My 1st IWSG Post

Over the last 3 years, I've read many posts on the first Wednesday of each month that mirror my own insecurities and doubts. Writers I had connected with through the various blog challenges I'd participated in came out in force to support each other through admissions of the demons that plagued them on this long journey of finishing a novel. All of these posts were headed by the badge you see heading my own post today, the badge for The Insecure Writers Support Group. Curious about what exactly the IWSG was and who was responsible for putting it together, I investigated and discovered the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, aka Ninja Captain Alex.

If you are new to blogging, you must visit him here. He is an invaluable source of support, news, and experience that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else. I've learned so much just from visiting his blog each week. I don't always leave comments, but I ALWAYS visit to see what he's up to. I admire his ability to make each one of his visitors feel welcome and special, rather than just another number in a long list of visitors he gets every day. Thanks so much, Alex.

Today, I have finally decided to join this support group because just like every writer, I have moments of deep insecurity that plague my ability to believe I am cut out to finish this journey I have embarked on. The best cure for such a dark demon, as Alex has capitalized on, is friends who've had the same experiences. So without further ado, my first ISWG post!

I recently had a fellow writer, one who has much more experience that I do and who has even been published many times, asked me to write a novella in a series for a world he's already created. I am amazed and flattered that he thinks highly enough of me to ask me to join the group of writers he's asked to write in this world. While the logical side of me is flattered and excited, the insecure side of me is a quivering mess. I haven't managed to get my first novel even completed. How can I contribute to something like this? What if no one likes it? What if the writer friend who asked me to join this group hates my work? Can I even create a convincing story in a world I didn't create?

These doubts go on and on and on. It's ridiculous, but real. In the end, I'm mostly sure it'll be fine, but I can't help the little demon shouting that I 'can't' in my head. It seems so dumb when I get it all written out here, but it's true, nonetheless.

Do you suffer from a similiar malady? Do you have a hard time believing as highly of yourself as others do? I always feel like somewhat of a fraud...I'm nothing special. Then I roll my eyes and tell myself to shut up. In the end, we are all awesome just for trying. So when you have these moments like I do, remind yourself that you haven't quit and that makes you a superstar!

Thanks for visiting today and putting up with my outpouring of insecurities. I truly appreciate this amazing community of writers.