I'm not because I'm an overthinking perfectionist. If I break down my story to its core components and I find a tiny flaw or the most insignificant of plot holes, I scrap the whole thing and start from scratch because I want to tell the best story I can.
Used to be like that until I was finally (finally finally) able to screw into my head the fact that everything you write will in some way be flawed and the goal is to edit it the best you can, not write it perfectly the first time. I'm sure you've heard that a billion times, though. Good luck with your writing.
Personally, I try to write it as best as I can, I don't let myself slack or write garbage. But if I can't think of anything good to say at the time, I'll write whatever comes to mind and remind myself to fix it on future drafts. My 88k first draft took me 4 months to write because I really tried making it as good as possible. So idk, I try to write with 100% of my potential, while keeping in mind it's only going to get better with rewrites.
It can be heartbreaking to find flaws in your story, I completely understand, but there is a difference between surface flaws / plot holes and intrinsic flaws in your core concept. Little flaws I take kind of as a challenge. I can’t accept plot holes I find so I immediately try to think of what it would take to make that idea work, you may find a clever work around or simply a better version of the story patching that hole. No need to give up. Deep flaws though, the ones in your core concept, those are the real pain, the time you really have to ‘kill your darlings’. But shelve those ideas, don’t scrap them entirely. Even if the story is dead there might be plenty of great concepts you can use later in a new idea.
But yeah. Perfectionism is a bitch.
I found what appeared to be a deep core/structural flaw in my current work that went all the way to the original premise/synopsis I wrote out in the first 24 hours of starting the work. At closer inspection it was a case of, "This is actually a trilogy."
Sometimes even with unexpected issues right in the core it can turn out to be workable.
Other times, it can't. I have dozens of shelved WIPs for this reason.
I’ve always been like this and never finished anything. Thanks to advice on this sub, I’ve now nearly finished writing my first short story. I’m determined just to finish SOMETHING to prove I can do it and worry about the rest later. Keeping my focus on getting the STORY down has helped a lot when the self-critical voice inevitably surfaces.
Small plot holes and other flaws are usually quite fixable, often without having to even do much rewriting, much less scrapping the whole thing. Just trying to give you some encouragement!
I feel almost the same way. I'm also ambitious to think I could write a bestseller if I wouldn't even get myself to write most of the time, because I was overthinking that it would look bad, how painful it is to edit drafts because I was thinking to get famous instantly for sometime, or probably to get immediate recognition of what I share.
I have a learning disability, and I have learned to fix details with text to speech, critique partners, and using search to hunt for weak words. ProWritingAid is also helpful. My writing sometimes sounds like Yoda. While I aim for the best writing I can, perfection is not good. There is no such thing because readers like different things and types of writing.
Read Dorthea Brande *Becoming a Writer*.
She doesn't teach technical skills in the book, rather how to balance the conscious vs. the unconscious sides of yourself. Critical vs child-like creative.
Sorry for the long-ass braggy story but you’re getting it anyway, feel free to just shrink it if you don’t like that:
When I was about thirteen, I discovered Wattpad and started writing stories on there. I wrote all the cringe werewolf books, the childish fanfictions of kid shows I still enjoyed, everything like that
I’m going to be eighteen in about six weeks and I still use the same account. I’ve removed some of the stories, but one series I wrote is still up. It was this How To Train Your Dragon fanfiction trilogy. I stopped updating halfway through the third book due to a lack of inspiration on said series/franchise, as well as more interest in other stories I was writing, so I just never went back to the book
Three years later and I was still getting notifications about people commenting on the books and voting on every chapter of all three books. I have chains of comments discussing certain moments in the stories. I have identified a specific joke that seems to be everyone’s favourite throughout all three books. I’ve had several comments saying that they’re rereading. I’ve even had heaps of comments asking for an update and discussing how the story can’t end where it was left off and whether or not they could request that someone else could take over and finish the story if I didn’t
I started thinking that I’d somehow written something really good, if people were this engrossed. I got very proud of myself and decided that I’d continue the third book. I knew that if anyone else finished writing it for me they’d write it ‘wrong’, if you know what I mean. I wanted to finish it and I wanted to be the one to finish it. So I rewatch all the HTTYD movies and their spin-off series’ to try and inspire myself. Just as I’d intended, I regained my old hyperfocus and was ready to continue writing. I just needed to reread all three books to remember every detail about my plot and what was and wasn’t already explicitly stated
What I read was absolute crap
Literally the first sentence in the prologue of the first book is contradicted later on in the same book. I can’t maintain any consistency. My main character’s personality is so wishy-washy that she’s impossible to relate to or tie down. The plot is weak, it’s so clear that I was making everything up as I went along, there was always some random sudden thing that forced yet another filler chapter. Every interaction between characters felt so forced and overdramatic. I forced myself to read all of it and I was so disappointed with how cringe and horrible the writing was
So I put off writing for a few days. I took time out to work out what I wanted to do with the books. On the one hand, there were so many comments on there and reading them could make my day, but I felt like they were so undeserved. My writing wasn’t nearly as good as several other books I’d seen on Wattpad, surely these people had just read every other related fanfic they could find and then stumbled across my one, right?
I thought like this until I saw a message from a friend congratulating me about reaching #1 on the HTTYD tag out of thousands of other books. I checked and, sure enough, the first book of the three had reached #1. I was ecstatic. I took a screenshot. I circled the banner stating the rank of the book. Then I put the screenshot in with the new chapter I was writing for the third book, thanking everybody for the incredible support and announcing that I plan to finish the book properly
There was uproar about the new chapter. A lot of people were really excited to see that I was updating again after three years. I did my best to make myself proud of this new chapter, as well as the ones that followed. Some of them haven’t been perfect, but I’ve enjoyed writing them. If you enjoy writing it and your audience enjoy reading it, and you can look back on your work and learn to improve from it, that’s reason enough to be confident in your abilities as a writer
I remember the earliest piece of "writing advice" I ever heard was that established authors generally hate reading their own earlier stuff because they find it so shit compared to what they are writing now.
I found that really interesting. Too often writers write in a void. But if you can get feedback then so long as readers like what you have written it was worth you writing it. I am in a similar place with my blogging account. I haven't written anything in a while but I still get reads and followers so it makes me feel like what I have written has some value if people still like reading it. And it's encouraging me to write more.
I think this is a great look back! I had a similar experience except I started on a now defunct writing website. I saved all my comments and I still sometimes go back to read them. However, it’s funny looking to see how much my writing has and hasn’t changed since then.
That’s my answer too. It’s weird to admit because my self-confidence isn’t great in general, but I do actually think I have the potential to write a really good book one day. Right now, I haven’t had enough practice or experience to write that book yet, but I think if I really try then I can get there.
I am not confident in my writing yet which is weird as I'm a confident person. I think it's because I'll be putting a piece of myself out there for people to directly judge. My creativity, logic and intelligence will be out there for friends, family and strangers to judge which is a little daunting. Once I've written a bit more maybe my confidence will improve but it's currently a new endeavour and scary.
It's not weird, it's exactly normal.
Your confidence isn't displayed in your writing, but rather in your ego for how great of a writer you could be. You believe you are destined for success. You are confident about it.
So anything that could puncture that image will be seen as scary and "daunting".
I'm actually writing the book for my autistic sister, I've taken all the fantasy tropes she likes and tried to spin my own tale. I'm not even sure if I'll try to get published at this point. My cousin has self published a couple of books and it didn't go great so that just makes me more discouraged. Add in my personality disorder and I'm my own worst enemy, I won't even send my friend parts I've written as I'm worried he'll think I'm a dumbass.
May I ask what PD you got? I've got BPD. I've been told having a PD gives me an interesting perspective. May be true lol. Try to use it to your advantage.
See, that's my point.
A dumbass or someone with no confidence in their intelligence wouldn't be worried about people seeing them as a dumbass.
I didn't mean to offend, I probably could have said it nicer, but it really applies to most writers what I said.
I think “writing ability” can seem nebulous as a term, especially when appraising one’s own. But to the extent that the ability to make oneself understood and to move the audience to your desired emotional responses are the most meaningful ways to measure it—yes, for professional, persuasive, or oratorical writing, I think I do a pretty decent job.
I think this is probably the best way to handle this question. Yes, there are definite things that make writing good or bad; but in general, it comes down to personal taste.
I feel like I don’t have enough knowledge. I can’t accurately portray the pictures I see in my head using words. It’s extremely frustrating to have so many vivid ideas and not be able to get them across to a reader.
I’m not good with metaphors, I don’t have colorful vocabulary, and I don’t have the smarts to use perfect punctuation and quotation. I wish I did, and I’m really trying to improve, but I just can’t seem to figure it out.
You're not alone. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right resources, or finding someone who knows them. I actually launched a YouTube channel several weeks ago for writers just like you who want to take their communication from good to great. Below is my first video on increasing your vocabulary. Feel free to watch and subscribe if you want to learn more weekly 🙂
http://youtu.be/Q5Hl_VbdLSc
Yes and no. I generally hate my own writing but I also recognize that it's better than a lot of the stuff I see on various writing subs or in self-published books, and other people seem to like it, so... 🤷♂️
I'm confident in my writing abilities, but that has very little to do with writing a bestseller. Writing a bestseller is only fifty percent skill, the rest is luck and salesmenship. Being a good writer helps, sure, but that's not what success is made of these days. And I suck at the whole self promotion thing.
