--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had self-doubt about whether my story…" description: "\"I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to people. I didn't want to write something that was anecdotal. It was important to me that peo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg" --- # I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to… ![“I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to people. I didn't want to write something that was anecdotal. It was important to me that people would get something out of my book. I want people to read it and say, "Now I don't feel so alone," or "I'm going to remember that next time I'm…” quote by Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg) > “I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to people. I didn't want to write something that was anecdotal. It was important to me that people would get something out of my book. I want people to read it and say, "Now I don't feel so alone," or "I'm going to remember that next time I'm being an asshole."” [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author feared their story was uninteresting, yet aimed to help readers feel less alone and learn from past mistakes. **In simple terms:** Writer wanted to help readers feel less alone and learn from mistakes. Key Takeaway Write honestly to connect and teach. Themes vulnerability connection self‑acceptance Mood empathetic inspirational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - book writing - public speaking - blogging - support groups Key Concepts storytelling empathy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What story from your life could help others? - How can you balance honesty with confidence? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑criticism may hinder authentic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anecdotal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anecdotal/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-doubt/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Anecdotal thinking comes naturally; science requires training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/anecdotal-thinking-comes-naturally-science-requires-training/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Before Twitter or Facebook, all the fandom that I knew about was anecdotal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/before-twitter-or-facebook-all-the-fandom-that-i-knew-about-was/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [It is freely admitted that this "testing" is far from ideal and could even be described as anecdotal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gill/it-is-freely-admitted-that-this-testing-is-far-from-ideal-and-could/) [Eric Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gill/) > [Anecdotal data is not incidental to theory development at all, but an essential part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/anecdotal-data-is-not-incidental-to-theory-development-at-all-but-an/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [It's kind of ironic that when you look at the evidence of intelligence and so on, a lot of it is anecdotal. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/it-s-kind-of-ironic-that-when-you-look-at-the-evidence-of/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [“Anecdotal Spores: The Crazy Uncle Late one cold and drizzly winter night while I was traveling through the mountains, I stopped in a roadside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/anecdotal-spores-the-crazy-uncle-late-one-cold-and-drizzly-winter/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [“Pure anecdotal statements would not convince others about the actual societal problems and solutions without providing reliable empirical evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saaif-alam/pure-anecdotal-statements-would-not-convince-others-about-the-actual/) [Saaif Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saaif-alam/) > [“But it is no use to justify yourself. It is no good to explain. It is weak to be anecdotal. It is wise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-it-is-no-use-to-justify-yourself-it-is-no-good-to-explain-it-is/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“I reason that I can take 36 hours of pretty much anything. This is willfully off-base logic with zero anecdotal evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-reason-that-i-can-take-36-hours-of-pretty-much-anything-this-is/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [A lot of the moments and experiences in 'Warcross' were inspired by specific moments that I remember as an intern working at Disney or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/a-lot-of-the-moments-and-experiences-in-warcross-were-inspired-by/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [There is a cliche that probably has some anecdotal evidence on the side that comedians are very depressed people, but that's because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/there-is-a-cliche-that-probably-has-some-anecdotal-evidence-on-the/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I, made in England, felt excluded, miffed, resistant to the idea of even visiting India, a position of increasing absurdity as, one by one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/i-made-in-england-felt-excluded-miffed-resistant-to-the-idea-of-even/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“There's a point where anecdotal evidence becomes truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-s-a-point-where-anecdotal-evidence-becomes-truth/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [By some fluke, my folks forgot to ask me the question most crucial to ensuring a lifetime of self-doubt: 'What if you fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/by-some-fluke-my-folks-forgot-to-ask-me-the-question-most-crucial-to/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I have many moments of self doubt. Everybody does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-have-many-moments-of-self-doubt-everybody-does/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) ## More by Lizz Winstead > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [In an odd way, my parents were proud of me. When they saw me do stand-up, I'd see them looking around the room and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/in-an-odd-way-my-parents-were-proud-of-me-when-they-saw-me-do-stand/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Opportunities present themselves to me. That's how my whole life has been pretty much. I've been lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/opportunities-present-themselves-to-me-that-s-how-my-whole-life-has/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Since we are made up of comedians and filmmakers and writers and improvisers, we have the unique opportunity to bring joy to people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/since-we-are-made-up-of-comedians-and-filmmakers-and-writers-and/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I think the craziest thing I heard, and this guy's not even nominated, he's from Texas...he said there's no reason that women shouldn't carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-think-the-craziest-thing-i-heard-and-this-guy-s-not-even-nominated/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [One of the first things Catholic school taught me is that babies were born sinners. You sucked before you took your first breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/one-of-the-first-things-catholic-school-taught-me-is-that-babies-were/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Whoever's