If you are a fellow writer, then you know all too well about self-doubt. We sit in front of the computer, our fingers gliding across the keys of a keyboard, pounding out word after word. You think about your character\u2019s motives for an argument or the setting in which a titanic-size battle is staged to take place. The more you think about these things, the slower your typing gets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first the doubt is small, about the size of a needle\u2019s eye. Then it grows in the tiniest sliver of your mind. At first you can ignore it. Your deadline is imminent, and you can\u2019t afford the distraction. But the doubt keeps growing, like a dark cloud over a blue horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It chips away at your confidence paragraph by paragraph and sentence by sentence. At first you question what you wrote. Is this character unique enough? Do I really like their name? Is this scene even original?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doubt then multiplies until you\u2019re even questioning your own ability, your own voice. Questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why can\u2019t I come up with something original?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am I self-plagiarizing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am I really creative enough out to be a writer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this sounds like you, I\u2019m telling you it\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know all too well how easily self-doubt can plague fiction writing. I\u2019ve had self doubt several times before and I probably will have several more in the future. What can we do to ease the self-doubt that consumes us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll tell you what I do. I roleplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roleplaying I\u2019m talking about doesn\u2019t involve using multi-colored polyhedral dice. Just a friend, or several, a computer, and a willingness to try something new. To this day, I still often take part in forums and chatroom settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m going to give you 4 reasons why you should consider roleplaying in the face of such doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Roleplay When You\u2019re Doubting Your Characters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you doubt your ability to create unique characters, creating new characters may be what you need. Sometimes we forget that creating characters can be as detailed or simplistic as you want. Roleplaying reinforces that belief. It doesn\u2019t require a three-page profile to list every quirk and habit your character has. You don\u2019t need an extensive genealogy of where your character\u2019s family history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re roleplaying, most times a name, an age, a sex, an ethnicity, and a personality are all you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever I\u2019m stuck developing characters, I use roleplaying to get into my characters\u2019 head. It helps me create realistic reactions to situations they may encounter. Some of my best character personas for my fiction writing came from roleplay characters. Because you are living in that moment, a character you thought was stale can quickly feel relatable in ways you couldn\u2019t see before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.<\/strong> Roleplay When You\u2019re Doubting Your Worldbuilding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exploring the world through your character\u2019s eyes starts with a single action sentence. Whether your character is walking into a room or sitting in a coffee shop, the world building begins with an action. I\u2019m not lost in the fine details of creating an entire world. Names of buildings and\/or cities are made irrelevant unless the scene calls for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When roleplaying, you get to focus on the genre and the characters that interest you. It\u2019s not just about the story you want to tell, it\u2019s the story you want to experience. It\u2019s the one that makes your heart race with excitement and eager to learn and explore more. Before you realize it, what usually might take hours in brainstorming is created in seconds when roleplaying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.<\/strong> Roleplay When You\u2019re Doubting Your Storytelling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have doubt, it\u2019s even harder to enjoy writing. It weighs you down by your shoulders until you can\u2019t remember why you started writing. We put pressure on ourselves to be original, to put an amazing twist that your reader wouldn\u2019t expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are still times where I\u2019ve doubted the creativity in my storytelling. The hours spent writing and rewriting story outlines and blurbs blur together into a feeling of apathy. The longer I work on a project, the more the idea seemed unoriginal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roleplaying allowed me to take a step back and rediscover why I want to tell stories of fictional characters in faraway worlds. I can focus on moving from scene to scene without self-imposed expectations of being profound. I can develop my writing style, my voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roleplaying can help you take a step back and observe where you need to improve when you\u2019re frustrated. To see the plot holes you never noticed before and become a stronger writer for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.<\/strong> Roleplay When You\u2019re Doubting Your Enjoyment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes we forget to have fun when we\u2019re writing. We get so caught up in becoming masters in our craft that we can forget what inspired us to even start this journey. I became a writer because I had the most fun telling stories to and with others. Roleplaying can often reignite the creative flow. Plot bunnies multiply, the muse comes back and before you know it, our confidence in ourselves steadily rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When in Doubt, Roleplay!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you take nothing else from this blog, please remember that you are not alone with your self-doubt. Roleplaying can be more than just a collaboration between you and a partner, or several partners. When you have self-doubt, roleplaying can give you a new perspective on storytelling. You can discover things about yourself and the way you write. It can be a welcome reprieve from your usual style of writing when you need a break from the monotony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of my 2021 goals, I\u2019m going to roleplay as much as possible whenever I doubt myself. I really think you should try it too. There is a saying that inspiration can come to you from anywhere. Maybe your next masterpiece will sprout from one of your next roleplays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You never know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sabrina K Mercury is a fantasy and paranormal author. You can find her blog at SabrinaKMercury.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n