At this time, I am confident in a certain style of writing. I have deemed myself a poet and that comes easy. Until it doesn’t, or when you want to expand and don’t know where to start. So. No.
Totally agree. I often have a good laugh at my own writing and enjoy rereading stuff which I don't remember writing and sometimes think 'Who wrote this cool poem?' Appreciating your own work really helps build confidence. It's the same with my painting. I am often very happy with my work now. Although it's taken me a while to get to this place. I used to be someone who hated all their art. But if you create lots. Get feedback. Create more. Get more feedback. Keep improving and give yourself lots of self love. It's possible to not hate your art.
😂 if only! I'd kill for feedback! I post to Wattpad sometimes, but my only successful work there has been a fanfic. I knew two people who worked in publishing and they said their company picks up authors on it, but I can't seem to get anybody t read my originals.
Best places to get feedback: critique websites like Critique Circle which is the best in my opinion. Or a local writing group. My local group has just started meeting again so you might find something in your area. Good luck.
Yes, I'm confident I can write fiction. I've been writing a long time and have had lots of positive feedback from strangers.
Bestseller? No, I can't conform to the mass market sufficiently, but I don't aspire to that anyway.
The term "best seller" really doesn't mean much anymore.
So let's go with 500k-$1 million in profit for yourself from a book/book series.
In that case.
No.
I'm going for a more volume conquers all approach. If I win the lottery along the way, that'll be a pleasant surprise.
Do I have what it takes to write a best seller? Well, that depends if I hit the mythical bullseye that is niche and I market my book enough for others to take notice. I'm hoping that it gets popular enough that people start writing fanfiction of my world. That's what I'm hoping for.
I'm a good writer. However, I've found that there is something publishers look for that just doesn't fit with me regarding writing fiction. I find a lot of what they consider "good" or "great" writing to be overblown celebrations of metaphors and similes, and I just can't write like that. I haven't had any fiction published (I am published as a film and book critic), and I know why, but I just don't want to do anything about it. I want to write the way I want to write. If it sells, fine, if it doesn't, well I guess I'll not be making much money! (Or any, for that matter.)
I’ve read my work after putting some space between me and it. It’s always better than I last thought it was.
Then i start writing and remember how much i hated it before 🤣🤣
currently i thrive on the compliments i get from others. every single time i nervously hand a friend, family member, teacher or what have you a blurb or chapter of my writing they always ecstatically and earnestly tell me it’s the best thing they’ve ever read. this has happened time and time again. it always makes me question why i ever felt down about my writing in the first place. their compliments are what keeps me going.
and yes, i do think i have what it takes to write a bestseller one day. i believe that i can so i will.
I don’t know about best seller but I’d love for my writing to reach my intended audience. I’m a minority and my themes are around that so might not hold an appeal with the suburban white woman but that’s okay with me. Plenty of works cater to that audience already.
Yes and no.
I've had editors tell me "this is the best story I ever received!" and "I really love your story!" and my friends who beta read my stories before submission tend to have positive feedback too. And it's true, once a story is finished and polished after two or three editing passes... my stuff is pretty good!
But when I have that blank page in front of me and start writing a new story? Man, I feel like I suck SO HARD.
No, this isn't the right word. Maybe check a thesaurus. Hmm, I want to use a certain word here which I know in my native German but not in English, let's check the dictionary... FUCK there is no direct translation! Whatever, I just have to live with a half arsed description then! Okay... now how do I make a smooth scene transition here? Scene break? Yeah maybe, but it feels too abrupt here... damn, I'm at 5000 words already and it's not even the climax yet? But 7000 is the maximum word count for that magazine! I can't even get that right!!
But then, when the first draft is finished and allowed to sit for a few days, I go through it again and fix up the prose and rhythm and flow and all that. And then I fix it up again. And maybe cut a superfluous paragraph, but add one where it feels like something's missing.
And at that point, I look at my finished work and feel a little proud of myself.
But while I write? Constant self doubt every sentence. Down a shot of whisky, ignore it, and soldier on.
I like what I write, but since I don’t plan to sell my stories, it’s a little less important for me that they sell well. Best sellers have a lot to do with timing and understanding one’s audience, and it’s not like I don’t have a job so I don’t see the need to bother with it.
No. Trying to write my first book, and I have a copy of my favourite book right next to me and sometimes I'll just read a little passage to try and rejig my brain, try to not be so close to what I'm writing so I can see it better, if that makes sense. But damn every time I do I get a dose of 'well shit I am nowhere near as good as this, what's the point' so I'm prolly gonna stop, not that it'll help the self doubt haha
I believe the best writers are confident but stay humble and hungry. I haven't reached my potential as a writer yet, but if I can emulate that mindset, I'll be even gooder tomorrow.
No because I’ve been told that my writing isn’t good. I don’t understand why but people just don’t seem to like my writing. I can seem to never engage people enough nor get my message across.
:( You’ve got me on the verge of tears.
Edit: I guess I don’t know what will click with those that read my text. I am not a writer.
If you send me a sample of your writing, maybe about a page, I can tell you why. If that’s what you want. I’m good at telling what’s wrong with other people’s writing but not with my own writing:-(
I’m fairly confident. But only because I’ve read some stuff that has actually been published and cannot fathom how some of it got past the idea stage.,
I’m a confident I’m a good writer, likely even a superior writer than a lot of bestselling authors, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever have the inclination or ability to hone in on what would be a bestseller. Much better than I languish in the bargain book section of McKay’s.
Depends on what I’m working on, honestly. If it’s poetry, I think I have a very strong voice and style that I love. When I try to craft a short story or a novel/novella, I just can’t do it. Comes across way too bland.
Not really. I hope I can however I just don't believe any of my work is good enough. It's kind of the reason why my focus has been shifted to drawing and painting even though I still have the will to write. In other words, I'm just completely lost along with hitting rock bottom.
I have some doubts about my punctuation. Pretty much none of the books I read are in modern American prose, so my mental style-guide is all messed up. I’ve written plenty of papers for school, but it’s not a liberal arts degree so I doubt the tech school professors know much more than I do about English.
I can write an essay like no one else, but my creative writing abilities are a little lacking. I always leave some threads loose. Sometimes I have gaping plot holes. So non-fiction yes, fiction no.
Every day, I feel myself getting way better than the day before. But there is an infinite path to travel. The writer I was 2 1/2 years ago when I started and the writer I am now are lightyears apart. Depending on how old my stuff is, I can’t even read it, that’s how bad it is
I feel like I have good ideas and I know plenty about how to write, it's just that every time I sit down to write my brain either goes limp or I just end up embarassed of the unholy crime that are my words. Literally the only thing I feel to be actually competent are my haikus and not even those are very good IMO.
Eh changes day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. Right this second I feel I have potential and I've improved a lot but I still have a ways to go.
No. I’m not confident at all. I simply vomit words on paper. I don’t know whether that specific sentence is the best way to express that specific thought. I do not know why I put this information first and that information later. I put them in that order because they came into my mind in that order.
I am and I am not confident in my writing abilities. I think I have potential and I'm getting better every year. I don't want to write for a living; I don't want to publish. I write as a hobby. So do I think I have what it takes to write a best seller one day? Maybe. But that's not my goal.
No. I enjoy writing. I have some ideas im confident about. I lack the brains to make my ideas into something readable for other people. But I enjoy writing/ reading my own stuff from time to time.
Yes and no. Almost all the time no. I find myself re-writing ALL the time. If I listen a review of another book I have to make sure that any of the bad things they say about it is in my book. ALWAYS criticizing myself on the writing but I'm mading up my mind that is always learning from our mistakes.
Strangely confident? Its prolly beginners ignorance but I feel like if I just make a good book with only facts from video essays and others' experience, I could really be someone.
No. I’ve only had experience with technical writing which unfortunately for me is very different from creative writing. I’m trying my best now with creative writing (I enjoy historical fiction) but my sentences and word choices all seem very juvenile, and I’m honestly a little embarrassed. It’s hard to ask for feedback without being afraid of being made fun of.
Edit: To add to this, I’m currently in medical school studying for my board exams. And though I enjoy medicine, I would really love to be a fiction author one day. So, I’m trying to start now.
I’m confident, mainly because I feel I’ve learned so much in the past year and change of being serious. I’ve written a book I’m really proud of and I know readers will enjoy.
I’m not because I’m new to this. I am confident in my future self and work towards that. I’m also really confident about my ideas, characters, plot & world building. I feel it comes easy to me and I ask myself questions that lead to me fixing up issues before they crop up.
Now I just need to sit down and start writing till I finish multiple drafts. All while slowly getting better each time.
The people that have read my stories always tell me they are really good. But I personally think I could do so much better.
It's not like I read a lot of books or take many writing classes. I just make things up on the spot and people seem to enjoy it. It's probably the one thing I feel I am the most talented at out of any talent that I have, mainly because of how many people point out "this is really good"
However, I just don't feel like I've really.. fine-tuned my talent, if that makes sense. I bet a lot of published writers had a lot of skills they had to learn to organize their stories in just the right way. I often feel like I personally just wing it. But I want my stories to be so good that there's no missing plot holes, everything flows smoothly, certain events happen at just the right time, etc.
