A little while ago, someone asked me to do a blog post on confidence and how to become confident in your writing.
It’s a good topic, isn’t it? Are you confident in your writing? And if so, how did you become confident? If you’re not confident… how does that affect your writing?
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most confident, I’d say I’m around an eight. I say that, not because I think my writing is amazing, but because I’ve read enough to know when something is wrong. I can churn out a first draft and know it’s awful, but I can also work on it and know when it’s starting to come together even if it still needs a lot of work. So that’s why I’m confident. I’m detached enough to know when something isn’t working.
I’m also confident because I’ve worked with a lot of beta-readers and critique partners and my writing has improved so much in the last six months. I’ve learnt a lot about the mechanics of writing and storytelling, so I really feel like my writing is in a better place.
I think that’s the only way to gain confidence in your writing. Write a lot, take critique’s on board and see an improvement. That’s where my confidence came from.
What about you guys? Are you confident in your writing? Or do you hide it from the world?
On a side note, my mum (being the proud mum that she is) entered me in the Best Australian Blogging Awards. So if you have a spare couple of seconds, feel free to vote for me. I’m listed as Jodie Llewellyn.
Words Read & Written 
Voted! Good luck 🙂
& in regards to confidence I’d put myself at a 6, I still have a long way to go, but with a little extra push over the summer I should get there!
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Voted! Good luck 🙂
& in regards to confidence I’d put myself at a 6, I still have a long way to go, but with a little extra push over the summer I should get there!
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Reblogged this on Sophie's blog….
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Reblogged this on Sophie's blog….
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HI! Saw your comment about Critique Circle and had to check it out. Does it work well? Do you recommend it?
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I like it. It’s so hard to find a beta-reader that you’re compatible with. Where your writing is on par and you find that they’re helpful. Critique Circle is good because a lot of different people crit your work and you can build relationships with those you like the best.
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Looks interesting, I’m going to check it out!
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Yes and no. I’ve always been told that I’m a decent writer (some say good), but now that I’ve become part of a writers’ group, I’m more aware of just how much I have to learn. One of the things I’ve been struggling (maybe too strong of a word) with lately is that although I’d really like to write fiction, I don’t think I can. All but two of us in the group write fiction, but another person and I write nonfiction. It used to bug me more, but now I’ve realized that we all have our “gifts” and that there’s a piece of the pie for nonfiction writers too.
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I think I swing back and forth on this. When I get an acceptance, I feel especially confident. When I get rejections, especially personal ones with lots of criticisms I find myself thinking, “I’ll never be a great writer.” It’s important to stay positive and focused when you’re a writer, but it’s easier said than done.
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I think I swing back and forth on this. When I get an acceptance, I feel especially confident. When I get rejections, especially personal ones with lots of criticisms I find myself thinking, “I’ll never be a great writer.” It’s important to stay positive and focused when you’re a writer, but it’s easier said than done.
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This is very timely for me. I had my confidence rocked this weekend because a piece I really like was rejected and then ripped apart by two writing groups and my husband. I’m trying to focus on the things I’ve written that others have liked and the positive feedback I have gotten about the piece.
Thanks for sharing.
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great, hi from London! you got my vote 😉
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Thanks very much. I’ve been to London a couple of times 🙂
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Hi Jodie, thanks so much for visiting my blog and liking my current post. I like your post on confidence. I have more confidence now than I have in the past. Learning more and speaking and learning from other authors is a big help in boosting my confidence.
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I would say that my confidence in my writing varies as others have noted. But for the 2 stories I’ve written, I’d say I’m at an 8 because I’ve revised and refined it so many times (although I would really like to have others read and edit them to get viewpoints other than my own). I enjoy what I write, so my confidence also comes from there 🙂
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On a good day I’m a 25. On a bad day I’m a three. My mood fluctuates a lot. Kind of hard to find a happy medium between thinking I suck and having an over-inflated ego.
