Creativity, versatility, an accurate knowledge of grammar, and a wide range of vocabulary – writers do and must possess all these to become good, better and best at their job. Talking about skills and capabilities, they cannot be left behind for these are part of the backbone of writing. But there’s something that cannot be forgotten anytime of day as well, for all these abilities won’t be able to operate completely and fittingly without it. What is it? Confidence.
Yes, a writer of any nature, kind, style or genre should be confident at what he or she is doing. If you are a writer or an aspiring writer, confidence is one of the major weapons that will help you start, continue and succeed. Regardless of whether writing is a hobby, an interest or a profession for you, you must have self-reliance and belief in yourself that you can write and that you can do it well.
You cannot simply write with the know-how and competency. You have to believe and trust yourself on top of all. To help you understand more about why that’s so important, here are 7 reasons why writing with confidence is a BIG MUST.
1 – Writing with confidence allows you to express yourself without fear or pretense.
There are writers who do not last long in their job because at some point, which would mostly be in the beginning, they feel like they are not themselves when they write. They feel like it’s them being a totally different person, someone with a different voice and mind, when they read their content. It makes them unsatisfied, uncomfortable and, in a way, awkward because they are not happy with what they produce.
With confidence, this “cringey” feeling can be eliminated. When you are confident with your own manner of writing, you are able to express yourself without the fear of being unable to clearly send your true message to the readers. You are able to present your ideas and standpoints without pretense for the sake of making your content pleasing only to the audience but not to yourself.
You have your own voice as a writer, and confidence is the tool to let it be heard.
2 – Writing with confidence enables you to clearly convey your message.
A good writer is good with the usage of words and with their delivery. The delivery is very crucial because various writers can write about the same subject, yet they communicate it differently, and that’s for sure.
Confidence can make a big difference because it greatly changes the way you speak through writing. With confidence, you organize your thoughts better, choose your words better and put them altogether better than without it. Because of that, you will surely be able to clearly convey your message, knowing that you have prepared well and that you are knowledgeable about the topic you are writing about.
3 – Confidence in writing is felt by the readers.
Believe it or not, confidence in writing is felt by the readers, especially if they are long-time readers, bookworms or your regular readers. In a way, they can sense it when you are composed and sure with the message you are bringing them. They will also enjoy reading it, and they will know that the writer confidently enjoyed writing that piece too.
4 – Confidence makes you patient about your growth as a writer.
Growth is an apparent process that you will inevitably go through as a writer. Every day and every piece you write, you are making progress. You are honing your skills and capabilities as you write. You may not notice it immediately, but you are improving and advancing.
It could become a problem when you become easily restless, discontented and greedy about becoming a better writer or the best one. If you become so much of a perfectionist, and you are becoming too unrestrained about your desire to meet perfection, it might not be very healthy.
Confidence can significantly help you because it makes you patient about your growth as a writer. Since you believe in yourself and cheer for yourself, you will be persistent yet calm, untroubled and forbearing. You are aware and accepting that there are times when you can create top-notch quality content and times when you can only create something less than that. And you are determined to keep moving forward whatever the case is.
With that kind of mindset and heart, you tenaciously work and wait for growth to take place and bring fruits.
5 – Writing with confidence prevents you from feeling inferior around other writers.
One of the biggest hurdles that writers may face is being too distracted by the abilities of fellow writers – abilities which you think are greater than yours, in quantity and in quality. Working in a creative agency where creative writers work can be where such distractions arise. If this is something that you are struggling with, confidence is something that you must increase in.
Writing with confidence prevents you from feeling inferior around other writers. If you are confident, you know that you have unique writing skills and that you should not depend on other writers’ progress. You have your own capabilities and your own timeline as well. You look to other writers for inspiration and learning, but you don’t negatively compare yourself to them.
6 – Writing with confidence makes you satisfied and proud of yourself.
Your best supporter, number one audience and top reader is yourself. You want to make your readers happy about what you write, but before that, keep in mind that you should also be happy about what you do. The first person and most important person to persuade and please is no one but you. This can be done with confidence
Writing with confidence makes you satisfied with what you do. It allows you to become proud and appreciative of yourself. Confidence does this because you know you are doing your best and giving your all in everything you write. This happens when you have a healthy perspective towards yourself, being your very own fan!
7 – Writing with confidence strengthens your mindset amidst struggles.
There are struggles that writers face (the writer’s block being the most common and unavoidable) which makes it hard for them to do what they always do as writers. Personal problems can lead to discouragement and lack of motivation. Emotional challenges can become tough obstacles that hamper you to write something far from what those emotions let you express.
Amidst all these, confidence can help you. Although it will not solve your issues or will not give you a perfect writeup, confidence can strengthen your mindset. It can help you boost your self-esteem and refresh your can-do attitude.
In days that are hard to squeeze out ideas from your head and the right emotions from your heart, confidence can lend a helping hand.
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WRITE AS YOU ARE
Skills will always be stifled and will forever be trapped and stored until they rot if the one who carries them keeps them from getting unraveled. Without confidence and courage to bring them out and show them to the world, you will keep undervaluing and hiding them from the space they have to be in. You might be the one to regret later on.
That’s why writers should keep in mind to write with confidence, to give their best withstanding the setbacks of self-doubt and hesitations. You must develop and nourish your self-confidence in order for you to be satisfied and truly delighted with what you do and produce. At the same time, you will be able to let your readers know what you want them to know through writing.
Write as you are. Write with confidence. If you’re having a hard time being a confident writer right now, don’t worry; you can work out on that. There are many ways to gain confidence as a writer. You just have to be ready and willing to cooperate for yourself.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. Quality and well-researched writing is her worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. She is a daytime writer for Orion Creative, a digital agency and design studio in Sydney, building greater possibilities for brands and businesses of all sorts. Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.