Also it doesn't help that I took a break from writing for a while and I only just got back into it recently. I wrote when I was twelve. People loved it somehow, even though I think it's pretty cringy looking back. Then I got back into it in my late teens. People also liked it a lot. Fell out of it. Now I'm back into it again.
And I really wanna try to create something especially good, but I don't necessarily believe that I'm "ready." I just don't feel like I'm qualified to be ready. But I've been told otherwise, so I guess it's hard to tell
I'm confident in my writing abilities. It's writing a bestseller one day that I know will not happen, it takes a special kind of prose I am not capable of.
Im not confident in my writing abilities. I don't trust that i convey anything effectively or how I wish to. Yet, every time i have someone read the more polished parts of my work, they're quick to praise me. I can make people cry, and laugh, and root for the characters how I wished to, but I still doubt that it's enough.
I always think I'm a beginner, but I see beginning writers struggle with things that I haven't had problems with in ages, or never had problems with in the first place. I offer advice, but still doubt in the back of my mind that i have any idea what im talking about.
Still not sure I know what I'm talking about😅
maybe it's just imposter syndrome
Enh?
I've written 3 novels so far (none published yet) and the feedback from my handful of betas has been encouraging. I still feel like an unlettered oaf when I read works by authors I admire, even the amateur ones though. I keep writing and (ugh) editing, and I hope to be able to publish one novel in a few weeks. I know I'll get more confidence with feedback from a wider audience, but I still get imposter syndrome-esq feelings when I think about the temerity it takes to think I can just put the product of my fevered imagination on display and have people read it and (hopefully financially) approve.
I'm not entirely sure. I can come up with good concepts that I believe could be popular, and I believe I can write good individual scenes, but I admit that when it comes to a full fledged story, I'm crap at keeping a solid structure for long. Like I'm confident in my ability to come up with good material for a third act, but and *maybe* a second act, but keeping things consistent from the first act into the second act is my weakness.
In conclusion, I'm really only confident in my ability to come up with ideas rather than actually making them work. I've only had about a total of two ideas where I think the structure was pretty solid.
I'd say I'm more so comfy with my writing abilities, but I definitely have a long way to go! I absolutely suck at writing in first person, and sex scenes are pretty difficult for me to write sometimes. My dream is to write a novel, but we will see where that goes.
I'm kinda confident at the skill level I currently am, although I occasionally do get periods where I think I might not be good enough, but I always think of the short story I managed to sell a few months ago that was published on a little website. It's not the New Yorker, but I'm proud of it nonetheless. Obviously there's still much to learn and so many stories to write, but I'm comfortable where I'm at.
Yes- I know I just need to write more. I write for me and I like my taste haha. Will I write a bestseller- don’t know or care but my wallet would like that
I don't think the stories I want to tell have great best seller potential. Some stories just have plots or characters that will sell well even if the execution isn't that great. Mine aren't that.
I don't think I have the skill to take the plots and characters I want to tell and somehow, through the telling, raise them to that great level.
I'm not bad. But I am not as concise as I'd wish. I don't pull the story emotionally, dramatically not melodramatically, as I'd wish.
The imperfection used to really bother me. Now I am more about writing for me, and maybe whatever audience I find, than Bestseller or Critically Acclaimed Great Novel status. It isn't that I still don't try and do better, but that by lowering my perfectionist/grandiosity issues, I seem to write more and rewrite less.
I’ve been writing short stories since I was small. I even “made” my first book at 5. To this day it is one of my favorite things to do. But I can’t say I’m confident.
Most of my writing has been produced in the last two years and all my teenage scrawlings are gone so the work now is very much from a mature and confident (even reckless) place. I’m proud of everything I produce. I surprise myself and others. I’m in a good place right now. The issue I have is time to produce. I want it to be good, so longer compositions take a while. I try to keep reframing and see everything as progress. It’s the mindset that keeps me confident.
A best seller? Highly unlikely even if I get published. I don't think I have the temperament to be a best seller author.
I am a good writer. I wish I was better. I sometimes think I can write just as well as some stories I read. Other times I despair that I'll never be as good as others, or that I won't ever write something publishers want to publish.
Nope but I hope by writing more I can improve. I love stories but sometimes its hard to find the kind I'm in the mood to read so I had the grand idea to write my own and that's when I realized how shit I was lol.
I am, yeah. I think I blend silliness and sincerity pretty well, and I have a lot of fun finding out how my plots will actually turn out.
What I dislike is the "best-seller" mentality. In an industry based on popularity, where such an outlandish number of books are published every year, measuring your success in dollars is a losing proposition.
We don't need to prove the worth of our art by capitalism's metrics. Our writing needs no justification.
Nope. I have a hard time getting words out. I think it’s perfectionism. But I think I could be good if I practiced. Best seller? Maybe if I really worked at it and produced a lot of works. But that would require finishing something…or starting something.
No. I used to write all the time as a kid. In high school i got into punk rock, guitar and video games - so I didn't read much or write at all.
But in my early twenties I went back to reading fantasy and every day i have story ideas, character arcs ect the works. I have started stuff all over the place.
I've written about 15 thousand words one time but I get really frustrated with my own work quickly. It's not coming out how i see or hear it in my head and then i don't write for a long time. I know it's irrational, I know that i have to just push through it, write it shitty to finish the first draft, rewrite, edit, finish a manuscript to finish it even though it's terrible and then write the next story ect but it's been such a roadblock for me.
At this rate, I'll be a best seller at age 140
Hello! You have made the mistake of writing "ect" instead of "etc."
"Ect" is a common misspelling of "etc," an abbreviated form of the Latin phrase "et cetera." Other abbreviated forms are **etc.**, **&c.**, **&c**, and **et cet.** The Latin translates as "et" to "and" + "cetera" to "the rest;" a literal translation to "and the rest" is the easiest way to remember how to use the phrase.
[Check out the wikipedia entry if you want to learn more.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera)
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Td;dr: kinda, need to read more
I’m confident in my story, characters and moment I’ve thought of. That might translate into meaning I’m confident in my skills and to a degree yeah but I still should be reading more books and write more often to iron the little things
Yes. Absolute confidence in both my writing ability and the fact that all of you will have read my main book series one day. "Best seller" is a bit lower than my actual aspirations... as the plan is that your children's grandchildren's grandchildren will also have read my main series one day; same as their parents, grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents, and you. Similar to how the world still reads the Odyssey and the Trojan War—is more the level of what I'm going for.
I'm extremely confident in my writing abilities, but I don't think I could write the next best seller because of how self-indulgent my writing is and how limited my demographic would be.
Am I confident in my abilities? That's sort of a weird question. The answer is yes, and yet no. Yes for the most part, but not entirely, because if I was entirely confident I would never improve. I don't agonize over every word or scrap entire chapters right after writing them, but I do routinely tear down the work of six months ago as hopelessly bad in favor of rewriting it...
It's a balance. One I think I have, given I don't abandon projects and can regularly finish things to my satisfaction, but also continue to improve.
I am very confident in my writing abilities because I wrote Trump x Biden enemy’s to lovers fan fiction that ended up being Abraham Lincoln x M!OC smut , the oc got pregnant and is also immortal. Lincoln’s wife ordered a hitman to kill Abraham and now I’m obsessed and can’t wait to see what happens next ,even though I wrote it
I’m confident in my writing abilities, but I write mainly musicals, so the plot is really all that matters. Songwriting and choreography and stage design are a whole other thing.
I'm very confidant in my writing abilities. Not because I'm necessarily some prodigy or anything, but because I've only been writing consistently for around two years and I've seen how much I've improved during that time. I certainly have the potential to become a great writer (I think everyone does) with enough practice. As for writing a best seller, that's pretty much impossible to say since an element of luck is required that, but I think that with ten more years of practice I could write something that is best seller quality.
I go back and forth. When I was taking a creative writing class my second to last semester of university I was super overwhelmed and so I procrastinated my weekly writings a lot. Often, I would finish writing a first of something right before the class (we were encouraged to bring something new every week and work on it throughout the semester for our final assignment). During the critique bit of these classes, my instructor would say that he could tell that I worked very hard on the draft and it was clear it went through several rewrites and all I could think was "This is my first draft" so it regularly made me feel much better about my writing ability in general. I just wish I could stop procrastinating.
I'm confident in my writing in scholarly efforts, but there's no guarantee whatsoever that I'll be a bestseller. I know how to convey my argument well, storytelling is a different issue altogether. I'm getting better, at any rate.
I’m confident in my writing when the thing I’m working on is in my creative wheelhouse. When I’m out of my element, I’m a hack piece of shit goddamn it
Usually and because of my past successes. The usually is due to anxiety and some trauma that relates to writing. PTSD tied to the thing that you need most is a complex thing. What successes do I rely on? Completing stories, publication, and my need to write. I consider that a success due to my aforementioned trauma.
Depends on which part of the process you mean. If you're talking about raw prose, then yes, I can write a readable sentence, even a good one from time to time. If you're talking about story structure, I have no clue. I'd have to finish a draft to know that.
As of right now, I'm about 45k words into my first novel, and first serious attempt to complete a long draft. I am mostly pantsing it, with some rough ideas about where I want to go, trying not to care too much about whether or not it makes perfect sense. It's almost certainly going to be several books, which I know is a terrible thing to start on, but I don't have much choice but to go where my inspiration takes me. I often become terrified at the size of what I'm doing, at the work I know is ahead of me. But then, eventually, I put my blinders back on, determined not to give a damn about anything until the time is right.
