One of the best PhD students I know has posted about feeling a crisis of confidence in his thesis. It’s doubting the argument, the importance of the claims, our ability to accomplish our goals. I think that while the feeling is an intensely personal one – how could it not be, given the personal nature of a PhD? – it’s one that I suspect all have had at different stages of research and writing. And it doesn’t go away – I have had more than a few self-doubts over The Birth of Territory, and had a fairly serious one just before submission of Terror and Territory. In a way, like getting nervous before speaking, I’d be more worried if it didn’t happen. I see it as a sign that I’m still taking things seriously, and pushing myself beyond where I am comfortable and confident. The key is not letting nerves about speaking stop you doing it; and not letting crises of confidence about your writing stop you continuing and getting it out there.

(I always link to sources, but for this one it feels appropriate not to. I know the person concerned reads this blog so if he wants me to link he only has to ask.)