"Some days I feel quite confident, but other days..." -Susannah Goodson

I'm borrowing Susannah's quote from our Facebook wall because it rings so true to the writing life. One of the universal truths of writing is that it is a solitary activity. No matter how involved you are with writing groups or online communities, it always comes down to you versus yourself. Stories are created in our brains and can only be shared with others when we find the right words to express them. Writing is a neverending search for the correct words to take abstract concepts--emotion, sensory input, philosophical musings--and make them understandable to a reader. The longer you're left alone with your words, the easier it becomes to lose confidence in your writing. The doubts creep in, the inner editor laughs at your attempts to string words together, and you start to wonder why you even bother to write. Add to that the anxiety of sending your words out into the world to an editor or agent and that second career as a burger flipper starts to look a lot more appealing.

We've all been there.

Some days writing is effortless. Your characters take a story and run with it, or a vivid image pours onto the page without any coaching. But other days it's a struggle to get even the simplest concepts into words. These are the days that grind us down and shake our confidence, and nothing is harder than trying to write or edit your work when your confidence is flagging.

What's a writer to do?

If at all possible, don't go it alone. Work with a critique partner, attend a writing conference, or join an online writing community. You don't have to share your work with others, but you can still benefit from sharing the struggle with others. When you're in the throes of a confidence crisis, a writing buddy or community can give you a much needed reality check. You can commiserate with other struggling writers, or take heart and inspiration from others' successes. There is safety in numbers, and getting out of your headspace and into the world, if only virtually, can do wonders to restore confidence.

For those times you're stuck going it alone, give yourself permission to write horribly. Seriously. It's ok to write pure drivel. It's more important to keep your flow going than to agonize over perfection in a draft. That bumper sticker sentiment--"dance like no one is watching"--is especially apt for writers. Write like no one is judging you. (This includes yourself!). The biggest blow to confidence is worrying about how your words will be received. It's a simple, but crippling, fear of failure. If you give yourself permission to fail then the pressure is off. What would you write if you couldn't fail?

Ok, that's all well and good in concept, but what do you do when you're really in the doldrums? For me, the best remedy is to take a break. I write at a computer, so closing my laptop lid and going into another room is my first line of defense. If I'm really aggravated, the best solution is to get out of the house. Getting out into nature is a surefire remedy.

If all else fails, I resort to music. In the car, played so loud that I can't hear myself sing over it. I have a special CD of songs with lyrics that inspire me. When I'm ready to throw in the writing towel, I pull out this CD and go for a drive. I may not be ready to face my Work-In-Progress by the time I come back, but I'm always in a better mood and at least able to poke at my story's outline without wanting to scream.

You get all squeezed up inside
Like the days were carved in stone
You get all wired up inside
And it's bad to be alone

You can go out, you can take a ride
And when you get out on your own
You get all smoothed out inside
And it's good to be alone.

Rush, Face Up

Finally, keep a file of your best writing--paragraphs or individual sentences where you feel you've really nailed it. Hang on to any glowing reviews you've received, or encouraging comments from readers, editors, or teachers. Read through those and remind yourself that yes, you have talent, you have an above-average command of words, and you can rock your current WIP.

Now get back to work and write something great!

Image: The Harvest Writer, creative commons licensed from flickr user JohnONolan.