Have you ever sat down to write and quietly wondered whether you’re actually a real writer — or whether you’re just pretending?

That question shows up for far more writers than you might realise. And it doesn’t mean you’re failing, behind, or not meant to be writing.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we’re talking about self-doubt — not as something to fight or eliminate, but as something to understand. We explore why self-doubt shows up so strongly for writers, what it’s really responding to beneath the surface, and how it can quietly shake your sense of identity every time you return to the page.

You’ll learn why self-doubt isn’t evidence that you don’t belong, how to stop letting fearful thoughts define who you are as a writer, and how to reconnect with a steadier, more grounded writing identity — even when doubt is present.

This episode is a gentle but powerful invitation to stop questioning whether you’re “allowed” to write, and to start trusting yourself again.

• Why self-doubt is so common for writers — especially when the work matters

• How your nervous system responds to vulnerability and creative exposure

• Why self-doubt often sounds logical, even when it isn’t telling the truth

• The difference between thoughts, fear, and identity

• How to come back to the page without waiting for confidence

• A guided visualisation to help you reconnect with your writing identity

• You’ve ever wondered whether you’re a “real” writer

• You struggle with imposter syndrome or identity-based self-doubt

• You feel blocked, hesitant, or shaken when you try to write

• You want to write from a place of steadiness rather than pressure

The episode closes with a gentle guided visualisation to help you settle self-doubt, reconnect with your writer self, and return to the page with more trust and clarity.

If today’s episode resonated with you and stirred something inside you — and you’re ready for deeper support to work through self-doubt, resistance, or identity-level blocks that are holding you back from finishing your book — I currently have a few spots available for 1:1 coaching.

If you feel called to explore having me as your writing coach, head to writethedarnbook.co and reach out. We’ll chat and see whether working together feels like the right fit.