Sue Townsend Quotes

Lack of confidence - every time I start a new piece of work, it seems I have to spend a long while under the duvet thinking I can't do it.

Anxiety and doubt are among my biggest struggles as a writer.

I used to second guess myself all the time. I can sit there and work in circles when I'm nervous about what I'm doing.

You always feel like a hack and a fraud when you're writing. It's just how it goes.

I second-guess and overthink and rethink every single thing that I do.

I think every writer doubts themselves, every day. You procrastinate because you're afraid. You're always afraid it's not going to be as good as you want it to be. But, the key is overcoming fear.

For a long time I managed to think two things simultaneously, that I am actually a good playwright, and that the next time I write a play I will be revealed as someone who is no good at all.

Every single time I start to do a picture, without fail, I feel as if I don't know what I'm doing.

Sometimes I panic and think I can't really write.

I always think that I'm not going to be right for a movie or that there's someone else who can do it better.

If you're a writer, you're constantly doubting yourself.

I feel a bit scared at times as I feel if I am not convinced about the scene, the audiences won't be either, so I have to give my best.

Every single time I step into the studio, I say, 'Can I still do this? Do I still have it? Have I ever had it?' I suppose there's a good amount of self-loathing that goes into any form of artisanship.

I don't write well when I'm sitting there sweating about every single phrase.

My biggest enemy for the longest time was my head. When I first became successful, it made me anxious because I was overthinking everything, and you hear so many 'fail' stories.

There is always a point when one senses one's lack of skill, the doubt.

In a way, I'm always trying to do something I'm not qualified to do. So I feel that lack of qualification. And I'm scared. And I have a tendency to think things may not/probably won't work out. That's my basic mindset.

I find I have to touch what I am working on every day, or a deep-seated dread kicks in that is very hard to overcome.

I've always been a bit of a self-doubter. I think a lot of actors are.

I'm not trying to steal the show. I tend to shy away from - I don't want to say the spotlight - how about responsibility? It's just very daunting. These movies are very intimidating. 'Captain America.' This is the stuff I struggle with.

I second-guess myself all the time. I make a decision and then wonder if I made the wrong choice.

No one leaves the edit room thinking, 'Yeah, I nailed that one!' Everyone I know goes into their first premiere or their first screening thinking, 'I screwed up so bad. I'm sorry, I messed up.' It's just a real common feeling.

There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you dare not start.

I'm too shy for personal appearances, and I've found out that anytime I talk about my writing, I can't do any writing for many weeks afterward.

I know when I am on stage and I'm kind of on the right track - hopefully most of the time. But a lot of time I'm not.