Quote: David Chapman @ July 31, 2007, 9:55 PMOjne day you can read something and it's great - the next day you think it's crap.
It's just a question of getting someone's opinion you respect.
Bugger...
Do you ever get paranoid over your script quality? Page 2
Most writers are attacked by self-doubt, the secret is not to let it defeat you. And, ironically, I've most success with projects I had little faith in, while other scripts I've thought were works of untouchable genius have been pissed on from a great height by people. I recently sent what I thought was a great sitcom to a radio producer. He read it and told me he thought it didn't work at all and then proceeded to list about twenty reasons why it would never in a million years be commissioned.
I was writing and I thought it was really poor, but I kept going. Re-read and thought it was awful. Then left it a few weeks, re-read it again, not expecting much, and was amazed that I had written it and thought it was pretty decent.
Quote: Jeremy Smith @ August 1, 2007, 6:53 PMI was writing and I thought it was really poor, but I kept going. Re-read and thought it was awful. Then left it a few weeks, re-read it again, not expecting much, and was amazed that I had written it and thought it was pretty decent.
It's the same for me - Yesterday, wrote a sketch, thought it was terrible. Eight pints later, re-read it - brilliant.
Quote: chipolata @ August 1, 2007, 9:45 AMMost writers are attacked by self-doubt, the secret is not to let it defeat you. And, ironically, I've most success with projects I had little faith in, while other scripts I've thought were works of untouchable genius have been pissed on from a great height by people. I recently sent what I thought was a great sitcom to a radio producer. He read it and told me he thought it didn't work at all and then proceeded to list about twenty reasons why it would never in a million years be commissioned.
At least you know where you went wrong!
In retrospect the producer was right, and made a lot of good points. I just wish I hadn't responded with those death threats.
I wish it was plain paranoia, some days for me it's worse.
**SlagA stares into the distance whimpering something about the 'black nights of the soul' before shrieking manically like Mayall on speed **
Self doubt is normal and par for the course. The only time to really self-doubt is the moment you don't self-doubt. Paradox city.
Self doubt is part of the winnowing and growing process, without it you wouldn't take care over your work, re-examining it for the suspected weaknesses. Admittedly though there are times when the natural process of doubt becomes unnaturally exagerrated, but surviving these moments will define whether a writer has the endurance needed and will make them stronger.
Don't think it abnormal. Learn to accept it, live with it even, just don't marry it. 