Dear
“I’m the Worst Writer Ever!” Writer,
I can
guarantee you that every writer has said they're the worst writer ever at least once. More likely,
several times. Even New York Times Best-Sellers have said this at one time or
another. I’m sure some of them still do. When best-sellers can think their
writing is crap, aren’t we in good company?
I used
to have these thoughts whenever I read a really good, vividly written book. I’d
sit there with the book in my hands, my jaw unhinged, and I’d be thinking, I
don’t write like this. Over time, as I grew as a writer, I stopped having these
thoughts. I came to realize I don’t need to write like the authors I admired,
because I write like myself, and that is good enough.
You
don’t need to be like anyone else or write like anyone else. You are enough.
Your writing is enough.
There
are some things you can do to help your confidence, though:
1.
Take a writing improvement course or a writing class at your local college.
Universal Class offers online courses. You can take as many as you want with a
one-year subscription that costs $189. They have writing and grammar courses.
2. Go
to writing workshops or seminars. Many can be found online.
3.
Read books on the writing craft.
4.
Join writing groups. This could be critique groups or organizations like
Romance Writers of America.
Daily
mantras for you to say to yourself:
- I am a good writer.
- I may not write like [name of your favorite author], but I write like [your name].
- My words mean something.
- My books will get published because God gave me this passion and these story ideas for a reason.
Believe
these mantras with every fiber of your being, send it out to the universe, and
they will happen.
