Aspiring writers are typically eager to get started but may not have the instructions that can help them navigate the world of writing or how to persevere through the challenges. Asking for advice from experienced writers is one of the best ways to get started. On that note, here are five simple tips to help you become a confident writer.
1. You Have to Read
In order to write well, you have to read often. That is one thing any writer in any field, whether fiction or nonfiction, can’t overlook. There’s always room for improvement, and you never want to get complacent. Reading is also one of the best ways to inspire new writing, and keep you thinking outside the box and challenging yourself.
2. Overcome Self-Doubt
If you aren’t confident about your work, you can’t expect someone else to be. While we all deal with a certain amount of self-doubt when we embark on any new project, oftentimes it doesn’t actually serve us. You’ll realize that a lot of your hindrances are not your capabilities, but your lack of confidence in them. You’d be surprised how well you’ll do when you put pen to paper if you just believe in yourself a little. Just take the leap.
3. Make It Personal
To lure in an audience, they need to believe you. Much like how leading with confidence can change the way people perceive your work, the same applies to being honest and authentic. As the old saying goes, “Write what you know.” When you make your writing personal, you will be a lot more expressive; this will mean you can describe every sensation that came with your experience because you’ve lived it. This will make your audience feel they too are experiencing your story. Readers need to smell, see, touch, feel, taste, and hear your words the way you do.
4. Let Yourself Be Bored
As a new writer, don’t beat yourself up over the anxiety and fear that overtakes you. Even the best of writers experience writer’s block. The goal here is to find ways to reconnect with your creativity. You may feel that this digital era doesn’t inspire creativity the same way it once did for your idols like Hemingway, Faulkner, and Dickens. But they found inspiration in their surroundings, and you can, too. The first thing you need to do is take a step back from social media and observe your own environment. Let yourself be bored, and don’t waste time mindlessly scrolling away; this clutters your mind with thoughts that don’t serve you. Letting yourself be bored gives your mind a chance to get creative once the clutter has vanished.
5. Put Yourself Out There
You have to put yourself out there. You’re not going to get anywhere by tucking away your work and keeping it from platforms that will get noticed or marketed. Apply for the job with no experience, send samples of your work; just don’t give up. While this is the scary part, it is a huge step forward. Brace yourself for mixed reviews and feedback, and remember that this is a good thing. On average, 50% will like something and 50% won’t. Take constructive criticism and use it to grow; this is an opportunity for you to get better. It isn’t questioning your capabilities…it’s questioning your determination.
If you want to become a writer, change your relationship with a few scary words. Rewrites are not a bad thing. They are an opportunity to improve. Boredom provides you a chance to get inspired and stop letting life happen to you. And finally, negative feedback is not the end; a setback is a setup for a comeback.