president I'm not going to be short on material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/whoever-s-president-i-m-not-going-to-be-short-on-material/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [We live in a nation where corporations are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/we-live-in-a-nation-where-corporations-are-people/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Nebraska is proof that hell is full and the dead are walking the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/nebraska-is-proof-that-hell-is-full-and-the-dead-are-walking-the-earth/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [If you are very religious, and your religion teaches you that conception equals a baby, I don't know how I'm ever going to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/if-you-are-very-religious-and-your-religion-teaches-you-that/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Commit a little bit more to the world outside of your own life. Get people talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/commit-a-little-bit-more-to-the-world-outside-of-your-own-life-get/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Write a smart joke and people want to talk about it and keep the dialogue going. Also, if you can make someone laugh, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/write-a-smart-joke-and-people-want-to-talk-about-it-and-keep-the/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [Legislators could easily be out-voted if people voted in midterm elections. The fact that we don't talk about all this stuff \[ abortion rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/legislators-could-easily-be-out-voted-if-people-voted-in-midterm/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [For me, it's important to elevate the hypocrisy with humor. Then you really are using the humor to elevate the problem, saying this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/for-me-it-s-important-to-elevate-the-hypocrisy-with-humor-then-you/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [People who came to the clinics or came to the fundraiser knew what was happening in their state but didn't realize the profundity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/people-who-came-to-the-clinics-or-came-to-the-fundraiser-knew-what/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Explore all 61 Lizz Winstead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) ## More Anecdotal quotes > [“There's a point where anecdotal evidence becomes truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-s-a-point-where-anecdotal-evidence-becomes-truth/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I, made in England, felt excluded, miffed, resistant to the idea of even visiting India, a position of increasing absurdity as, one by one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/i-made-in-england-felt-excluded-miffed-resistant-to-the-idea-of-even/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [There is a cliche that probably has some anecdotal evidence on the side that comedians are very depressed people, but that's because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/there-is-a-cliche-that-probably-has-some-anecdotal-evidence-on-the/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [A lot of the moments and experiences in 'Warcross' were inspired by specific moments that I remember as an intern working at Disney or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/a-lot-of-the-moments-and-experiences-in-warcross-were-inspired-by/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I reason that I can take 36 hours of pretty much anything. This is willfully off-base logic with zero anecdotal evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-reason-that-i-can-take-36-hours-of-pretty-much-anything-this-is/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“But it is no use to justify yourself. It is no good to explain. It is weak to be anecdotal. It is wise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-it-is-no-use-to-justify-yourself-it-is-no-good-to-explain-it-is/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Pure anecdotal statements would not convince others about the actual societal problems and solutions without providing reliable empirical evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saaif-alam/pure-anecdotal-statements-would-not-convince-others-about-the-actual/) [Saaif Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saaif-alam/) > [“Anecdotal Spores: The Crazy Uncle Late one cold and drizzly winter night while I was traveling through the mountains, I stopped in a roadside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/anecdotal-spores-the-crazy-uncle-late-one-cold-and-drizzly-winter/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [It's kind of ironic that when you look at the evidence of intelligence and so on, a lot of it is anecdotal. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/it-s-kind-of-ironic-that-when-you-look-at-the-evidence-of/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Anecdotal data is not incidental to theory development at all, but an essential part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/anecdotal-data-is-not-incidental-to-theory-development-at-all-but-an/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [It is freely admitted that this "testing" is far from ideal and could even be described as anecdotal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gill/it-is-freely-admitted-that-this-testing-is-far-from-ideal-and-could/) [Eric Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gill/) > [Before Twitter or Facebook, all the fandom that I knew about was anecdotal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/before-twitter-or-facebook-all-the-fandom-that-i-knew-about-was/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [Anecdotal thinking comes naturally; science requires training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/anecdotal-thinking-comes-naturally-science-requires-training/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) [Browse all 14 Anecdotal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anecdotal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to people. I didn't want to write something that was anecdotal. It was important to me that people would get something out of my book. I want people to read it and say, \"Now I don't feel so alone,\" or \"I'm going to remember that next time I'm being an asshole.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lizz Winstead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story-was-interesting-to-people-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anecdotal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story-was-interesting-to-people-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/lizz-winstead-11138_anecdotal_i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story_2044549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had self-doubt about whether my story was interesting to people. I didn't want to write something that was…” — Lizz Winstead", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lizz Winstead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had self-doubt about whether my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story-was-interesting-to-people-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-had-self-doubt-about-whether-my-story-was-interesting-to-people-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```