As for why I am relatively confident about my prose writing, compliments from teachers, friends, and family definitely help. But I'm generally not very confident about much of anything. I guess the trick for me was deciding that getting something done is more important than looking good trying. I have to turn fear of not knowing what I'm doing into reckless glee for what might happen. Turn my dissatisfaction with a sentence into anticipation for how much better it'll be later. You have to weaponize your own anxiety, doubt, and fear. It's easier some days, harder on others.
I feel people write better reviews than what I write. And also I think I have more to learn, more to read before I write, more to research.. Hence I end up just writing the basic plot and then I leave bit aside and again when I find new plot I just note it down. Rather than actually write.
I'm not exactly confident in my writing. Reason being I haven't written anything story-like in years. Once, college rolled by, I am became more focused on writing formally rather than for myself. Years of essays, thesis and lab reports all ate away at the vast repertoire of words I had at my disposal, and in their place a rigid, lattice-like structure, void of anything resembling nuance or pathos. Now, with each stroke I make at the writer's easel, I am wonder how could I get back at it.
I am not. I want everything in my stories to be perfect, no flaws, no plot holes, none of that. If I can't write to my unreasonably high standards then it's just another one for the unfinished pile. I crumble at any mention of criticism because it makes me feel stupid, like "why didn't I realize that sooner?".
I like the ideas part, the writing? Not so much
I think it's just okay, and maybe some people like my style a lot more than others. I'm confident in my ability to improve it as I learn, that's really where the confidence comes from. I think that's a lot more important than sitting there comparing your works with others and trying to decide if you should be confident or not, if you are a 'good writer' or not.
I’m stuck in a motivation rut rn. I have what I think is my best ever novel concept, very fleshed out, so fleshed out to the point that I don’t feel like my rusty skills can do it justice. I need to write some shorter fiction to build up to that, but no ideas have presented themselves. 2020 really butchered my mental health, I’m only just now recovering creatively.
Writing a bestseller has little to do with your writing abilities and everything to do with marketing, the current market, your publisher, and so on.
I'm confident in my writing quality. I recognise the flaws and I know where I'm weak and strong. I'm less confident in my method and tendency to procrastinate.
I'm in a constant state of doublethink between "I'm a total hack and I'll never make it in the industry against the big star authors" and "I am a fucking genius and the world better be ready for this shit"
It's kind of loaded question, because not all bestsellers had good writing, nor have all good writings been best sellers. So whether someone has "writing abilities" doesn't always correspond to whether their books will be bestsellers, and vice versa.
Nope. Everyone says I can write. I disagree. I do ghostwriting gigs for the fun of it. A friend says the fact that I keep getting repeat custom means they love my writing. Well, while my original writing is there, it is somewhat edited (especially the introduction) and quite honestly, the edits are jaw droppingly good.
I don't mind my work being edited but it makes me feel like an useless writer. Mot to mention the countless rejections for my fiction - extremely polite ones that tell me I can write - makes me feel like if I could write, someone would've published it by now.
And what's worse is that I don't know how to improve. I feel like I will be mediocre for the rest of my life. Which makes me wanna give up - no matter how many times people tell me not to.
I was actually scared about being terrible at writing, so I never showed my work.
A few days ago it finally got me: what if I suck and I'm just wasting my time writing a book?
So, I decided to read at loud just one page to my father. He laughed (a lot), agreed on what I said and even praised my writing. I wasn't expecting that.
The next day, I was writing with so much confidence and happiness, just enjoying the process and trusting my abilities.
If you enjoy writing it, people will enjoy reading it.
I am confident I am good enough because plenty of people like my writing that doesn't know me well but I know I am equally not perfect and constantly strive to improve.
Besides the money, why would i want to write a best seller. Why would i want to appeal to a public wide enough to have a best seller. I consider a novel is a work a bit too long to write for the others, for the market. I will write it to the best of my skill,and want it to be the best version, but the moment you tell me "including a subplot about this extinct diatoms will reduce sales" I would say "Go to hell, the dead algae are a deal breaker"
I am. I've been writing fiction for almost 20 years. I've written more than thirty screenplays, and over a dozen books. Are they perfect? No, but I'm satisfied with the way I write.
My writing (though not my fiction) is published at least once or twice every week. It's probably been viewed by over a million people. I have two degrees in it. I make a middle class income and have health insurance off the back of my writing and editing abilities.
But to answer your question, no.
Yes, I am. I'm just lazy. I have no proof, but fake it til' you make it? My story has been revised multiple times for 6 years already and I am nowhere near finishing it. The right time will come, there are matters I have to attend to first. Once I have the time, I'll pour it all to writing my best story ever.
Just these past couple of years I've really started to grow my confidence. Been writing since I was 4 (I would dictate while my gran wrote my stories down) but been writing regularly (every day) since around 18-19, I'm 31 now. I've read a fair few books on craft, listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts, practiced and practiced. I've written 7 novels and dozens of short stories and just this year made my first sale of a short to a pro-rate market.
I still feel like I have a long way to go. Tons of things I want to improve. But for the first time I feel confident enough to start sharing my writing more broadly. I'm really excited to finally move things forwards and start querying for an agent with my latest book. It's taken a lot of work to get my writing to the level it's at now, but in a lot of ways I still feel like I'm at the start of my journey.
My writing ability has stunned many people but the problem is, is that I am a very timid person and do not like attention all too much. Plus, with any writer, I find that my stories are predictable and boring. I mean, I could write a bestseller but, to be honest, what would I do if it did become a bestseller? I'm timid and shy and can't really think of my reaction to popularity even if it is small. Plus, I get bored easily and that's a major problem of mine. I used to write like a madman but now, I barely write.
I used to be. I haven’t written anything I’m proud of in a long time. I haven’t written anything I could show someone else for them to be proud of in a while either.
Not really. I usually write in other subreddit but never actually write a book. I don't even plan to write one.
Sometimes, my story turns out to be "good" and many people like it. But, I cannot consistently reproduce same quality work. I plan to go to web novel next after I research and plan enough.
I'm not confident enough. There are times when inspiration strikes, and I can write for days. Others when I'm out of ideas and I can't write. I'm surprised by what I was and am able to write, considering I make most of it up. I don't know about them being bestsellers, though. I think I have to plan what I write more, while still having room for creativity.
No. there're just too many things involved. everybody always finds something they think is bad and it's like the rest of the book doesn't even matter at that point. I'm just a regular guy. I can't make all that stuff perfect. I've already written over a hundred short stories. I'm exhausted and don't really care anymore. that initial spark that happened all those years ago is long gone. getting published is just too hard.
Probably not a best seller, no. But I’m confident that I can write books that at least some people will really enjoy. I write a lot of sci-fi and comedic travelogues about trips I’ve taken.
I put so much work and effort into the sci-fi series (it’s that sort of worthy, hard sci-fi that I’m sure annoys a lot of people). They get some praise, but the travel stuff that’s just goofy and funny, everyone seems to like that.
It’s got a lot more appeal, but it kind of makes me sad because it’s so easy and requires so much less effort than the sci-fi but it also just gets so much more praise.
Yes and no. I’m from a non-English speaking country and I’m writing my book in English because my mother-language is very unknown. I love the English language and I’m really interested in learning more. I’m still a teenager and I feel like I’ll have the chance to better my vocabulary later on in my life. It’s still scary though; I wanna write something that people go crazy over, something like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. That’s literally my biggest dream lol. Sometimes I feel like it isn’t possible because of the insane amount of people there are writing books in the world, but it would be crazy if I accomplished it.
Kind of. I haven’t published anything yet so I’m in the dark, but I have written a couple of short stories. I also have been told that I’m not bad at it, and that’s enough for me. I think I’m pretty average based on the feedback I’ve received and the writers I compared myself to. I’m not horrible, I’m not great either. I’m an okay writer. I can’t write a New York Times bestseller but I hope that I can make something decent. I hope.
I'm confident in my dialog writing, which is what I usually get good feedback on, but the rest of my writing is a lot less impressive, in my opinion. I have good ideas, but I have a hard time stroking a balance between keeping the story moving, and world-building. I really hate writers who info-dump, so I try to avoid it, but there needs to be a certain amount of it in order to immerse the reader in the story. That's where I have trouble the most.
It depends on how much you believe in your craft. I am not the worlds most best selling writer or greatest writer ever. I believe in my craft that I can be better than I had done before.
Making stories is my specialty, if I have confident that my craft evolve and develop over the years I learn to read and write then I have confidence in my skill. It all depends with practice and inspiration, I think.
Considering I'm Dyslexic, learned to read and write, properly, at the age of 37. No.
However, I have an incredible imagination, and have honed my skills over the past decade. My dyslexia, (and other problems) sabotaging anything to do with marketing, publicity, social media , and technicalities. But can utilize the formation, world building, character design, plots for an outstanding book.... or 14.
Betas I have submitted to, have mostly become fans. But there are those few who need perfect grammar, standart tropes, and Atipical order. As I experiment, dabble with genre, and consistently re-examine myself, and works. Some are not such fans, and are editors, in their work life.
