Good Enough

How do you know? How can you absolutely say you’re good enough? When you’ve been published? When an agent or editor tells you so? When your novel has been selected as one of the year’s best reads by the New York Times or The Washing Post? How will you answer this question if you’re still asking it? At some point you’ll have to, one way or another. It’s exhausting otherwise.

You may be tempted to conclude that, no, you just aren’t good enough. That’ll end all the drama. That will explain the rejection letters or the disappointing sales. It won’t feel great, but for a short time, you’ll get to experience a grim satisfaction. Isn’t life about learning to accept what we don’t always want? Isn’t this growing up? You might even feel a little superior when you hear of people striving on through disappointment. Look at those poor fools unwilling to acknowledge what is right in front of them. Why do they keep going?

A very good question. Because even if you tell yourself you’re not good enough, even if you try to close the curtain on that dream, it will likely persist. Such are the nature of dreams, which come to us both in sleep and in the quiet hours when we wonder sincerely what we’d like to do next. Sometimes the answer is, “Have a cup of tea,” and sometimes it’s, “Write a book.” You already know how to make a cup of tea. You’ll have to learn how to write a book.

Which is why the better question to ask is: Good enough for what? For publication? Can’t be that. You’ve read published books and thought, “This is no good.” Same for the books that have won awards or sold ten million copies. I’m sorry to say, the answer is, “Good enough for you.” It’s always been you. Can you write something good enough for you? Of course you can, but you have to accept it’s you that you want to please, you who weren’t satisfied, you who wanted something better, you who is still learning.

No one can really tell you you’re good enough in a way that will really matter. Eventually, you’ll write something that actually satisfies you, and you’ll think, “There it is. I’ve done it.” And you’ll sell it, and people will buy it and read it, and they’ll tell you how much they like it, and they’ll ask you how you do it, and where do your ideas come from? Those are flattering questions, but you’ve already got another idea, and you’re starting to wonder, “Am I good enough to write this one?”

Check out Fearless Writing with Bill Kenower on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.

Everyone Has What It Takes: A Writer’s Guide to the End of Self-Doubt
You can find William at: williamkenower.com