Writing Advice
How To Overcome 90% of Self-Doubt as a Digital Writer
Without Picking Up Stupid Habits That Make it Worse
I spent the first 8 months writing NOTHING. Everything went on inside my head — because I doubted every word I wrote.
Two years later, I’m writing on LinkedIn almost daily and working with clients, full-time.
Here’s what changed.
Showing Up with 0 Expectations
Expectations kill your actions.
You overthink and waste time playing games in your head. The real game is getting out there — making mistakes, getting feedback, and improving. I did the same with my writing (unintentionally).
When I started, I wasn’t looking for perfection or immediate success.
I just wanted to write. And by not expecting immediate results, I freed myself from the pressure that often paralyzes us before we even begin.
The Self-Help Trap
I read a lot of self-help books.
I bought courses I couldn’t finish. I binged YouTube videos and blogs on how to write. They were nice dopamine hits. But none of them helped when I started writing.
They came at me, all at once:
- Self-Doubt: Constantly questioning my ability and worth as a writer.
- Overediting: Trying to perfect every sentence before moving on.
- Overthinking: Spending more time thinking about writing than actually writing.
- Imposter Syndrome: Feeling like a fraud.
The information overload from all these resources was overwhelming.
While the books, blogs, courses, and videos were good for motivation, they couldn’t replace what actual writing provides you with. The more I consumed, the more I doubted my own voice and capabilities.
The Much-Needed Shift in Mindset
The first few months were more like “I can’t do this anymore.”
I gave up every other day. But things changed when I realized this is how it's supposed to look: You have every reason to give up, but you keep going on, regardless of how meaningless and tiny showing up every day feels.
I stopped aiming for flawless pieces and focused on the act of writing itself.
Bottom Line
You have to publish that “shitty piece of content” if you want to make it.
You have to publish a 100 more if you want to stand out with pure hard work and skills. There are no shortcuts, no secret sauce, and no one coming to save you from countless hours of daily writing.
You have to do it, especially at times when you don’t feel like it.
Cringing for Good
Publish it, and in 2 years, you’ll be on the other side cringing at it. For good.
Looking back at my early work, I often cringe. But I see this as a positive sign. It means I’ve grown and improved.
What’s your highest daily writing streak yet? Mine’s 13.