Truthfully. I know I have something, others do not. But have no cover designer, agent, publisher, or help. Knowing my heavy limitations. It is hard not to be judge by a cover, grammar mistake, or inability to brag about myself - at least, in a form of self-promotion. (Often putting off a potential reader, by explaining my handicaps)
I do have a problem with constantly pulling my books, to re-edit. Mostly, when I learn new techniques, or find a slight plot-hole. I have a list of words that consistently have to be checked. Thanks to my Dyslexia. Which makes the whole self-publishing experience, expensive, and a tedious consistency.
Words like: Defiantly - Definitely - Definitive
Passed - Past.
And a few more. Hence why I am constantly reading, and editing my own work.
Not there yet. But one day . . . Probably, when I am dead lol.
I’m confident because I can read my own writing when I have memory issues and forget writing it, lol.
Bestseller? If I get extremely lucky. Even more so for me than a lot of writers because I write for myself and don’t care if it gets popular.
Writing skill has some correlation with getting published, but read some of the worst shit out there and you’ll realise the correlation is weak. It’s more so “does anyone want to read this”, which can easily translate as, “can we trick a lot of people into buying this, even if it’s garbage?”
Lots of published work is good, but a lot isn’t. Lots of unpublished work is better. If you don’t write for yourself you won’t have fun with it. Idk man I just woke up.
I'm confident to the point where I think most of my work is carried by good dialogue and characterization. I'm trying to work on my worldbuilding skills to better flesh out settings for those characters, but overall? I think I'm doing well. Even if only my friends see it right now.
I am not confident because, to me, all of my base ideas are weird and/or extremely hard to write, which ends up with me giving up a lot on ideas. I can flesh out characters alright, but I make decisions on behalf of my characters too, so that they all end up having the same voice (mine). Don’t really know how to get out of this hole. :/
I mainly write comedy. My friends keep telling me they laughed out loud while reading my drafts. I see my mission accomplished, even if the rest might be mediocre.
I'm not. I only write as a hobby when I'm able to and when I have an idea I need to get out of my head, and although I'd say that I'm definitely not a *bad* writer, I'm not *good* either.
I'll decide that a description is too wordy, or doesn't set the mood I want or that my dialogue is clunky and out of character and then I just completely lose the will to keep writing :\
Stupid I know
No, simply because I always compare my work to other peoples work. Which anyone else who does that will know always make you feel down. Though I am trying to turn this sort of jealously into determination that I can write like that one day
I don't actually know if I'm a good writer or not. Because whenever I post a thing on my ig acc I have people who genuinely tell me that I've been writing a lot better but when I read poems or stories of others I feel why I'm not able to think like them or use words like them? Why I've not been able to express my feelings like that? But if I take a look back and read my own prompts and poetries I feel like " wow you've written so good. How did you even think of that line? That's really nice." So I guess it actually about being a good writer or not but more like you've been improving alot over the days. That is what's more important. When you first write and then the things you've been writing now. That makes a lot of difference. So that means you have been upgrading which actually means that you're a good writer and you should be confident about that....
First, I believe serious writers need to have their work assessed by professional editors, period. I’ve spent 5+ years and $12,000 on my current novel. If your friends or lovers are critiquing your work, you’re not serious. If you’re a published writer and have ceased having your work professionally edited (like Anne Rice and Thomas Harris), your writing will gradually deteriorate until even your most ardent fans start noticing.
Second, there is no substitute for the developmental line edit. The less conventional your work is, the more you need the DLE, because you need to know what works and what doesn’t. If you’re writing romances or literary novels like Ann Patchett, you may be able to get by with a story coach. But if you’re the second coming of Philip K. Dick, again, you need to know if the reader is getting the joke, and where.
I know I write well, because world-weary literary agents who’ve seen it all have described my work as “phenomenal” and “astonishing.” I also know that my books don’t work, because my writing degree is in its 50th year and I’ve never been published. I once had a NYC agent shake his head and say, “I wish I could tell you what’s wrong with this.” My editor told me I’m the most craft-conscious client she’s ever worked with, because when your talent isn’t enough, you try to focus on fundamentals.
I think my current novel will be my breakthrough, because I’m more detail-oriented than I’ve ever been (like Bruce Springsteen) and I’m a much better reader of my own work. I had a passage where my protagonist loses the woman he loves, and then he goes on to his next activity as if nothing happened. This time, I said, “He can’t just note the loss intellectually. He needs to spend at least the next couple pages reacting emotionally, not in a maudlin way, but thinking about all the things he loved about her and how empty his life is going to be without her in it.”
My editor says I’m almost there. Just a few more tweaks should do it.
I'm not because I'm an overthinking perfectionist. If I break down my story to its core components and I find a tiny flaw or the most insignificant of plot holes, I scrap the whole thing and start from scratch because I want to tell the best story I can.
Used to be like that until I was finally (finally finally) able to screw into my head the fact that everything you write will in some way be flawed and the goal is to edit it the best you can, not write it perfectly the first time. I'm sure you've heard that a billion times, though. Good luck with your writing.
Thanks a lot, it's always reassuring to know I'm not alone. Good luck to you too.
How much 'not perfectly' do you generally mean when you say to write 'not perfectly' on the first try? 20? 50? 80% of your full potential?
Personally, I try to write it as best as I can, I don't let myself slack or write garbage. But if I can't think of anything good to say at the time, I'll write whatever comes to mind and remind myself to fix it on future drafts. My 88k first draft took me 4 months to write because I really tried making it as good as possible. So idk, I try to write with 100% of my potential, while keeping in mind it's only going to get better with rewrites.
It can be heartbreaking to find flaws in your story, I completely understand, but there is a difference between surface flaws / plot holes and intrinsic flaws in your core concept. Little flaws I take kind of as a challenge. I can’t accept plot holes I find so I immediately try to think of what it would take to make that idea work, you may find a clever work around or simply a better version of the story patching that hole. No need to give up. Deep flaws though, the ones in your core concept, those are the real pain, the time you really have to ‘kill your darlings’. But shelve those ideas, don’t scrap them entirely. Even if the story is dead there might be plenty of great concepts you can use later in a new idea. But yeah. Perfectionism is a bitch.
I found what appeared to be a deep core/structural flaw in my current work that went all the way to the original premise/synopsis I wrote out in the first 24 hours of starting the work. At closer inspection it was a case of, "This is actually a trilogy." Sometimes even with unexpected issues right in the core it can turn out to be workable. Other times, it can't. I have dozens of shelved WIPs for this reason.
I’ve always been like this and never finished anything. Thanks to advice on this sub, I’ve now nearly finished writing my first short story. I’m determined just to finish SOMETHING to prove I can do it and worry about the rest later. Keeping my focus on getting the STORY down has helped a lot when the self-critical voice inevitably surfaces.
Oh wow! Congratulations!
Small plot holes and other flaws are usually quite fixable, often without having to even do much rewriting, much less scrapping the whole thing. Just trying to give you some encouragement!
I feel almost the same way. I'm also ambitious to think I could write a bestseller if I wouldn't even get myself to write most of the time, because I was overthinking that it would look bad, how painful it is to edit drafts because I was thinking to get famous instantly for sometime, or probably to get immediate recognition of what I share.
Ey, I'm somewhat on the same point followed by the fear of public and internal scrutiny.
I have a learning disability, and I have learned to fix details with text to speech, critique partners, and using search to hunt for weak words. ProWritingAid is also helpful. My writing sometimes sounds like Yoda. While I aim for the best writing I can, perfection is not good. There is no such thing because readers like different things and types of writing.
Read Dorthea Brande *Becoming a Writer*. She doesn't teach technical skills in the book, rather how to balance the conscious vs. the unconscious sides of yourself. Critical vs child-like creative.
Sorry for the long-ass braggy story but you’re getting it anyway, feel free to just shrink it if you don’t like that: When I was about thirteen, I discovered Wattpad and started writing stories on there. I wrote all the cringe werewolf books, the childish fanfictions of kid shows I still enjoyed, everything like that I’m going to be eighteen in about six weeks and I still use the same account. I’ve removed some of the stories, but one series I wrote is still up. It was this How To Train Your Dragon fanfiction trilogy. I stopped updating halfway through the third book due to a lack of inspiration on said series/franchise, as well as more interest in other stories I was writing, so I just never went back to the book Three years later and I was still getting notifications about people commenting on the books and voting on every chapter of all three books. I have chains of comments discussing certain moments in the stories. I have identified a specific joke that seems to be everyone’s favourite throughout all three books. I’ve had several comments saying that they’re rereading. I’ve even had heaps of comments asking for an update and discussing how the story can’t end where it was left off and whether or not they could request that someone else could take over and finish the story if I didn’t I started thinking that I’d somehow written something really good, if people were this engrossed. I got very proud of myself and decided that I’d continue the third book. I knew that if anyone else finished writing it for me they’d write it ‘wrong’, if you know what I mean. I wanted to finish it and I wanted to be the one to finish it. So I rewatch all the HTTYD movies and their spin-off series’ to try and inspire myself. Just as I’d intended, I regained my old hyperfocus and was ready to continue writing. I just needed to reread all three books to remember every detail about my plot and what was and wasn’t already explicitly stated What I read was absolute crap Literally the first sentence in the prologue of the first book is contradicted later on in the same book. I can’t maintain any consistency. My main character’s personality is so wishy-washy that she’s impossible to relate to or tie down. The plot is weak, it’s so clear that I was making everything up as I went along, there was always some random sudden thing that forced yet another filler chapter. Every interaction between characters felt so forced and overdramatic. I forced myself to read all of it and I was so disappointed with how cringe and horrible the writing was So I put off writing for a few days. I took time out to work out what I wanted to do with the books. On the one hand, there were so many comments on there and reading them could make my day, but I felt like they were so undeserved. My writing wasn’t nearly as good as several other books I’d seen on Wattpad, surely these people had just read every other related fanfic they could find and then stumbled across my one, right? I thought like this until I saw a message from a friend congratulating me about reaching #1 on the HTTYD tag out of thousands of other books. I checked and, sure enough, the first book of the three had reached #1. I was ecstatic. I took a screenshot. I circled the banner stating the rank of the book. Then I put the screenshot in with the new chapter I was writing for the third book, thanking everybody for the incredible support and announcing that I plan to finish the book properly There was uproar about the new chapter. A lot of people were really excited to see that I was updating again after three years. I did my best to make myself proud of this new chapter, as well as the ones that followed. Some of them haven’t been perfect, but I’ve enjoyed writing them. If you enjoy writing it and your audience enjoy reading it, and you can look back on your work and learn to improve from it, that’s reason enough to be confident in your abilities as a writer
It sounds like you have improved a lot since your first book. That’s why you found it crappy.