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i hear ya
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Definitely a seven in confidence. Although sometimes I can be even lower, only after I get terrible feedback or if my work doesn’t turn out the way I want it to.
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Definitely a seven in confidence. Although sometimes I can be even lower, only after I get terrible feedback or if my work doesn’t turn out the way I want it to.
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I’d have to give myself an 8, but then again, most of the time I am only really writing to make myself (or my wife) laugh. I mean, we post everything that we create on to the Internet SOMEWHERE, but at the end of the day, we’re only really doing it for ourselves (and to make money if we can ever trick anyone in to paying us for it, haha).
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Good topic! Confidence is important, but it doesn’t mean perfection. It’s tied to purpose and what you are trying to do. If you are honing craft (as you have), confidence come from applying what you have learned. But confidence can also come early in the writing career–having the confidence to put your ideas or creations in front of people requires some courage and a willingness to learn and try again, and again for whatever purpose it is that keeps you going.
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Absolutely true… 🙂
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Mostly, but I think I need to start getting it critiqued to reach the next level.
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Great post. I’m definitely a 9 because I can take it without crying when someone says my writing sux. I think that’s epitome of confidence. I also receive lots of love but when someone takes the time and has the guts to tell me something doesn’t flow or there are grammar mistakes I take that as a higher compliment than any other
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I think it’s healthy to question your writing, but the trick is not getting bogged down by doubt. I also can read a first draft (or even a third) and feel when something isn’t working, even if I’m not sure how to fix it. So I guess I’m confident is my ability to assess what is good and what is not. And I *have* to stay confident that I will solve the problem in time, otherwise I’d never be able to keep at it.
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What a thoughtful post Jodie. I really feel like you ask a lot of thought provoking questions that make me think differently about my writing. I have recently jumped out on faith with starting 2 blogs and have been building my writing confidence. Its only been a few months but I feel that the more I write the better I get, and the less nervous I am. Thanks for being a light out there to new writers! ^_^ I love your posts so I nominated you for the Sunshine Award through my blog, check it out here: http://repthismoment.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/awards-sunshine-bliss/
Peace & Light to you! ❤
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Thanks very much 🙂
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Loved this =)
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Great topic! I’d say I’m a 7. I definitely need more regular eyes on my work. I do critique groups and beta readers at certain periods of time (depending on how busy I am at work), but not regularly. I know when something isn’t working, but I also know when I have a killer line. Do I wish I had more killer lines? Absolutely, but I’ll take what I have for now. Increase in killer lines would get me to an eight or a nine 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Book Beacon and commented:
Great post for authors:
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I voted for you! 🙂 Great blog. 🙂
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I voted for you! 🙂 Great blog. 🙂
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I’ll say: when it comes to trying to get words to do what I want or envision, I’m damn near 100 in knowing or seeing or judging how close any given results get to that envisioned intent at any given stage.
Skirmishes frequently erupt between a vicious little perfectionist streak and the knowledge that there is no such thing as perfection – so we compromise by aiming to perfect a chosen Thing.
Pretty confident about knowing the difference between something I’m flinging out that’s covered in rough edges and something that is on a path towards refinement.
I have absolutely 0 confidence that any potential reader will enjoy for any reason whatever I try to write as much as I enjoyed the masochistic tortures of trying to write it – the It being any given Thing.
Swear to god, even when I manage to upload something to amazon there really is a part of me that hopes nobody actually reads it.
Good question-topic.
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Regardless of the digit, it’s actually just nice to know other writers question themselves. Most of the time I swear I’m going insane when I procrastinate doing the thing I love. It’s positive to see other bloggers supporting each other.
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I’d say I’m about a 2-3 right now. Lots of self-doubt right now when it comes to writing. I’m working through it though. I’ll probably feel better once the first draft is done.
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I think I’m more inclined to hide it, which is a shame, but this blog post has given me some new found confidence!
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