Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Insecure Writers Support Group- Can We Get a Little Security Here?

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Wednesday (yes, it's only Tuesday, but I'm really paranoid about getting busy and missing these things.) 

I was just flogging my poor, tired brain for a topic for this month's post, staring at the title of the group, trying to dredge up my insecurities and coming up empty handed.  Now don't get me wrong, I have lots of insecurities-  it's just that none of them jumped to their feet, arms in the air shouting "Ooh, ooh, me! Pick me!"

And so, my newest insecurity was born:  the fear that maybe I'm feeling less insecure than I should be.  You heard right- insecure about not feeling (particularly) insecure.

So my question this month is this- how do you know when you are the appropriate level of confident? I certainly don't want to come off as one of those snobbish know-it-alls (and I'd like to, you know, keep improving.)  But on the other hand, I don't want to be the one whimpering in the corner and rocking while I whisper words of discouragement to myself.  (And we've all seen both, haven't we?)

But when it's you, how do you know?

Maybe I just need to pull out a mirror and repeat the mantra: It's okay to be confident in yourself!

 A perfect fall picture:)
(Next time can we talk about my irrational fear of scarecrows?)

13 comments:

  1. I wish I could answer your question about an appropriate level of confidence. Mine is still a pendulum which swings from highs to lows. But I love your scarecrow quote. It's definitely something that should be repeated until believed. :)

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  2. Aww thanks. I hear you on the pendulum :) Best of luck!

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  3. Insecure about not being insecure - that's original!
    Confidence with awareness that all things can be improved is a good place to be. Without a measure of belief, we'll never accomplish anything.
    And since you might not know - your word verification is on.

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  4. Insecure that you're not insecure enough... that's awesome. I'm having a tough time coming up with a topic for tomorrow too but I'd never be able to pull this one off.

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  5. Hmmm... That's a new one. :)

    I think it's important to remember confidence and arrogance are not the same thing. It's okay to believe in yourself and your talent, and you shouldn't feel bad about that.

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  6. Great quote! I think fluctuating confidence and insecurity is part of the life of a writer. Probably because we are constantly putting ourselves up for rejection and disappointment. Maybe that's why the highs are so good though!

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  7. Greetings from IWSG! I think too much confidence is a red flag (like those awful American Idol contestants...:), and if you don't believe in your work then no one else will, but it's so hard to try and stay somewhere in the middle!

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  8. Hi Kaye, thanks for the visit and the encouragement. I know what you mean about confidence. Uh oh, if I'm over confident, I must not know what I'm doing ...
    Oh be still you awful voices and let us work.

    P.S. I would never throw anything at you. I know I have issues with commas, and six grammer books later, I still have issues.

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  9. I'm still not at the point where I have any confidence in my writing but I think it's great that you do. Slap me if you ever see me whining though, ok? :)

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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    2. Do the same for me please? Thanks for stopping by! (And I am NOT anonymous, blogspot, not anonymous at all!!!)

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  10. That. Was funny. I mean, totally get what you're saying. Insecure about not being insecure enough. How many times do we add our insecurities to the pile before we get to be confident? I have no idea because this is my first week, and I'm so insecure that I signed up for this group when Alex started it a year ago, but this is my first post ;-)
    Thanks for your words of encouragement.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/

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  11. It's definitely ok to feel confident in yourself!

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I'd love to hear your musings :)