David Lowery Quotes

I've always wanted to do a photo book, but I've never done one because I've never felt ready; I just didn't feel my work was good enough.

I have a hard time sometimes watching my own work.

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.

All artists have insecurity.

You feel yourself working to show something. I've learned to distrust that feeling.

It's kind of a rule of thumb for me to self-doubt going into any kind of project. I always think that I shouldn't be doing it and I don't know how to do it and I'm going to fail and that I fooled them. I always try to find a way out.

Of course I don't think I have it made by any means. I'm too insecure, obsessive and paranoid for that.

Most artists are notoriously insecure, and I fall into that category.

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.

I tend to overthink things. I'm not the guy who screams 'This is a world smash!' when I finish a song.

Sometimes I get worried I'm getting too caught up in the nauseatingly oily smoothness of my own line, when all I'm trying to do is make it as clear as possible.

I've learned how my own perfectionism can cripple me.

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

The truth of the matter is, I worry about nearly every bit I've ever done. I'm very critical of myself.

Do I have my insecurities? Hell yes, just like anybody else. I can obsess over the most ridiculous things, just like anybody else.

As a typical creative, I am all ego and insecurity!

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

I always make things worse than they are or create problems that aren't there. And going and doing some simple task becomes a problem. I start imagining problems that aren't there. What people are going to think, who's going to judge me and am I going to be good enough? Am I worthy?

It's tough for me to draw myself - usually way too self-critical.

I am always in self-doubt... every moment of my filmmaking. I am supremely confident when the story is being written and everything is in our head. But the moment we get into the filmmaking, I start doubting myself - from the camera angle to the re-recording to getting the actors to do their shots.

Quite often I have been faced with people who were praised and admired for their talents and their achievements... According to prevailing attitudes, these people-the pride and joy of their parents-should have had a strong and stable sense of self-assurance. But the case is exactly the opposite... Whenever they suddenly get the feeling they have failed to live up to some ideal image or have not measured up to some standard, then they are plagued by anxiety or deep feelings of guilt and shame. What are the reasons for such disturbances in these competent, accomplished people?

There's something I find highly embarrassing about it. As soon as I think I've written something smart, the next day I've got nausea, thinking, "Don't even try to be smart, it's absurd."

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

For me personally it is because I get an awful amount of success and I don't think I deserve it and then I want to sabotage it.