This week’s reblog comes from screenwriter John August, of the popular Script Notes podcast. If you’re a fan of Script Notes, his SubStack Inneresting is really just more of the same in text form. I’d highly recommend it.
As usual, August comes at his topics from a screenwriter’s perspective, but the discussion pertains to any kind of writer. This one is a mailbag post addressing questions of confidence in writing.
First, there’s the question of insecurity vs. arrogance. I think most of us struggle with this in some form or another, even if we don’t have full-on imposter syndrome. When I was young, I read some advice that suggested cultivating both feelings simultaneously: be your own biggest critic, while also remembering all the ways that you’re fantastic. It’s a bit of a mental magic trick, but it’s a good goal to strive for.
Other questions include whether it benefits a writer to be unpopular or self-obsessed, and what to do when you’ve lost your confidence.
Words Deferred 