What do you do when you doubt your ability as a writer?

As a writer, I often doubt my ability. I started writing as a child and have always loved to create characters and scenes. I didn't start writing my series until Oct 2010, and have only been self-published and in the writing community since last June. Because of my inexperience, or maybe just because I am human, I sometimes wonder if I have talent or the strength to make it as a writer. Luckily, over the past year I have made a network of friends that I can turn to when I doubt myself. And when I reach out to them, I find out that I am not alone... And neither are you! Social networking provides a great way for writers to connect with each other, bloggers, and readers, and if you are not using it, you are really missing out! I have met amazing people and thoroughly enjoy the relationships I have built. Most of the people I have never met, and probably never will, but I can contact them when I need help and they are always there for me. I call them my BTF's, Best Twitter Friends. :) The one thing you have to realize is that building your network isn't easy and it doesn't happen overnight. As I said, it has taken me a year to get where I am now, and I am still learning. You always have to "pay it forward". You have to be willing to market not just yourself and your books, but those in your network as well. Not only should you follow writers, bloggers, readers, etc... on Twitter, but on Pinterest, Linkedin, Tumblr, Facebook, and the list goes on. Look around and see what sites you enjoy and what works for you. Join some writing groups on Facebook, check out the World Literary Cafe, or the Independent Author Network... there are many groups out there to offer support. Sometimes you get lucky, and there are other writers close enough to you that you can meet up for lunch. I was lucky enough to have that happen this weekend, and it was a wonderful experience! I met up with authors Sheri Fink and Jessica Therrien, both of whom I attended the Southern California Writers Conference with in Feb, and we had a wonderful lunch together. We discussed our writing, marketing, and our lives with each other. It was great to meet with like-minded people and discuss what we love... Writing. I left that lunch energized and motivated to work! I highly recommend it. The bottom line is that we all have doubts, and worry that we aren't doing everything we can to continue doing what we love, but never forget that there is an entire community of people here, ready to assist you when you need it!