From Flatlands to the Rockies: Writing Through Self-Doubt and Perfectionism

Alpine Circuit, Lake O'Hara

By Shannon Hurst

Some days, writing feels like standing on the wide-open prairie, flat, exposed, and unsure which direction to go. The blank page stretches out like a field of uncertainty, and every word feels too heavy or too light.

If you're a writer, you probably know that feeling too.

I've read that writers often struggle with self-confidence and perfectionism, and honestly, that hit home. Even with years of storytelling behind me, column's, editorials, magazine articles, photo essays, and my Wild Worldly Wonders blog, there are still days when the words come slow and the inner critic is loud.

But here’s what I’ve learned: writing is a lot like hiking in the mountains.

🏞 The Flatlands – Where Doubt Grows

In the flatlands, there’s nowhere to hide. This is where many writers live at the start of their journey or on the days when imposter syndrome creeps in. Every sentence feels too raw. Every idea, too ordinary. You second-guess the rhythm, the structure, the story itself.

But this is where the journey begins.You build strength here. You learn to take those first brave steps, knowing the terrain is uncertain.

🌄 The Foothills – Where Perfectionism Lurks

Next come the foothills. The trail winds. Your legs are warm now, but the path starts to climb. This is where perfectionism can paralyze you. You tinker with every line. You question every edit. You compare yourself to other writers, thinking, they’ve figured it out, why haven’t I?

But the foothills are also where momentum builds. You’ve written enough to know your voice is there, you just have to trust it.

🏔 The Rockies – Where Confidence Finds You

Then come the Rockies. It’s never easy, but it’s stunning. Here, the work is steep—but there’s rhythm in the climb. You’ve learned to rest without quitting. To push through without overthinking every sentence. You’re not writing for perfection anymore, you’re writing for truth.

And when you get high enough, you look back and realize just how far you’ve come.

I write this not as someone who’s “conquered” the mountain, but as someone who walks it every day. Some mornings, I’m deep in the flatlands again. Other times, I’m lost in the foothills, circling the same paragraph for hours. And every now and then, I get a glimpse from the top and it reminds me why I write at all.

If you’re a writer struggling with self-confidence or perfectionism, you’re not alone.You’re just hiking. And every word you write is another step forward.

So, keep climbing. The view is worth it.