through it. I might write a steaming pile of doo doo, but i'm writing and that's the point.

And 12 pages is more than I got right now, so pat yourself on the back for getting so far!

Rhino Love

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Name
Marcio Goncalves

Location
South Africa

Years Participating in NaPlWriMo

This is my first time here.

2009

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12 pages but...

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Rhino Love

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NaPlWriMo Participants Blogs

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Every Dollar Helps

News Blogs

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Naplwrimo’s mission is to nurture and support playwrights of all levels while fostering community and the creation of new theatrical works on a global level.

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