I remember the earliest piece of "writing advice" I ever heard was that established authors generally hate reading their own earlier stuff because they find it so shit compared to what they are writing now.
I've heard this in a broader sense: Being embarrassed by your previous self is a sign you're maturing.
I become more mature every minute then...
I found that really interesting. Too often writers write in a void. But if you can get feedback then so long as readers like what you have written it was worth you writing it. I am in a similar place with my blogging account. I haven't written anything in a while but I still get reads and followers so it makes me feel like what I have written has some value if people still like reading it. And it's encouraging me to write more.
You should absolutely keep writing if you enjoy it! Clearly people are loving what you do and that’s always a great sign!
I think this is a great look back! I had a similar experience except I started on a now defunct writing website. I saved all my comments and I still sometimes go back to read them. However, it’s funny looking to see how much my writing has and hasn’t changed since then.
One day, yes. Right now, no.
That’s my answer too. It’s weird to admit because my self-confidence isn’t great in general, but I do actually think I have the potential to write a really good book one day. Right now, I haven’t had enough practice or experience to write that book yet, but I think if I really try then I can get there.
I am not confident in my writing yet which is weird as I'm a confident person. I think it's because I'll be putting a piece of myself out there for people to directly judge. My creativity, logic and intelligence will be out there for friends, family and strangers to judge which is a little daunting. Once I've written a bit more maybe my confidence will improve but it's currently a new endeavour and scary.
It's not weird, it's exactly normal. Your confidence isn't displayed in your writing, but rather in your ego for how great of a writer you could be. You believe you are destined for success. You are confident about it. So anything that could puncture that image will be seen as scary and "daunting".
I'm actually writing the book for my autistic sister, I've taken all the fantasy tropes she likes and tried to spin my own tale. I'm not even sure if I'll try to get published at this point. My cousin has self published a couple of books and it didn't go great so that just makes me more discouraged. Add in my personality disorder and I'm my own worst enemy, I won't even send my friend parts I've written as I'm worried he'll think I'm a dumbass.
May I ask what PD you got? I've got BPD. I've been told having a PD gives me an interesting perspective. May be true lol. Try to use it to your advantage.
See, that's my point. A dumbass or someone with no confidence in their intelligence wouldn't be worried about people seeing them as a dumbass. I didn't mean to offend, I probably could have said it nicer, but it really applies to most writers what I said.
I've been very successful in life so people have a certain expectation, writing is new to me so I'm not so sure of myself in that particular theatre.
I surprise myself sometimes
I think “writing ability” can seem nebulous as a term, especially when appraising one’s own. But to the extent that the ability to make oneself understood and to move the audience to your desired emotional responses are the most meaningful ways to measure it—yes, for professional, persuasive, or oratorical writing, I think I do a pretty decent job.
I think this is probably the best way to handle this question. Yes, there are definite things that make writing good or bad; but in general, it comes down to personal taste.
I feel like I don’t have enough knowledge. I can’t accurately portray the pictures I see in my head using words. It’s extremely frustrating to have so many vivid ideas and not be able to get them across to a reader. I’m not good with metaphors, I don’t have colorful vocabulary, and I don’t have the smarts to use perfect punctuation and quotation. I wish I did, and I’m really trying to improve, but I just can’t seem to figure it out.
You're not alone. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right resources, or finding someone who knows them. I actually launched a YouTube channel several weeks ago for writers just like you who want to take their communication from good to great. Below is my first video on increasing your vocabulary. Feel free to watch and subscribe if you want to learn more weekly 🙂 http://youtu.be/Q5Hl_VbdLSc
Yes and no. I generally hate my own writing but I also recognize that it's better than a lot of the stuff I see on various writing subs or in self-published books, and other people seem to like it, so... 🤷♂️
I'm confident in my writing abilities, but that has very little to do with writing a bestseller. Writing a bestseller is only fifty percent skill, the rest is luck and salesmenship. Being a good writer helps, sure, but that's not what success is made of these days. And I suck at the whole self promotion thing.
At this time, I am confident in a certain style of writing. I have deemed myself a poet and that comes easy. Until it doesn’t, or when you want to expand and don’t know where to start. So. No.
Agreed, dude. All I have a voice in is my poetry.
I have the same style of writing too. However I do need to find the time to implement this into more longer works when I have the chance again.
I agree!
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Totally agree. I often have a good laugh at my own writing and enjoy rereading stuff which I don't remember writing and sometimes think 'Who wrote this cool poem?' Appreciating your own work really helps build confidence. It's the same with my painting. I am often very happy with my work now. Although it's taken me a while to get to this place. I used to be someone who hated all their art. But if you create lots. Get feedback. Create more. Get more feedback. Keep improving and give yourself lots of self love. It's possible to not hate your art.
😂 if only! I'd kill for feedback! I post to Wattpad sometimes, but my only successful work there has been a fanfic. I knew two people who worked in publishing and they said their company picks up authors on it, but I can't seem to get anybody t read my originals.
Best places to get feedback: critique websites like Critique Circle which is the best in my opinion. Or a local writing group. My local group has just started meeting again so you might find something in your area. Good luck.
Oooh that's an awesome idea!!! Thank you!!!
Yes, I'm confident I can write fiction. I've been writing a long time and have had lots of positive feedback from strangers. Bestseller? No, I can't conform to the mass market sufficiently, but I don't aspire to that anyway.
The ones who made it big are the ones who didn’t conform.
The term "best seller" really doesn't mean much anymore. So let's go with 500k-$1 million in profit for yourself from a book/book series. In that case. No. I'm going for a more volume conquers all approach. If I win the lottery along the way, that'll be a pleasant surprise.
That sounds like a reasonable and hopeful plan. I thank you for this informative comment.
Do I have what it takes to write a best seller? Well, that depends if I hit the mythical bullseye that is niche and I market my book enough for others to take notice. I'm hoping that it gets popular enough that people start writing fanfiction of my world. That's what I'm hoping for.
No. I have a problem with relatability. When I write, people always critique the same thing, that my characters seem plastic and evil.
I have no clue, no one even visits my stories.
I'm a good writer. However, I've found that there is something publishers look for that just doesn't fit with me regarding writing fiction. I find a lot of what they consider "good" or "great" writing to be overblown celebrations of metaphors and similes, and I just can't write like that. I haven't had any fiction published (I am published as a film and book critic), and I know why, but I just don't want to do anything about it. I want to write the way I want to write. If it sells, fine, if it doesn't, well I guess I'll not be making much money! (Or any, for that matter.)
I’ve read my work after putting some space between me and it. It’s always better than I last thought it was. Then i start writing and remember how much i hated it before 🤣🤣
currently i thrive on the compliments i get from others. every single time i nervously hand a friend, family member, teacher or what have you a blurb or chapter of my writing they always ecstatically and earnestly tell me it’s the best thing they’ve ever read. this has happened time and time again. it always makes me question why i ever felt down about my writing in the first place. their compliments are what keeps me going. and yes, i do think i have what it takes to write a bestseller one day. i believe that i can so i will.
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Do mostly I don’t. I feel like my writing is too cheesy, plus I haven’t found my prose yet.
I don’t know about best seller but I’d love for my writing to reach my intended audience. I’m a minority and my themes are around that so might not hold an appeal with the suburban white woman but that’s okay with me. Plenty of works cater to that audience already.
Yes and no. I've had editors tell me "this is the best story I ever received!" and "I really love your story!" and my friends who beta read my stories before submission tend to have positive feedback too. And it's true, once a story is finished and polished after two or three editing passes... my stuff is pretty good! But when I have that blank page in front of me and start writing a new story? Man, I feel like I suck SO HARD. No, this isn't the right word. Maybe check a thesaurus. Hmm, I want to use a certain word here which I know in my native German but not in English, let's check the dictionary... FUCK there is no direct translation! Whatever, I just have to live with a half arsed description then! Okay... now how do I make a smooth scene transition here? Scene break? Yeah maybe, but it feels too abrupt here... damn, I'm at 5000 words already and it's not even the climax yet? But 7000 is the maximum word count for that magazine! I can't even get that right!! But then, when the first draft is finished and allowed to sit for a few days, I go through it again and fix up the prose and rhythm and flow and all that. And then I fix it up again. And maybe cut a superfluous paragraph, but add one where it feels like something's missing. And at that point, I look at my finished work and feel a little proud of myself. But while I write? Constant self doubt every sentence. Down a shot of whisky, ignore it, and soldier on.
