Fear, Doubt, and the Writing Process

This week I’d like to talk about something I’ve been seeing a lot of in the writing community on social media: AI.

There have been many posts about how AI should never be used in writing, and the tone of those conversations is often very judgmental. What I find interesting is that no one complains about ghostwriters. No one criticizes editors. No one questions critique partners or beta readers.

So why is AI suddenly where the line gets drawn?

Even if an entire book were written with the assistance of AI, if there is a person behind the screen guiding the story—deciding where the world takes place, shaping the characters we love or hate, determining the emotional journey—then that person is still an author.

There is still imagination.There is still intention.There is still storytelling.

So if you’re someone creating something you’re proud of, let me say this to you clearly:

I’m proud of you.

I’m excited to see your art come to life.

Personally, I use AI as an editing tool. I send my work through and ask if it’s ready for publication. What I get back is usually a long report with suggestions—tighten this section, adjust pacing here, eliminate this scene, rewrite that paragraph. It functions much like a developmental editor might.

And I refuse to feel ashamed of using tools that help me improve my craft.

Now moving on to something even more personal.

I’m in my mid-forties, and I’ve been writing since I first learned to hold a pencil. Over the years I’ve experimented with different genres, written hundreds of pieces, and produced countless stories that will probably never see the light of day.

But the truth is, I’ve been an author since the moment I wrote my first sentence.

Right now, however, I’m terrified.

Searching for an agent and asking to be published is one of the most intimidating things I’ve ever done. It’s a process that has the potential to shape my future in ways I can’t predict. And the idea that anyone might dismiss my work because I use different tools than they do only adds to that fear.

Because like most writers, I already have the doubts.

What if I’m not good enough?

What if I never get published?

What if I do get published… and no one buys the book?

What if people read it and don’t like it?

And now another thought sneaks in:

What if they’re right?What if I was never really an author?

The truth is, I bounce between extremes. One moment I’m convinced I’m going to land a book deal and succeed. The next moment I wonder if I should abandon the entire idea before anyone has the chance to reject it.

Querying—putting my real name out into the world—has been one of the most terrifying steps of this journey.

I spend half my days nauseous from the stress of wondering what people will think of my work.

For most of my life, I never cared what people thought of me personally. But this isn’t just personal anymore. This is a life. A career. A hope. A dream.

And that makes the judgment feel heavier.

Writing, however, has always been the one constant in my life.

I write in crowded rooms when I feel like I don’t belong there.

I write in the dark during migraines when it feels like the only thing left holding me together.

I write on my porch in the sun when hope and happiness feel almost within reach.

No matter what stage of life I’ve been in, writing has always been my outlet.

But putting those words out into the world has made me question something I never questioned before: whether I should continue writing at all.

I have never felt so judged.

Or so exposed.

If any of you have ever felt this way—or worse—I would love to hear from you.

Leave a comment.Send me a message on Instagram.

I’m always happy to talk, and I’m always happy to remind you of something important:

You are not alone.

And I support you.

Until next week…

Stay sassy.