Tuesday top tip - slaying self doubt.

Writing is an incredible journey, full of ups and downs, but let’s be honest—it can also feel like a bit of a battle. Self-doubt and procrastination are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to slowing us down or, worse, stopping us in our tracks. The good news? You can tackle both with some simple but effective strategies.

I know this all too well because I’ve just released my latest novel, The Call Back, the second book in my Mickey Blake thriller series. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. Over the years, I've interviewed hundreds of successful authors and so many of them have talked about 'The Difficult Second Book'. Even so, I didn't fully appreciate just how hard it would be until midway through 2024, when I felt like a total imposter. For a while, I wasn’t sure I’d finish it at all. Self-doubt hit me hard during the process. That little voice in my head constantly whispered, “What if it’s not as good as the first book?” or “What if people hate it?” My inner critic worked overtime, and there were days when procrastination felt like the only way to cope. I went to Harrogate Crime Festival and my patient friends listened to me complain about it and, fortunately, convinced me to keep going.

The other thing that got me through was recognising that self-doubt doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer—it means you care. The trick is not letting it stop you. One of the things that helped me was keeping a ‘Doubt Journal.’ Whenever those negative thoughts popped up, I wrote them down and challenged them. Was it true that I’d lost my ability to tell a good story? Of course not. I reminded myself that every writer—yes, even the most successful ones—has to battle these same feelings.

Procrastination was another beast I had to face. At one point, The Call Back felt like this huge, unwieldy mountain I didn’t know how to climb. The solution? Break it into manageable chunks. I set small goals—sometimes as simple as writing 200 words a day—and celebrated every win, no matter how small. Those little victories kept me moving forward, even when the process felt impossible.

Another lifesaver was my pre-writing ritual. Before every session, I’d make a cup of tea, put on some ambient rain sounds, and take five minutes to visualise the finished book sitting on a shelf. It sounds a bit corny, but it worked. It gave me just enough motivation to push through those tough days. And eventually, the panic subsided and that messy first draft materialised before my eyes. As the saying goes, you can't edit a blank page. 

To my astonishment, I hit my deadline to get the book off to my copy editor so that I could make my release date and now I have another book out in the world. As a consequence, I decided to formalise some of the techniques and tips that helped me survive the process - partly so that I can refer back to them next time the dragon of Self-Doubt comes calling, but also so that other writers can use them to slay their demons. This became a 15 page PDF called the 'Write or Die! Writer's Survival Kit' and you can download it by signing up to my FREE monthly newsletter. It's full of actionable tips, like how to reframe your inner critic, set achievable goals, and find inspiration when you feel stuck. These are the same tools that helped me finish The Call Back, and I’m confident they can help you too.

Writing is never a straight path—it’s more of a twisty, winding road—but with the right tools and mindset, you can navigate it like a pro. If this sounds like the kind of support you need, why not grab a copy of the Writer’s Survival Kit? It’s completely free, and it might just give you the boost you’re looking for.

Oh, and if thrillers are your thing, I’d love you to check out The Call Back, or it's prequel Safe Hands. It’s a fast-paced, suspenseful ride, and while it was a tough book to write, I’m really proud of how it turned out. Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely or frustrating process—sometimes, all you need is a little help to keep going. Ready to slay that dragon?! Let me know how you got on in the comments below, or by dropping me a line on my website at waynekellywrites.com.

Today's top tip was supplied by writer, podcaster, film director and songwriter Wayne Kelly.

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