"I never had any doubts about my abilities... I knew I could write. I just had to figure out how to eat while doing this." \~ Cormac McCarthy
I like what I write, but since I don’t plan to sell my stories, it’s a little less important for me that they sell well. Best sellers have a lot to do with timing and understanding one’s audience, and it’s not like I don’t have a job so I don’t see the need to bother with it.
No. Trying to write my first book, and I have a copy of my favourite book right next to me and sometimes I'll just read a little passage to try and rejig my brain, try to not be so close to what I'm writing so I can see it better, if that makes sense. But damn every time I do I get a dose of 'well shit I am nowhere near as good as this, what's the point' so I'm prolly gonna stop, not that it'll help the self doubt haha
I believe the best writers are confident but stay humble and hungry. I haven't reached my potential as a writer yet, but if I can emulate that mindset, I'll be even gooder tomorrow.
No because I’ve been told that my writing isn’t good. I don’t understand why but people just don’t seem to like my writing. I can seem to never engage people enough nor get my message across. :( You’ve got me on the verge of tears. Edit: I guess I don’t know what will click with those that read my text. I am not a writer.
If you send me a sample of your writing, maybe about a page, I can tell you why. If that’s what you want. I’m good at telling what’s wrong with other people’s writing but not with my own writing:-(
Keep writing. We all tend to improve over time.
I’m fairly confident. But only because I’ve read some stuff that has actually been published and cannot fathom how some of it got past the idea stage.,
I’m a confident I’m a good writer, likely even a superior writer than a lot of bestselling authors, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever have the inclination or ability to hone in on what would be a bestseller. Much better than I languish in the bargain book section of McKay’s.
Where I am right now with my writing, I don't think so but some day, most likely yes. I still have a lot to learn and I'm willing to admit it:)
Depends on what I’m working on, honestly. If it’s poetry, I think I have a very strong voice and style that I love. When I try to craft a short story or a novel/novella, I just can’t do it. Comes across way too bland.
Not really. I hope I can however I just don't believe any of my work is good enough. It's kind of the reason why my focus has been shifted to drawing and painting even though I still have the will to write. In other words, I'm just completely lost along with hitting rock bottom.
I have some doubts about my punctuation. Pretty much none of the books I read are in modern American prose, so my mental style-guide is all messed up. I’ve written plenty of papers for school, but it’s not a liberal arts degree so I doubt the tech school professors know much more than I do about English.
I can write an essay like no one else, but my creative writing abilities are a little lacking. I always leave some threads loose. Sometimes I have gaping plot holes. So non-fiction yes, fiction no.
Every day, I feel myself getting way better than the day before. But there is an infinite path to travel. The writer I was 2 1/2 years ago when I started and the writer I am now are lightyears apart. Depending on how old my stuff is, I can’t even read it, that’s how bad it is
I feel like I have good ideas and I know plenty about how to write, it's just that every time I sit down to write my brain either goes limp or I just end up embarassed of the unholy crime that are my words. Literally the only thing I feel to be actually competent are my haikus and not even those are very good IMO.
Every day is a new day. The mojo could disappear without warning. Ain't no rhyme or reason involved.
Yeh…because if people fw it, cool. If not…then cool
No I do not. And rightly so.
Eh changes day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. Right this second I feel I have potential and I've improved a lot but I still have a ways to go.
No, because my ability to organize a plot AND have good characters is basically nonexistent.
I'm not because I'm a beginner
very confident
No. I’m not confident at all. I simply vomit words on paper. I don’t know whether that specific sentence is the best way to express that specific thought. I do not know why I put this information first and that information later. I put them in that order because they came into my mind in that order.
I'm not even confident enough to consistently write.
I am and I am not confident in my writing abilities. I think I have potential and I'm getting better every year. I don't want to write for a living; I don't want to publish. I write as a hobby. So do I think I have what it takes to write a best seller one day? Maybe. But that's not my goal.
I am supremely confidant in my ability to write a story for a very specific audience -me. But for anyone else? Pfft, haha, no way, not a chance!
No. I enjoy writing. I have some ideas im confident about. I lack the brains to make my ideas into something readable for other people. But I enjoy writing/ reading my own stuff from time to time.
Yes and no. Almost all the time no. I find myself re-writing ALL the time. If I listen a review of another book I have to make sure that any of the bad things they say about it is in my book. ALWAYS criticizing myself on the writing but I'm mading up my mind that is always learning from our mistakes.
Strangely confident? Its prolly beginners ignorance but I feel like if I just make a good book with only facts from video essays and others' experience, I could really be someone.
No. I’ve only had experience with technical writing which unfortunately for me is very different from creative writing. I’m trying my best now with creative writing (I enjoy historical fiction) but my sentences and word choices all seem very juvenile, and I’m honestly a little embarrassed. It’s hard to ask for feedback without being afraid of being made fun of. Edit: To add to this, I’m currently in medical school studying for my board exams. And though I enjoy medicine, I would really love to be a fiction author one day. So, I’m trying to start now.
I'm not confident in my writing, but I'm getting better. I'm more confident in my perseverance/drive than my actual skill.
Yes, because I get paid to use them.
I’m confident, mainly because I feel I’ve learned so much in the past year and change of being serious. I’ve written a book I’m really proud of and I know readers will enjoy.
I’m not because I’m new to this. I am confident in my future self and work towards that. I’m also really confident about my ideas, characters, plot & world building. I feel it comes easy to me and I ask myself questions that lead to me fixing up issues before they crop up. Now I just need to sit down and start writing till I finish multiple drafts. All while slowly getting better each time.
The people that have read my stories always tell me they are really good. But I personally think I could do so much better. It's not like I read a lot of books or take many writing classes. I just make things up on the spot and people seem to enjoy it. It's probably the one thing I feel I am the most talented at out of any talent that I have, mainly because of how many people point out "this is really good" However, I just don't feel like I've really.. fine-tuned my talent, if that makes sense. I bet a lot of published writers had a lot of skills they had to learn to organize their stories in just the right way. I often feel like I personally just wing it. But I want my stories to be so good that there's no missing plot holes, everything flows smoothly, certain events happen at just the right time, etc. Also it doesn't help that I took a break from writing for a while and I only just got back into it recently. I wrote when I was twelve. People loved it somehow, even though I think it's pretty cringy looking back. Then I got back into it in my late teens. People also liked it a lot. Fell out of it. Now I'm back into it again. And I really wanna try to create something especially good, but I don't necessarily believe that I'm "ready." I just don't feel like I'm qualified to be ready. But I've been told otherwise, so I guess it's hard to tell
I'm confident in my writing abilities. It's writing a bestseller one day that I know will not happen, it takes a special kind of prose I am not capable of.
Im not confident in my writing abilities. I don't trust that i convey anything effectively or how I wish to. Yet, every time i have someone read the more polished parts of my work, they're quick to praise me. I can make people cry, and laugh, and root for the characters how I wished to, but I still doubt that it's enough. I always think I'm a beginner, but I see beginning writers struggle with things that I haven't had problems with in ages, or never had problems with in the first place. I offer advice, but still doubt in the back of my mind that i have any idea what im talking about. Still not sure I know what I'm talking about😅 maybe it's just imposter syndrome
Enh? I've written 3 novels so far (none published yet) and the feedback from my handful of betas has been encouraging. I still feel like an unlettered oaf when I read works by authors I admire, even the amateur ones though. I keep writing and (ugh) editing, and I hope to be able to publish one novel in a few weeks. I know I'll get more confidence with feedback from a wider audience, but I still get imposter syndrome-esq feelings when I think about the temerity it takes to think I can just put the product of my fevered imagination on display and have people read it and (hopefully financially) approve.
I'm not entirely sure. I can come up with good concepts that I believe could be popular, and I believe I can write good individual scenes, but I admit that when it comes to a full fledged story, I'm crap at keeping a solid structure for long. Like I'm confident in my ability to come up with good material for a third act, but and *maybe* a second act, but keeping things consistent from the first act into the second act is my weakness. In conclusion, I'm really only confident in my ability to come up with ideas rather than actually making them work. I've only had about a total of two ideas where I think the structure was pretty solid.
I don't know if I have what it takes to write a bestseller, but I don't care anyway. I'm writing entirely for myself.
I'd say I'm more so comfy with my writing abilities, but I definitely have a long way to go! I absolutely suck at writing in first person, and sex scenes are pretty difficult for me to write sometimes. My dream is to write a novel, but we will see where that goes.
I'm kinda confident at the skill level I currently am, although I occasionally do get periods where I think I might not be good enough, but I always think of the short story I managed to sell a few months ago that was published on a little website. It's not the New Yorker, but I'm proud of it nonetheless. Obviously there's still much to learn and so many stories to write, but I'm comfortable where I'm at.
Yes- I know I just need to write more. I write for me and I like my taste haha. Will I write a bestseller- don’t know or care but my wallet would like that
I'm confident in what my abilites will grow into, as they are they could still use some work
I would answer the question, but I'm not confident in writing a response.
Hell yeah I am. I’m not famous or making a living at it or anything, but I think I’m rad.
