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Writing Blog Number 2 (continued)

by S🤦‍♂️

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2348964

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. It follows on from the old one, which is now full.

An index of topics from old and new can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact. And to suggest topics!

Comments ·

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

BIG BAD WOLF is Lucky

Mar 2, 2026 at 8:17am
In response to "20260302 Writer Confidence"

Always something.

AbbyAG

Feb 27, 2026 at 10:35am
In response to "20260227 Giving Up On A Project"

I don't understand why they blocked you, Steve - Your answer was perfectly reasonable.

Abby

Danger Mouse

Feb 23, 2026 at 11:35am
In response to "20260223 Writing Scandals 7: The Salt Path"

Just be sure to stay legal in your own work, and be suspicious of everyone

That should save you.

Yeah, I can't make that button work either.

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 23, 2026 at 12:53am
In response to "20260223 Writing Scandals 7: The Salt Path"

This is crazy, especially that some people see her as a "seeker of 'deeper truth.'" It is too bad that fewer memoirs were accepted because of this, but I can't blame the publishers for being gun shy.

Thanks for posting this -- interesting, as always! All the more reason to either not lie or self-publish your memoir. Lol

(I normally enlarge my font, but can't figure out how on the new toolbar. Lol)

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 20, 2026 at 10:27am
In response to "20260220 Writing Scandals 6: Cait Corrain"

IDK if you're going to talk about the scandal with Sarah Mughal Rana and Lia Bloomingberry (or Blooming Berry -- IDK which is correct), but as soon as you mentioned Goodreads, since this is the only scandal I know about ATM, this is the one that came to mind.

(Note that he's talking about the 1st book in her series while holding up the 2nd. lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4zX1DQq9gQ

Here's a follow-up video to the 1st one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz-6X7iUk9U

Anyway, thanks for tagging me to be sure I didn't miss this! These scandals definitely don't make being an author seem all that great. lol I've heard Goodreads is a bit of a toxic environment already. I do know that their ratings are always much lower than Amazon's, which I always found odd/interesting. If I ever published, I'd focus on the Amazon rating because the Goodreads rating is just too upsetting. I've never seen anything on there rated at such a level that I would buy it. Eek!

But when I use the Amazon ratings and don't go below 4.5 stars, I'm almost never disappointed -- like maybe 2 books have disappointed me since not buying anything rated under 4.5 stars (unless it's part of a series or from someone here lol). It works for me. But who knows what else I'd love if I read lower rated books. Some (generally from a series) that are rated lower are also some books I've enjoyed -- maybe not as much, but I've still usually enjoyed them. But as money is limited for us all and books are virtually unlimited, I have to have parameters and the rating is definitely one I set.

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 18, 2026 at 1:27pm
In response to "20260218 Monster Dictionary Update"

Well, part of me doesn't ever want it to and part of me is dying for it to so I can buy it!!!

I know you're VERY anti-self-publishing, but if you can't sell this to a traditional publisher, I REALLY hope you'll self-publish it...or just give/sell me a copy. Hahaha!

You've said you don't think a traditional publisher will ever want it, but I'm not sure that's true. Maybe. But also, writers (and people like me who pretend to be writers lol) will want it, so I think someone will buy it. Though it may have to be in volumes, like a set of encyclopedias. Lol

Jim

Feb 11, 2026 at 6:19pm
In response to "20260211 Schools In Writing"

Here is my experience in U.S. Schools:

In the States, Elementary School is grades 1-5 (or was, last I knew). Ages 7-12 (thereabouts)

Middle School is grade 6-8, ages 12-14

High School is grades 9-12, ages 15-18.

I was in Elementary School through the 6th grade and was excited to finally get to Junior High School. EXCEPT, that year was the year of the change. My Junior High School was now a Middle School, I attended the 7th & 8th grades only. Then High School, grades 9-12. Never went to College or University, joined the Navy instead.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Feb 11, 2026 at 12:28pm
In response to "20260211 Schools In Writing"

Good point. I have NO interactions with school kids. I have little interaction with Gen Z.

Regardless, there is no universal school system and no universal culture.

BIG BAD WOLF is Lucky

Feb 9, 2026 at 9:04am
In response to "20260209 Why I Write Horror"

Horror is a release.

AbbyAG

Feb 4, 2026 at 11:58am
In response to "20260130 7 Worst Types Of Plot Holes"

I've seen most of these, and they drive me nuts! On the other hand, I've probably unknowingly created some of them myself.

Abby

March 2, 2026 at 12:24am

#1109610

20260302 Writer Confidence

Writer Confidence

How much confidence should a writer have? This came up on Discord, and sort of follows on from the last post.
There are three types of writer when it comes to confidence. One is not good, one is more personal, while the final is where I feel we should be headed. And I am going to say it is tough, but it is what it is.

First, there is the writer who lacks confidence. Completely lacks confidence. There is self-doubt about everything they write. Now, for some writers, this is fine. They just write for themselves and know no-one else is going to read it. And if they do show someone and get any hint of negative feedback, they retreat into themselves even more. This is especially people who come to writing at an older age, or who have suffered a lot of rejections if trying to be published. This is the personal one.

Second is the person who is over-confident, who thinks they are the greatest writer ever. Maybe they suffer from Idol Syndrome ("20240131 #2 Criticism & The Writer (Idol Syndrome)" ). Maybe it’s The Dunning-Kruger Effect:
A visual depiction of the D-KE

Or maybe it is arrogance, pure and simple. Notice how EL James has not had a big release since The Mister failed? Know why? Because she thinks she is the greatest writer ever, does not need editing and refuses to listen to editors. Money-maker or not, apparently and allegedly, she is not good to work with.

So, what you need is to be somewhere between the two. No-one is the greatest writer ever. However, you still need the confidence to put your work out there and tout it as good enough for publication. But you also need that element of self-doubt that enables you to continue to improve with each story you write, to not put forth work that has not been vetted by a beta reader, things like that.
Writer confidence is a thin line we all walk. I tend to be overly critical, and it has come to a point where I have had other people submit stories on my behalf without my knowledge because I thought they were rubbish, and some have even been published. We are not good judges of our own work, but we do need to be aware that without some confidence we will never get beyond the hidden journal… and with too much over-confidence, we will turn everyone off.

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