Hitting the submit button

“Writing is hard.”

I can’t count the number of times I’ve read this phrase or heard somebody or other say it. And it’s true; writing is hard.

But even harder for me? Hitting the submit button.

I wrote a flash fiction piece with the intention of submitting to the Women Destroy Science Fiction issue of Lightspeed magazine. The deadline is February 14, but my intention is to submit before then. Before I go to sleep tonight.

But, as I said on Twitter, I’m not just second-guessing myself, I’m third- and fourth-guessing myself.

Because yeah, three of the people who did a beta read wanted to read more. Rob thinks it’s good, and so does another beta reader, who is also a professional copyeditor and SFWA member.

Yet, these are all people that I’ve known for several years. It’s not quite the same as a family member reading it and saying “This is good!”, but it’s close enough that I’m doubting.

It’s entirely possible that this is all in my head, that it’s the writer neurosis and impostor syndrome.  Probably is just that.

But I can’t shake the feeling that I need someone to say “Yes, it’s finished, and it’s good.  You can submit the story.”

Hell, it’s easier to hit publish on this thing because I don’t expect more than family and close friends to read it. I need to just expect that I won’t be able to think of a good title (I’m crap at titles), and submit the story already.