Confidence is important in everything we do because it has a direct impact on the quality of output. How can you become a confident writer so that you can put out quality work everytime?
Write everyday
Research shows that just writing for as little as fifteen minutes daily can improve your writing skills greatly. The more you write, the more comfortable you become with that means of communication and the audience you are targeting. Soon you won't be dwelling on grammar idioms and all that. You would just get your ideas out on paper effortlessly. Your thoughts would flow so fast as if you are thinking with your pen. A person who writes every day for a year would have practiced for 365 times. Such a person would definitely grow in confidence.
Write fast and edit later
Do not keep pausing to edit your work while writing. Write fast and edit later. You want your writing to flow. The idea is already there in your head. Don't over think it and make your writing mechanical. Just continue pouring them out as they come to you. After you are done with the first draft you can then begin to edit. The reason why you do not want to critique your work while still writing is that you might get discouraged halfway and anbandone the project entirely. So write fast and edit later. This way, you safeguard your confidence and the quality of your work.
Finish your projects
Whether you wake up and just decide to ramble on your blog or you decide to write a well researched article, finish the projects you start. Naturally, as humans our self esteem is boosted when we finish things. Doers are generally confident people. Just taking stock of all the works you have completed can give you the psychological strength needed to take on new projects, because you know you will finish them and they will come out fine.
Remember even great writers had self-doubt
Lack of confidence ain't nothing new. And doubt is not all together bad. They help you cross your t's and dot your i's. If your doubts don't make you take steps to improve yourself, they are useless. Even worse, they stunt your growth.
Many great writers struggled. Some of the bestselling authors of today were rejected by several publishers yesterday. It is true that it seems some people are born with the gift of writing, but the truth is that even people who are naturally talented have to work on their talent. Talent alone is not enough. Put things in proper perspective. Do not see an opportunity to grow as the end of the road.
Don't keep your works to yourself
Feedback is very important. You cannot really grow if you are the only one that reads your works. Getting them out is a must. Show a friend, put them In a blog or self-publish; what ever you do, don't continue to keep them to yourself. You may feel apprehensive about sharing your work and getting poor reception, but a platform like steemit can help you come out of your shell. Everyone here is sharing, and no writer gets the same kind of reception everytime. Some days could be good while other days could be not so good. This is a place where you can learn to take baby steps until you become a god with the pen.
Make some money from writing
It is kind of hard to continue to see yourself as a writer if you have never been paid for it. The more you get paid for your work, the more confident you become in your writing. Steemit makes that so simple. Devote quality time to writing good stuff, give them captivating titles, learn to format your work well and you are sure going to get some money for your time. Sometimes you might get only little reward for what you consider great work, but that is how things work even in the publishing world. Celebrity authors out there can sell people anything because they have a name. If you are patient enough to grow in this community, you will soon begin to get better reward for your work because of the reputation you have built for yourself. Your could even get money outside of this place because of the jobs you have done here.
So that's all for now, you lovely and confident folks. I hope what I have shared with you would help you pick up that pen and just let it do what it does.
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