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Ways To Boost Confidence In Your Writing Ability

By on April 16, 2018

Having confidence in your writing ability can not only help improve your writing it could, dare we say, even boost your chances of getting published. However, perhaps even more important than this, it will also make the whole writing process a lot more enjoyable too!

So what are the things writers can do to gain confidence in their writing ability?

Practice makes perfect

The more you write, the better you’ll get at it. If you write often, it will start to come naturally to you. We all know how difficult it is to try and start writing again after you’ve been a bit neglectful of it.
You feel uncertain about everything and full of doubt in your ability to get it done. While the first bit is pretty hard, the bit where you have to force yourself to get back into the habit of it if you persevere it will become just that, a habit.

Writing is a skill, and if you keep practising you will improve, get better feedback, and more positive reviews, and you’ll start to believe that you really have got what it takes -which is so much better and more productive than continually putting yourself down.

Misery loves company

Let’s face it; sometimes it’s just really comforting to know you are not alone. When you need a bit of a confidence boost why not remind yourself of all the other writers who got rejected, who were told they weren’t good enough? You can rest assured that some of the most successful and prolific writers of all time suffered from self-doubt and rejection, but they kept going anyway, and so should you.

Fake it until you make it

It takes time to feel confident in your writing ability. But the power of positive thinking can help get you there much quicker;y. The key is to keep telling yourself, and others, that you are a writer, that you can be a success and that you believe in your ability (even if you secretly don’t). If you keep doing this, you’ll eventually convince yourself. Being self-depreciating and not being able to talk with confidence about your work will end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you, the author can’t stand up and say ‘my story is one worth reading’ why would anyone else believe that it is?

Reach for the stars

Goal setting is important for any writer. Start with what you want, your ultimate dream, whatever that may be. Then work backwards figuring out what you need to do to get there. Break your workload down into realistic and challenging yet achievable goals, give yourself deadlines and each time you hit one your confidence will soar.

If you fall..get right back in that saddle

Rejection happens to everyone, and we all miss goals or procrastinate or don’t do our best work and feel bad about it. However, whatever happens, you must persist. Keep submitting your work, keep seeking out new writing opportunities keep finding ways to exercise your creativity. The more chances you give yourself to be successful the more likely you are to be so.

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes, and if you do suffer from a lack of confidence in your writing ability, it may take time to start believing in yourself. However, remember that beating yourself up and being negative about your writing won’t get you anywhere, so it’s well worth trying to boost your confidence in your writing ability, the whole experience will be so much better if you do!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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