TELL THE DAMN STORY, ep 439: When Your Inner Critic Says Your Writing Sucks, Say “Prove It”
What happens when you sit down to write—and begin to fear that whatever talent you once had is gone?
In episode 439 of Tell the Damn Story, Alex Simmons recalls a frightening stretch when the pressures of work, bills, and family crowded creativity out of his life. Christopher Ryan shares the other side of the cycle: the satisfaction of finishing a major project—and the inner critic he expects to hear from next.
Together, they discuss finding your way back through books, music, observation, and small creative steps; collecting ideas without immediately judging them; and answering “Your writing sucks” with “Prove it.” Plus, how reading your work aloud can help you recognize what holds up, what needs attention, and when it’s time to move forward.
What helps YOU get back to writing when doubt takes over? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe, like, and share this episode with a writer who could use the company.
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00:00 Welcome to Tell the Damn Story
01:00 Alex recalls a frightening loss of creative confidence
04:00 “Maybe I never had the talent”
07:00 Feeding your creativity
08:00 Capture ideas before you judge them
10:00 Chris reaches a creative milestone
13:00 Bringing a long-running project together
17:00 When the inner critic returns
19:00 “Your writing sucks.” “Prove it.”
24:00 Read aloud, revise, and keep your perspective
26:00 Finishing—and feeding the next project
27:00 Join the conversation
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