Memoir & Self-Doubt: Telling Your Story Anyway

The Fear That Keeps Us from Writing—And Why We Must Push Through

As memoirists, we spend so much time in a place of fear.

We worry about whether our story is worth telling, whether people will judge us, whether we’ll unintentionally hurt someone we care about... We worry that everyone we know will read our stories—or worse (or possibly better depending on the day), that no one will.

I recently sent a poll to my memoirists, asking what keeps them from writing. The overwhelming answer? Self-doubt.

And yet, what’s one of the most powerful experiences we have as readers? Seeing our own fears reflected in someone else’s story. That moment of recognition, of relief, of knowing we’re not alone.

If reading about someone else’s doubts can be so empowering, why do we assume our own stories aren’t worth sharing?

Vulnerability is such an important part of a memoirist’s journey. We stumble, we blunder, we wrestle with shame—but we write through it. Not because we have perfect answers but because the act of writing itself is what connects us to others, and if we’re really lucky, we tap into our inner wisdom, learn from our own stories, release ourselves from that shame, and grow.

So if you’ve been waiting for the fear to subside, well… I’d like to say it will disappear. Maybe it will, but it’s still there for me. Hang in there. Maybe tomorrow will be easier, and next week might be hard again, but keep writing. Especially for the first draft, just get your story, your feelings, and your truth on the page.

And when you do get your words out there in the world, someone out there will be thankful you did.

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What’s one fear that keeps you from writing?

Was there a moment when reading someone else’s story gave you the courage to keep going?

Drop a comment below.