Confessions of a Fraud
Last week I watched an episode of Inside the Actor's Studio. The actress being interviewed spoke about how she felt like a fraud every time she started a new movie role. She wondered if this would be the time that everyone figured out she didn't know how to act. I have heard these same sentiments echoed by other performers.
I think I suffer from something similar to this. I constantly think I don't know what I am doing when it comes to writing a novel, no matter how much I have learned in the last two years.
After hearing this actress say the same thoughts that run around in my mind all the time, I realized its just part of the process. Doubting yourself, not understanding this mysterious craft, wondering if your work will be laughed at, its all normal.
From now on I am going to try and embrace that uncertainy. Its just another thing that puts me in the same category as all the other writers ( who feared they were hacks) who came before me.
So the next time my self doubts scream "You don't know what you are doing!"
I will answer back "Of course, I don't. So what?"
I think I suffer from something similar to this. I constantly think I don't know what I am doing when it comes to writing a novel, no matter how much I have learned in the last two years.
After hearing this actress say the same thoughts that run around in my mind all the time, I realized its just part of the process. Doubting yourself, not understanding this mysterious craft, wondering if your work will be laughed at, its all normal.
From now on I am going to try and embrace that uncertainy. Its just another thing that puts me in the same category as all the other writers ( who feared they were hacks) who came before me.
So the next time my self doubts scream "You don't know what you are doing!"
I will answer back "Of course, I don't. So what?"
7 Comments:
At 5/22/2007 11:22:00 AM, Anonymous said…
that sounds like me. thought i'm the only one on earth.
anyway, i've just tagged you...if you don't mind.
At 5/22/2007 12:11:00 PM, Marie said…
Definitely sounds like me at the moment.
At 5/22/2007 12:27:00 PM, RomanceWriter said…
I did the meme, Canterbury. Thanks for thinking of me.
Sara
At 5/22/2007 12:28:00 PM, RomanceWriter said…
Marie,
I think we should just embrace it as normal. That takes all the power out of our doubts and makes it just another part of our process- pick character names, decide on plot line, tell nagging voice in head to shut up, write.
Sara
At 5/24/2007 04:22:00 PM, Anonymous said…
There was a book about writing for children that talked about this (so sorry I can't remember the title) but it said essentially what you, Sara, suggest. Recognize the voice. Try and pinpoint why and when it's loudest. Then realize it is only a voice of doubt--not the voice of authority.
Write on!
~Saoirse
At 5/27/2007 01:37:00 AM, Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said…
You're right there, Sara. :-)
At 5/27/2007 09:11:00 PM, Anonymous said…
Hey, good post :) You're right, we all feel like that at some point while writing.
I'll keep visiting, you have a very nice site ^^. Feel free to visit mine and comment if you find anything interesting.
Good luck with your writing ;)
W.
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