Finding the Confidence to Write what You Want

Confidence is one of those key features successful authors seem to have. They exude confidence from every pore, and their writing shines out in a unique way. So how does a writer find that confidence when they’re starting out, getting knocked back, struggling to break into the industry?

Confidence through writing a lot. This can’t be sidestepped, avoided, or half done. By writing lots, you’ll discover confidence grows in the way you string words together and form a cohesive story that speaks to the reader. By writing a lot, you’ll gain the courage to write those stories begging to be let out. Often quality is far more important than quantity, but in the case of building confidence to write those special stories only you can write, then quantity is just as important. When we strive for only quality, sitting on one paragraph to rework it a billion times in the hope of perfection, we blinker ourselves. We stop our vision and narrow it into a focus that’s far too tight to see the story as a whole. Often it will cause us to delay the completion of the manuscript. This is why writing fast first drafts works. Once the manuscript is complete, with a strong story to build on, we can then polish the words. Write and keep writing.

Confidence through knowing the rules. This doesn’t mean you need to stick to the rules, but rather, know the most effective way of breaking those rules. By knowing what you can and can’t do, means you have the skill and confidence to write the best story you can.

Confidence through passion for your work. Find the passion for your story. If you are writing something you believe others will like, rather than the story that’s whispering deep inside, then you’ve compromised the integrity of what the story could be. If instead you hold onto a powerful passion for the story you want to write, then you won’t help but feel confident in it, even if the story heads in an unexpected direction. The confidence to travel that unknown route will make your story stand out.

Confidence through support. Every confident person has a great network of support behind them. Writers need this network more than most since writing—and anything creative--can be such an up and down pastime.

Confidence through sharing your work. Don’t write in complete isolation. You’ll grow in confidence when you let others read your work. The more you do this, the more you’ll realize your work isn’t all bad and those inevitable rough patches are fixable. When you step out from your safety zone and let people critique your work, you’ll learn more than you could at first imagine. Not only will you gain confidence sharing your work, but the learning experience is a huge confidence booster too.

There are many ways of gaining confidence. How do you find the confidence to write those stories only you can write?

Lynda R. Young
@LyndaRYoung

6 Tips to Champion Your Story

I killed a story. It was up to its eleventh draft when I declared it gone. Death by over-work. It had had so many second opinions and so much uncertainty poured into it that it gave up its soul. In my attempt to tick all the boxes and follow all the rules, the story got lost, the voice got buried and the writing no longer sang.

There comes a time when we have to have the courage to say that's enough tweaking and fiddling, that's enough listening to our friends, neighbours and anyone willing to share an opinion on how a piece should be written. We have to stand by our work, with all its flaws, and push it out into the big wide world—and keep pushing it out there until you declare it dead, or someone falls in love with it and gives it a whole new life of its own.

Easier said than done, of course. But it does become easier if you've whipped the manuscript into shape, done the rounds with your critique partners, and given it some muscle so it's strong enough to stand on its own. After that, it helps to remember the tips below:

1. Not everyone will like your manuscript. This is an immutable fact and is no reflection on your ability as a writer. Neither does it mean your manuscript is terrible and therefore needs more tweaks. The trick is to find the people who will like your manuscript.

2. No manuscript will ever be perfect. While it's important to strive for perfection, if all you're doing is small tweaks, then that's enough. It’s time to stand behind your work and send it off.

3. Everyone will have an opinion about how to improve your work. Don't blindly follow everything everyone says, but don't close your ears to it either. Learn to measure the advice you're given. If the suggestions improve the story you're trying to tell, then go ahead and make the changes. Listen to what your story needs because you're the only one who can write it.

4. Believe in yourself. You have something important to say that's worth reading. People do want to read your work. You just have to find the right audience.

5. Remember the passion you had when you first began the story. That passion may have been trampled during the making of the story, after all the rewrites, after the multiple rejections, or after a poor review. Doubt has a way of killing passion. Don't let those doubts sway your love of writing.

6. Trust your voice. Writing what you think others will want to read is the fastest way to drain the magic and originality from a story. Yes, be aware of the market, but first and foremost, write the stories calling out from deep inside you. They are the stories which will shine.

In the fast-changing risk-averse publishing world, if you can't be your story's champion, then no one else will. Against the odds, how do you find the courage and conviction to stand behind your writing?

Lynda R Young
@LyndaRYoung