Don't let doubt stop you from writing, with Amy L. Bernstein Artwork

The Selfish Gift - Go public with your purpose

What does it take to "go public" with your life's work? The Selfish Gift podcast is a series of deep, personal conversations with authors and creators about how they made the leap from practitioner to public figure. Hosted by Wonderwell book publisher Maggie Langrick, the podcast also serves up the very best advice from publishing professionals, from editors and literary agents to publicists, brand strategists, and mindset coaches. We ask ALL the big questions, like: When and why did you decide to "go public" with your life's work? How did you deal with self-doubt? What steps did you take, and how hard was it, really? Each of us has a unique gift to offer humanity. When we boldly share it with the world, we expand into the grandest version of ourselves and come fully alive. Listen in to discover how to level up your life and make the world a better place through purposeful publishing.

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The Selfish Gift - Go public with your purpose

Don't let doubt stop you from writing, with Amy L. Bernstein

July 24, 2024 • Maggie Langrick • Season 3 • Episode 41

Every writer experiences doubt—in our abilities, in the worthiness of our creativity, and more. But it doesn't have to stop us in our tracks, according to Amy L. Bernstein, a novelist, award-winning journalist, blogger, and certified book coach. Her forthcoming book Wrangling the Doubt Monster is set to publish in January 2025, and she explores the topic of creative self-doubt in her Substack Doubt Monster.

This deep, inspiring conversation delves into the causes of creative doubt and how Amy says we can prevent it from derailing our writing practice.

We talked about so much great stuff:
• making a late-in-life career pivot into writing
• finding the freedom to work with many forms of writing
• the emotional sources of self-doubt
• the role that culture plays in keeping us creatively stuck
• why the hard work of revising can be a rewarding investment in yourself
• finding motivation to go the distance with your writing

Listen in for a confidence injection!

For more, check out:
https://amywrites.live
https://wonderwell.press/
https://maggielangrick.com/

And follow:
instagram.com/amylbernstein
instagram.com/maggielangrick
instagram.com/wonderwellpress
instagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast

Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction to Amy Bernstein and the Topic of Doubt
02:47: The Prevalence of Doubt in Writing and Creativity
08:48: The Role of an Accountability Partner in Overcoming Doubt
11:54: Challenges Faced by Professionals Transitioning into Writing
24:30: Creating the Right Conditions for Creativity
29:25: Embracing the Joy of the Creative Process
33:31: Giving Yourself Permission to Create
34:52: Understanding Your Creative Appetite
37:02: Exploring Openly Without Limits
38:39: Alleviating Doubt
41:28: The Importance of Rewriting and Revision
46:31: How to Persevere with a difficult piece of work
49:15: Authenticity in Building Your Platform
01:02:21: Choosing Joy and Purpose in Your Creative Journey

People on this episode

Maggie Langrick

Host