Before I begin to tell you how to build your confidence as a writer, I’m going to be honest. I’m not so confident in my own work. Why? Because in the realm of self-publishing there is so much work to compete and compare your work with. According to Just Publishing Advice How Many Amazon Kindle eBooks Are There?, there are a total of 48.5 million books. That seems a bit insane right? Well, if you go through your Amazon store, you will see some of these books are collections, series, or outdated public domain books that have been rewritten by random strangers. Frankenstein is a great example written over 43 times! So lets slice that 48.5 million in half. You still have some work to compete with, but with any career that you chose you’re going to have to compete with someone. So, in our publishing world, how can you stick out of that high number and get chosen over the millions of other writers? You gotta in your work and yourself a a writer.
Where to begin?
- You have to sit down and start writing. Like…for real. Sit your ass down and start writing your heart out.
The only why you can even begin to build your confidence as a writer is actually starting on the process of brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising more than once, rewriting, this list can go on. BUT! It’s practice. Do you think someone is going to put you in an orchestra because you say you can play the violin, but never picked on up? NO! You never practiced so you’re going to look like a fool. The point I’m trying to make is without practice there is no confidence towards making the skill perfect. Overtime your conscious will begin to tell you, “heyyy, you know how to write”. So. Sit down and start writing. Like Ernest Hemingway said himself,
There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed
Ernest Hemingway
2. Read other work.
I know it’s weird to say this after tell you about the number of competition that you are facing, but as writers we must read. Reading expands our imagination, vocabulary, and reshapes your style of writing in ways you wouldn’t notice until you look back at your work and see for yourself. You don’t have to limit your reading to just fiction. This could be anything from poetry, classical literature for older times, magazine or web articles, and even comics. I love reading manga. My favorite Author is Junji Ito, master of Japanese horror. His works have reshaped my way on how to write out of the box situations for my characters like Earth purposely killing all inhabitants.
3. Join a writers group to share your thoughts on books including your own work!
This could be in reality or in the virtual world. Joining a writers group will not only boost your confidence in your work, but give you the opportunity to collaborate with other writers and get some ideas. I’m an introvert, so meeting at groups at local restaurants or the library is like walking on hot coals, so I use social media groups to chit chat with other writers. Everyone is really polite when it comes to speaking about books or your work (all negative comments are quickly addressed). You can also use these group to promote your books and author platforms! Give it a try and start connecting with other writers today.
4. Share your work with a trusted reader.
When I was younger, I refused to allow anyone to read my work. In fact, a of today I don’t let anyone read my work when I’m writing it with pen and paper. But now, once some chapters are done, I print them out and share them with a trusted reader. I do look for positive comments, however the fact that someone is reading my work is enough confidence to keep writing. Is there someone you know that is aware of your passion to write? Well, give them a copy of your work. In this day in age with social media, I believe now is the perfect time to allow people to really get a look of what’s going on in your mind. We as writers are filled with ideas and beliefs wrapped in a tortilla shell that’s called a story. With social media you have to filter what you say, but in your story you’re free to speak what you love. When you allow your reader to pick your brain, it will bring a feeling of accomplishment that you have someone actually reading your work. Not just hearing you speak about it.
5. Allow Accept feedback.
I wrote about taking feedback like a champ in one of my earlier post. I can tell you, this is the best way to build your confidence as a writer and confidence in your work. You’re getting people to read it and criticize it. If you’re not good with accepting pointers on what makes your work strong or lacking, then you might want to develop a thick skin because editors really don’t care about your feelings (sorry to be blunt). It’s apart of their job to be honest. I have to turn in pages of my work to teacher and either good or bad, I use criticism to my advantage. This could be a point in my story that needs a bit or work or a job well done from my readers. Overtime you will learn to love turning in your work to editors, so take advantage to what they have to say. If your interested on reading taking feedback, click the link. Taking Feedback like a Champ
You are a Writer
If you were given one job to have for the rest of your life, what would you choose? I hope you say to be a Writer. Love this job and love yourself for taking on the difficult task to tell an intriguing story. Your story is you. Its an experience you went through. Your characters are apart of you or someone who has inspiring you at some point in your life that you would use their likeness. Do you think a brain surgeon would work on a patient if he didn’t have the confidence? I pray for that patient if he/she didn’t!
Have confidence in your work becasue you have a story to tell.
References
How Many Amazon Kindle eBooks Are There? Haines, Derek. 16, Sept. 2018 https://justpublishingadvice.com/how-many-kindle-ebooks-are-there/
