Writing.Com General Discussion

I so get this, I really get this. In a very real way.
I think all writers, true writers think that they are not good and so many other writers a far better than them. Part of this comes from the fact that we see all of our mistakes. We saw our messy work created and formed. It was a messy process and we forget to look at how far we've come. We remember all the bits of rawness and rough flowing words and sometimes we just can't get past that. Our creative side tells us to create, create, keep going, but our critical side tells us we're the worst and we are no where near as good as others and we never will be. Maybe other more experienced writers are able to shush that critical voice better than those of us who are newer to writing.
I sometimes get this feeling after I read a really good book, "How can I ever be THAT good? My writing is crap compared to this."
For me, I just remember that this is what I want to do. I am a writer. You are a writer. Its who you are. You have ink stained fingers and characters that talk to you. You have stories that will buzz through your head until you get them on paper. Yeah, maybe your not as good as Stephen King or some other people on this site (I dont actually know because I haven't read your work yet) but you can be. You will be, because you are a writer.
I also have to be inspired. Little things inspire me. Little, tiny poems of like 20 words or less. Little thoughts that tickle my brain and remind me that my character will feel whats being described in those few words. Then I have to write. I have to give a voice to the people in my head. I have to . . .
Stephen Kings book "On Writing" changed my life. Reading what he said, how he spoke to me, helps me believe that this is who I am. I dont think I would have felt the way I did as I read his book if I wasn't meant to be a writer.
You should read it :) That might give you just what you need.
I recently published my own book and it was terrible. I laugh at how bad it is. I can hardly read it now because its so terrible in every way you can think of. But, and I'm not sure how to really explain it, through all that I still want to write. I want to be remembered for better work than that. My characters still need their story told.
I have books in my head I can't wait to read because they have yet to be written because I"M supposed to write them. Call it destiny, call it fate, or maybe this is just some crazy 23 year old who hasn't been beaten down enough by the world to stop dreaming.
I'm a writer.
You are a writer.
Tell that voice that says you are not good enough to shut up. Because you are good enough. You have stories you want to tell. Need to tell. Its what we do. Writing is who we are.
Keep your chin up.
Believe in yourself and believe that your writing has the potential to change not just yourself but others who might read it.