Doubting Thomas by Laura Hedges
Guest Post by Laura Hedges
Do you wake up muttering "I feel good. I feel fine. I feel wonderful" like Bill Murray? Or are you Stuart Smalley, reciting affirmations of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me!"
Why are you doubting yourself?
I'm no expert in, well, anything. (see that? I just doubted myself!) I do hold a Masters degree in Psychology for which I am extremely proud. Obviously I am just like everyone else... NORMAL. Normal in the fact that not everyday is a Superman day. Some days you just question who you are, what your worth is, and if the life path you chose is the right one.
To which I say, are you happy? Do you enjoy what life throws at you? And are you working towards that goal you have set for yourself? Or, are you so afraid of success that you doom yourself to fail? You stutter step your way through your masterpiece, muttering to yourself that it's shit, and voila it is!
So what am I saying? (Mutter to self... what AM I saying?) I'm saying that you, yes YOU, are good enough but you have to believe. And you're not alone. I routinely kick Justin upside the head when he questions himself. When he gets stuck in a rut I remind him of his normalcy. For some reason writers think that if they're not churning out 20 pages a day that they're failing. I say you're crazy in the freaking head. That big old thing called life does not always allow for all day, every day uninterrupted writing time!! But even though you know this, you doubt yourself.
I've told people for a long time now... just write. If it's a pile of steaming poo then at least it's a written pile of steaming poo. And it keeps the creative juices going that help you to NOT write poo the next time. Just keep writing.
And every once in a while remind yourself of your worth. Stand in front of that mirror and shout to the world that you're good enough, smart enough, and people like you! Go back and read what you've written before to remind you that YOU DID THAT! You wrote that script, short story, book, chapter, music, lyrics, whatever it may be.
And if you need a swift kick in the head, let me know. I'm available by appointment.
Do you wake up muttering "I feel good. I feel fine. I feel wonderful" like Bill Murray? Or are you Stuart Smalley, reciting affirmations of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me!"
Why are you doubting yourself?
I'm no expert in, well, anything. (see that? I just doubted myself!) I do hold a Masters degree in Psychology for which I am extremely proud. Obviously I am just like everyone else... NORMAL. Normal in the fact that not everyday is a Superman day. Some days you just question who you are, what your worth is, and if the life path you chose is the right one.
To which I say, are you happy? Do you enjoy what life throws at you? And are you working towards that goal you have set for yourself? Or, are you so afraid of success that you doom yourself to fail? You stutter step your way through your masterpiece, muttering to yourself that it's shit, and voila it is!
So what am I saying? (Mutter to self... what AM I saying?) I'm saying that you, yes YOU, are good enough but you have to believe. And you're not alone. I routinely kick Justin upside the head when he questions himself. When he gets stuck in a rut I remind him of his normalcy. For some reason writers think that if they're not churning out 20 pages a day that they're failing. I say you're crazy in the freaking head. That big old thing called life does not always allow for all day, every day uninterrupted writing time!! But even though you know this, you doubt yourself.
I've told people for a long time now... just write. If it's a pile of steaming poo then at least it's a written pile of steaming poo. And it keeps the creative juices going that help you to NOT write poo the next time. Just keep writing.
And every once in a while remind yourself of your worth. Stand in front of that mirror and shout to the world that you're good enough, smart enough, and people like you! Go back and read what you've written before to remind you that YOU DID THAT! You wrote that script, short story, book, chapter, music, lyrics, whatever it may be.
And if you need a swift kick in the head, let me know. I'm available by appointment.
Until next time...
Keep Writing
Posted by Justin W Hedges at 1/23/2012 5:35 AM 
Categories: Guest Posts by Laura Hedges
Tags: Laura Hedges 3 a.m. Screenwriter 3 am Screenwriter screenwriting
Categories: Guest Posts by Laura Hedges
Tags: Laura Hedges 3 a.m. Screenwriter 3 am Screenwriter screenwriting
Finally we see the real reason Justin is able to get up most mornings in the dark & write. The power behind the throne! Great post Laura! A few years ago when I was just starting to write again I had a friend introduce me to one of my heroes, William Goldman who asked me. "What are you working on?" I stuttered trying to explain that I had an option & ALMOST a sale. He interrupted me. "No, I meant what are you writing. Don't ever forget, the definition of a writer is one who writes." I never have. Clearly, Laura understands this.
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You haven't seen anything yet, Gary. Laura is Pulling back the curtain on the great and powerful Oz in a big way this year. Wait until you read The Mistress. It'll knock your socks off.
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"Not everyday is a superman day." I have to slap myself upside the head to remind myself of this truth. After competing with Bekemeyer and other ScriptRace folk, and completing insane daily page counts, I must force myself to believe that sometimes just writing anything is enough.
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This is lovely! I keep Laura's emails on my iPhone and I read THOSE every morning when I get up. Thanks for sharing her...not that way, you perverts. God, we were having such a beautiful moment and you had to go there.
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Thank you all for the kind words! And Kelly....I love you to pieces! (Reeses Pieces mind you).
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