YOU CAN WRITE!

​Writing for publication requires a certain degree of confidence. For some people writing is personal and they keep their work private, while others are confident enough to share their work with the world.
 
However, even the boldest people can suffer a crisis of confidence from time to time. You may get really excited by an idea at first but then find it hard to follow through. Some people may have trouble getting started, while others may struggle with editing what they have already written and want to move on to something new.

​Clearly you can write. Use these pointers to increase your confidence and keep writing:
 
Credentials
While it helps to know how to construct a sentence or spell reasonably, writing does not require someone to be specially trained or educated in a posh private school.  There are many excellent writers who have gained their skills by experience—don’t underestimate what a self-taught person can bring to table. You might be surprised!
 
The How And The What Are Equally Important
The film Withnail and I (1987) doesn’t have much of a plot. However, the depth of the characters, the witty dialogue and the evocation of a time period make the plot less important. While details can make a story seem more real don't get too fixated on the nuts and bolts!

​This Is YOUR Story
While feedback is important, remember that it is your story and you should not be afraid to finish it. This is why you should show your work to other readers of varying experience, so it will not impact your story. Once you get different perspectives on your work, you may choose to make or not to make revisions. Remember, it’s your story. You can’t possibly please everyone, so make sure you please yourself by making your story live up to your vision for it.

Keep Pushing
It can be very hard to write after a long day at work. But even a sentence or two can make a difference. Put pressure on yourself to do something each day. Don't worry too much about arbitrary limits (e.g. word counts, chapters) but write as much of a story as you feel comfortable with.
 
Whenever you struggle with confidence, remember everyone at some point feels this way, even if they seem confident on the outside. As the old saying goes, feel the fear and do it anyway!
 
What you are writing about today?

Michelle