Most writers suffer, to some extent, from a lack of confidence. Some writers find this almost crippling; for others, it's more of an occasional wobble.
If you're not confident, though, it's hard to write (and even harder to put your writing out there in the world).
You might find yourself making excuses: you're too busy to write, or you have too many ideas, or not enough ideas, or you constantly put off publishing or promoting what you've written.
If you need a confidence boost, here are five simple ways to get it:
#1: Write Regularly (At Least Twice a Week)
I know this is easier said than done when you're not feeling great about your writing -- but if you can write
on a regular basis (ideally at least a couple of times each week), you'll find that it helps. If you've not been writing much, it's easy to get a bit discouraged (perhaps you tell yourself "I always procrastinate", "why can't I just get on with it?", etc). Make a commitment to write at least twice a week, even if it's only for 5 - 10 minutes each time.
#2: Ask a Writer Friend to Tell You What You're Good At
If you have a writer
or blogger friend, ask them to take a look at some of your work and tell you what you're good at. I promise there'll be something! You might want to make it clear that, at this point, you're not looking for a critique -- just for positive comments about what you're already doing well.
#3: Spend 10 Minutes Per Week Working on a Weak Area
What aren't you good at, when writing? Perhaps you struggle with
planning, or you hate writing descriptions, or you know your blog post introductions need work. Whatever it is, set aside just ten minutes per week for deliberate practice. (You don't have to use what you write, this is just practice.)
#4: Send Something You've Written to a Competition or Publication
Submitting your work to an editor / agent / competition judge / big name blogger can feel pretty scary -- but the more often you do
it, the easier it'll become. Even if your piece is turned down, you'll realise that this isn't the end of the world. (If you want to hear about what it feels like to have your writing rejected, check out my post
What it Feels Like When Your Writing is Rejected – and How to Bounce
Back.)
The problem with a lack of confidence is that it saps your energy and stops you taking action. Pick at least one of these things to put into practice this week (if you like, reply to this email to tell me what you'll be doing). Best of luck!
