How to Be a Confident Writer
Let’s be honest: some days are easier than others to write. We’ve all had bad writing days—or weeks. Maybe you’ve even started asking yourself existential questions such as, am I a good enough writer to make it a living? Maybe I’m a terrible writer? Should I quit? Overcoming self-doubt as a writer can be an everyday challenge, but these five tips will help you gain the confidence you need to finish your book. In this post, we will show you how to be a confident writer. Ready to write?
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5 Tips to Be a Confident Writer
Write often
Read
Mindset and self-talk
Support
Author advice
Stick to the end of this post to find out some big news coming to help you write your next great story!
How to be a confident writer
Write often– The number one reason you may be feeling the imposter syndrome is because you’re not writing enough. Like all skills, practice is the key to honing any craft. When you write often, you'll find your author voice. Writing often means taking your work seriously because when you do, others will, too. You don’t have to write every day— most full-time authors don’t write every day. However, try and carve time out of your schedule weekly to write. Choose to make your writing sessions sacred; you’ll feel better and more confident as a writer the more you sit with your project. Don’t compromise writing time. Be realistic about the pockets of time you can make to write, and keep doing it. Consistency is the key to success in anything.
Read– Personally, when I’m having a bad writing day, I like to take a step away from my project and simply read books that remind me why I need to write. Reading is how I fell in love with the craft, so remembering the source of why will drive you to keep going. Reading gives me the confidence to sit back at my writing desk and fall into my story. When choosing the book, I suggest you read your favorites or top genres to help put you back into the rhythm.
Mindset and Self-Talk– Did you notice in the opening paragraph of this blog post that all of the internal dialogue was negative? The more you degrade yourself and your writing, the worse you will feel, and the less you will write. If there is one thing to remember for the rest of your writing career, it is this: you are your number one fan. You will finish your dream novel and find confidence in your writing when you start treating yourself and your writing with compassion, grace, and encouragement. Change your negative thoughts to positive ones. Once you do that, you’ll have more confidence in your writing and yourself— guaranteed.
Support– Every writer needs a support system. Writing is a lonely endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be all the time. Join writing groups, or ask friends and family for advice on your story (preferably those who love books). Sometimes all you need are brainstorming sessions. When you talk about your story aloud, you can find flaws earlier, but don't let this tear you down. As writers, we must grow thick skins. These discussions will inspire you to fix the problems holding you back and keep writing. Then, the more you work on the project—the more you will find yourself sitting to write— and the more you write— the more confidence you will have.
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5. Author advice– Sometimes, we need a little motivation from those who came before us. Engaging with other authors reminds us that the path is not easy or the same for everyone. When I feel creatively stuck, I often turn to the authors who inspire me. By remembering their journey, I feel confident to keep writing—to never give up on my dream. Being reminded that everyone has a different course gives me the breath to accept who I am and where I am creatively. Let me remind you of several authors who struggled and perfected their craft—like you—in the hope that it may boost your confidence and inspire you.
Inspirational Authors to ignite your confidence and write your book
When I ever feel stuck writing, I turn to the authors before me. They, too struggled with the craft, and though we forget this—they still do. They are human. Writing takes practice and time. These are a few inspirational authors to me that have reminded me of why I create, and to keep going.
J.K. Rowling is one of the most inspiring writers out there. If you don’t know her story, I implore you to explore it, now.
J.K. Rowling’s Commencement speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c
Ernest Hemingway is another hero. I love his simplistic yet deeply meaningful prose. When I open one of his stories and read, one page, it helps me feel that creative spark. Also, being reminded that he wrote HUNDREDS of short stories before he mastered a novel, reminds me to go easy on myself.
Another writing hero within the Lost Generation era is F. Scott Fitzgerald. He was an observer of humanity, and he explored that through his stories. Fitzgerald was a romantic with a wounded heart, he bleeds so profoundly. I’m reminded of why stories move people emotionally with his work. Also, like Hemingway, he wrote a plethora of short stories to sharpen his craft. Short form writing often gets overlooked in the writing world, and truthfully, they are just as impactful and a great place to start learning how to write scenes, and character transformations.
L.M. Montgomery reminds us that writing should be a playground. That if we can simply look at the world as a child, we can still see the wonder with it.
Epictetus tells us that whatever we wish to be, to go out and do it. That we are the only one’s stopping ourselves from achieving our calling.
Similarly, Silvia Plath and John Steinback share with us the same truth. That once we get out of our own way— letting go of the doubt and the perfectionism, that we may create. And when we create from a place of purity, then we don’t have to wonder if it’s good enough because what has the writing done for you in the process?
And finally, Neil Gaiman reminds us that there is darkness within the world. By showing our protagonists defeat it— we can feel strength within our own lives to do the same. As authors, we can ignite that within others who need it. We can remind ourselves and others how to be brave and fight for the good, and the innocent.
To be a great writer, you need to practice the craft
If you’ve gotten this far and still aren't feeling confident in your writing capabilities, don’t fret! The reason could stem back to the first point— you aren't writing often enough. As I mentioned, writing is a skill that takes time and practice. You may not understand how to tell a story—yet. That's okay. We've all been there. Maybe you’re a pantser who may benefit from an outline (that was me) because nothing else is working, or you’re a plotter who finds themselves overwriting elements that simply don’t matter.
Either way, we have something coming for you!
We are launching a new tool next year! A novel planning notebook to guide you through the writing process; it will help you write a meaningful and concise story from start to finish. If you want more information, subscribe to our newsletter to get the exclusive on its launch.
You can do this. Remember, writing is done one word at a time.
Tell us what helps you feel more confident as a writer in the comments below!
