Amazing as usual! I used to roll my eyes at people who were blindly confident starting out and now I'm finding myself being that person because it feels like it's working!
Great piece! I definitely needed to read this. Acting "as if" is so tough even though I know it's ultimately the final barrier. I'm trying to improve at this by using the following stratgies:
1) Pretend like I'm talking about someone else's book, so the stakes aren't related to me at all and it becomes just a story I'm excited about.
2) Pretend I'm talking about food I've cooked instead of a book I wrote. I've devoted years and years of practice to improve my skills in the kitchen and in writing, but for some reason hyping something I've cooked is way easier and less personal. (This could easily be adapted to any competency.)
3) Remind myself of my "resume" writing skills. No, I am not a bestselling author, but I've spent fifteen years building a writing-based career, including publishing 60+ articles in my local newspaper and working as a QA editor in Big Tech customer care for over 7 years. Devoting more time to fiction, my first and deepest writing love, is only the natural next step.
All of these make me CRINGE but practice makes perfect I guess 🫠 In a year I hope to be much more comfortable with it all.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Sort of along the lines of "dress for the job you want, not the job you have." Though arriving at work dressed like Darth Vader would probably not go over well :D
Amazing as usual! I used to roll my eyes at people who were blindly confident starting out and now I'm finding myself being that person because it feels like it's working!
I almost feel that doing this work requires a certain naïve confidence!!
totally agree!
Great piece! I definitely needed to read this. Acting "as if" is so tough even though I know it's ultimately the final barrier. I'm trying to improve at this by using the following stratgies:
1) Pretend like I'm talking about someone else's book, so the stakes aren't related to me at all and it becomes just a story I'm excited about.
2) Pretend I'm talking about food I've cooked instead of a book I wrote. I've devoted years and years of practice to improve my skills in the kitchen and in writing, but for some reason hyping something I've cooked is way easier and less personal. (This could easily be adapted to any competency.)
3) Remind myself of my "resume" writing skills. No, I am not a bestselling author, but I've spent fifteen years building a writing-based career, including publishing 60+ articles in my local newspaper and working as a QA editor in Big Tech customer care for over 7 years. Devoting more time to fiction, my first and deepest writing love, is only the natural next step.
All of these make me CRINGE but practice makes perfect I guess 🫠 In a year I hope to be much more comfortable with it all.
The previous writing experience helps sooo much! My journalism career was a wonderful springboard for fiction.
This is such a helpful and (for me) timely post. Thank you.
Love to hear that!! :)
Thanks for sharing this with us. Sort of along the lines of "dress for the job you want, not the job you have." Though arriving at work dressed like Darth Vader would probably not go over well :D
That made me laugh out loud.
Thanks :D
I think it went over really well for Darth Vader though -- his evil capes and bucket mask pleased the Emporer.
They sure did :D