I am not good enough to be an author – Dealing with self-doubt and lack of confidence

How many of you have struggled with doubting yourselves and your abilities?

For me, one of the main reasons it took me 10 years to write my first novel was a crippling lack of confidence. I didn’t have a degree in English literature, and I knew I couldn’t fill a book with long, complex words, so I convinced myself I wasn’t good enough to be an author.

When the story of The Utopia Conspiracy first came to me, the idea captivated me. I could see the characters and the scenes as vividly as if I was watching a Netflix series in my mind, but I had no idea how to get those images down on paper. When I finally did start writing, I was surprised at how much I loved the research—trying to mirror real events and weave in my own twists. My story explores some of the most significant moments in history, from assassinations to disappearances, all tied together by a narrative of cover-ups and conspiracies.

I would often send snippets of my writing to my dad, particularly parts involving JFK or Elvis. He’d offer suggestions, helping me link the plotlines. My mum was my go-to for wordsmithing. A self-published author herself, she’d drop random long words like "antidisestablishmentarianism" into conversation, challenging me to spell it, pronounce it, and then she’d tell me what it meant. Despite her influence, complex words never quite stuck in my head unless I used them regularly, so she’d often help me improve my writing.

Unfortunately, just as I was five or six chapters in, my father fell ill and passed away. My world was turned upside down, and my handwritten chapters were tucked into a yellow folder and shoved into a cupboard. Three years later, after my mother passed away, I found those chapters again. They were marked up by my dad—his trusty highlighter covering the pages with notes and comments. It was then that I knew, no matter how good or bad my story was, I had to finish it.

I began writing again, transferring those handwritten chapters to a Word document. I realised I needed help and was fortunate enough to meet Rob (co-founder of ASPA) who listened to my idea and gave me the reassurance I didn’t know I was craving. I even asked if he’d write it for me because, in my mind, I still wasn’t an author. His response shocked me: “No.”

I thought this meant my idea was rubbish or that someone had already written a similar story, but he explained, “No, because the chapters you’ve provided are really good. They just need a little editing.” I was taken aback. That was my first real moment of reassurance—hearing that from another author.

As I worked through the remaining chapters, Rob’s feedback helped me grow. By the time I was writing the final chapters, I was getting A++s with almost no changes needed. Reading through the final version, I felt proud. I was able to read it as a reader, not just as the writer—and I loved it. More reassurance came from family and friends who read my early copies, and finally, from the 5-star reviews from readers I had never met.

Does this mean I’m confident now, with no self-doubt? Not at all. I’m working on my next book, and those same doubts still creep in. But I’ve learned that I need to trust my heart, tell the stories that are in my head, and let the editing process do its magic.

If you’re just starting out on your writing journey, please stick with it. Don’t lock your work away for years like I did, because you’re keeping your story from the readers who will love it.

If you are struggling with self-doubt then please reach out to other Authors and share your thoughts/ experiences.

At Meet The Authors we offer a pitch it service to share your idea in confidence and gave positive constructive feedback as well as offering editing services which are all available at www.meettheauthors.net

Happy Sunday, everyone!