Many writers struggle with self-confidence. You think your writing isn’t good enough, compare yourself to others, and constantly doubt yourself. You’re not alone. Even some of the best writers struggle with imposter syndrome. Not having confidence in yourself or your writing can cost you big time. It can cause you not to put yourself out there to work with clients and to take negative feedback to heart. If you’re serious about improving your writing, you must build and maintain that confidence in yourself. Here are seven solid ways to build confidence as a writer.

Write every day

One of the best ways to gain confidence as a writer is by writing a piece of content daily. To be good at anything, you need to practice regularly. Writing every day will take your writing to new heights. Not only will this improve your writing, but the more you see your writing improve, the more confidence you’ll have in your writing.

Set small achievable goals

When starting as a writer, you should set small, realistic goals. Don’t aim for the stars because you may become discouraged if you don’t hit your goals. Here are some small, achievable goals that you can set for yourself that will help you build confidence:

  • Write something daily (a paragraph, 500 words, an article)
  • Reach out to potential clients
  • Apply for writing gigs
  • Revamp your portfolio/resume
  • Journal daily
  • Post a piece of positive content daily

The more you set realistic goals and knock them off your list, the more confidence you’ll build in yourself as a writer.

Put your work out there

You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Post your content, whether it’s a new blog post you’ve written or an excerpt from a book you’re working on. Also, don’t be afraid to apply for writing gigs or to reach out to potential clients. The only way to reach your goals is by your work being seen. How can you succeed as a writer if you don’t allow people to read your work? Get over your fears and share your work with the world.

Learn to accept critiques

Your writing may need to be revised when starting out or working with a new client. Accepting constructive criticism is essential because it will only help you improve. When you can take feedback, even when it’s not what you want to hear, and apply it, you will become much more confident in your abilities.

Invest in yourself

You must do everything you can to become the best writer possible. You can do this by investing in yourself consistently. Purchase books, take courses, and invest in the necessary tools needed to write high-quality content. When you invest in your craft, you’re taking yourself seriously, and in turn, that will build your confidence as a writer.

Find a supportive community

Connecting with other like-minded writers will help you in numerous ways. You can learn from them, bounce ideas off one another, and get advice. So many online writing communities allow you to connect with other writers to boost your confidence.

Celebrate every win

When you’re a creator, it’s important to celebrate every win, especially the small ones. If you landed a new client — celebrate. If you got a referral — celebrate. If you published a piece of content for the day — celebrate. Doing this will increase your confidence and motivate you to continue on your path.

Are you a writer who struggles with confidence? Did you find this helpful? Leave a comment below!