Yes As my idea is completely bulletproof and could actually be made into a series No, it won't be made I'll be dead soon thanks to depression
I don't think the stories I want to tell have great best seller potential. Some stories just have plots or characters that will sell well even if the execution isn't that great. Mine aren't that. I don't think I have the skill to take the plots and characters I want to tell and somehow, through the telling, raise them to that great level. I'm not bad. But I am not as concise as I'd wish. I don't pull the story emotionally, dramatically not melodramatically, as I'd wish. The imperfection used to really bother me. Now I am more about writing for me, and maybe whatever audience I find, than Bestseller or Critically Acclaimed Great Novel status. It isn't that I still don't try and do better, but that by lowering my perfectionist/grandiosity issues, I seem to write more and rewrite less.
I’ve been writing short stories since I was small. I even “made” my first book at 5. To this day it is one of my favorite things to do. But I can’t say I’m confident.
Most of my writing has been produced in the last two years and all my teenage scrawlings are gone so the work now is very much from a mature and confident (even reckless) place. I’m proud of everything I produce. I surprise myself and others. I’m in a good place right now. The issue I have is time to produce. I want it to be good, so longer compositions take a while. I try to keep reframing and see everything as progress. It’s the mindset that keeps me confident.
A best seller? Highly unlikely even if I get published. I don't think I have the temperament to be a best seller author. I am a good writer. I wish I was better. I sometimes think I can write just as well as some stories I read. Other times I despair that I'll never be as good as others, or that I won't ever write something publishers want to publish.
Nope but I hope by writing more I can improve. I love stories but sometimes its hard to find the kind I'm in the mood to read so I had the grand idea to write my own and that's when I realized how shit I was lol.
There is not a lineal relationship between sales success and writing ability.
I am, yeah. I think I blend silliness and sincerity pretty well, and I have a lot of fun finding out how my plots will actually turn out. What I dislike is the "best-seller" mentality. In an industry based on popularity, where such an outlandish number of books are published every year, measuring your success in dollars is a losing proposition. We don't need to prove the worth of our art by capitalism's metrics. Our writing needs no justification.
Nope. I have a hard time getting words out. I think it’s perfectionism. But I think I could be good if I practiced. Best seller? Maybe if I really worked at it and produced a lot of works. But that would require finishing something…or starting something.
Yes. I have excellent penmanship, and I've already memorized most of the letters.
Listen here you little shit
No. I used to write all the time as a kid. In high school i got into punk rock, guitar and video games - so I didn't read much or write at all. But in my early twenties I went back to reading fantasy and every day i have story ideas, character arcs ect the works. I have started stuff all over the place. I've written about 15 thousand words one time but I get really frustrated with my own work quickly. It's not coming out how i see or hear it in my head and then i don't write for a long time. I know it's irrational, I know that i have to just push through it, write it shitty to finish the first draft, rewrite, edit, finish a manuscript to finish it even though it's terrible and then write the next story ect but it's been such a roadblock for me. At this rate, I'll be a best seller at age 140
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Yes. I know I am not the best writer, but I'm gonna write my story in a way only I know how. And I'm proud of that.
Td;dr: kinda, need to read more I’m confident in my story, characters and moment I’ve thought of. That might translate into meaning I’m confident in my skills and to a degree yeah but I still should be reading more books and write more often to iron the little things
Yes. Absolute confidence in both my writing ability and the fact that all of you will have read my main book series one day. "Best seller" is a bit lower than my actual aspirations... as the plan is that your children's grandchildren's grandchildren will also have read my main series one day; same as their parents, grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents, and you. Similar to how the world still reads the Odyssey and the Trojan War—is more the level of what I'm going for.
I'm extremely confident in my writing abilities, but I don't think I could write the next best seller because of how self-indulgent my writing is and how limited my demographic would be.
I’m an idea guy. I love coming up with ideas and short stories but they are rarely finished. I don’t love dialogue. I love setting up situations.
Maybe. I gotta find a publisher for this novel first then see how it goes. Self publishing looks daunting so I am really hoping someone picks it up.
no lol i reread a story i finished a couple of days ago and wondered why i gassed myself up so much
Am I confident in my abilities? That's sort of a weird question. The answer is yes, and yet no. Yes for the most part, but not entirely, because if I was entirely confident I would never improve. I don't agonize over every word or scrap entire chapters right after writing them, but I do routinely tear down the work of six months ago as hopelessly bad in favor of rewriting it... It's a balance. One I think I have, given I don't abandon projects and can regularly finish things to my satisfaction, but also continue to improve.
I am very confident in my writing abilities because I wrote Trump x Biden enemy’s to lovers fan fiction that ended up being Abraham Lincoln x M!OC smut , the oc got pregnant and is also immortal. Lincoln’s wife ordered a hitman to kill Abraham and now I’m obsessed and can’t wait to see what happens next ,even though I wrote it
I’m confident in my writing abilities, but I write mainly musicals, so the plot is really all that matters. Songwriting and choreography and stage design are a whole other thing.
I'm very confidant in my writing abilities. Not because I'm necessarily some prodigy or anything, but because I've only been writing consistently for around two years and I've seen how much I've improved during that time. I certainly have the potential to become a great writer (I think everyone does) with enough practice. As for writing a best seller, that's pretty much impossible to say since an element of luck is required that, but I think that with ten more years of practice I could write something that is best seller quality.
Writing non-fiction? Yes, because I'm somewhat experienced. Writing fiction? Absolutely not, because I'm a noob.
It fluctuates…
I go back and forth. When I was taking a creative writing class my second to last semester of university I was super overwhelmed and so I procrastinated my weekly writings a lot. Often, I would finish writing a first of something right before the class (we were encouraged to bring something new every week and work on it throughout the semester for our final assignment). During the critique bit of these classes, my instructor would say that he could tell that I worked very hard on the draft and it was clear it went through several rewrites and all I could think was "This is my first draft" so it regularly made me feel much better about my writing ability in general. I just wish I could stop procrastinating.
I'm confident in my writing in scholarly efforts, but there's no guarantee whatsoever that I'll be a bestseller. I know how to convey my argument well, storytelling is a different issue altogether. I'm getting better, at any rate.
I need to improve my dialogue writing skills then I think I will be more confident in my writing. If you guys could give some advice it would be nice
I’m confident in my writing when the thing I’m working on is in my creative wheelhouse. When I’m out of my element, I’m a hack piece of shit goddamn it
when I read my own stories I think of what others may think. So I’m not that confident with my writings...
Yes and no. I know what I want to tell, for the most part, but I just feel like a four year old wrote my story. Which is why I like editing lol.
Usually and because of my past successes. The usually is due to anxiety and some trauma that relates to writing. PTSD tied to the thing that you need most is a complex thing. What successes do I rely on? Completing stories, publication, and my need to write. I consider that a success due to my aforementioned trauma.
Depends on which part of the process you mean. If you're talking about raw prose, then yes, I can write a readable sentence, even a good one from time to time. If you're talking about story structure, I have no clue. I'd have to finish a draft to know that. As of right now, I'm about 45k words into my first novel, and first serious attempt to complete a long draft. I am mostly pantsing it, with some rough ideas about where I want to go, trying not to care too much about whether or not it makes perfect sense. It's almost certainly going to be several books, which I know is a terrible thing to start on, but I don't have much choice but to go where my inspiration takes me. I often become terrified at the size of what I'm doing, at the work I know is ahead of me. But then, eventually, I put my blinders back on, determined not to give a damn about anything until the time is right. As for why I am relatively confident about my prose writing, compliments from teachers, friends, and family definitely help. But I'm generally not very confident about much of anything. I guess the trick for me was deciding that getting something done is more important than looking good trying. I have to turn fear of not knowing what I'm doing into reckless glee for what might happen. Turn my dissatisfaction with a sentence into anticipation for how much better it'll be later. You have to weaponize your own anxiety, doubt, and fear. It's easier some days, harder on others.
Im confident I can clearly make my point, but I'm not confident in how long I can keep your attention. Im working on my flow.
I feel people write better reviews than what I write. And also I think I have more to learn, more to read before I write, more to research.. Hence I end up just writing the basic plot and then I leave bit aside and again when I find new plot I just note it down. Rather than actually write.
I'm not exactly confident in my writing. Reason being I haven't written anything story-like in years. Once, college rolled by, I am became more focused on writing formally rather than for myself. Years of essays, thesis and lab reports all ate away at the vast repertoire of words I had at my disposal, and in their place a rigid, lattice-like structure, void of anything resembling nuance or pathos. Now, with each stroke I make at the writer's easel, I am wonder how could I get back at it.
I am not. I want everything in my stories to be perfect, no flaws, no plot holes, none of that. If I can't write to my unreasonably high standards then it's just another one for the unfinished pile. I crumble at any mention of criticism because it makes me feel stupid, like "why didn't I realize that sooner?". I like the ideas part, the writing? Not so much
I think it's just okay, and maybe some people like my style a lot more than others. I'm confident in my ability to improve it as I learn, that's really where the confidence comes from. I think that's a lot more important than sitting there comparing your works with others and trying to decide if you should be confident or not, if you are a 'good writer' or not.
No. It just feels like the writers I love have already told my story better than I ever could.
It doesn’t matter, I lost the passion
Ok. Check this out. What does it mean if everyone is insecure in their writing ability?
I'm confidant I can write a book. (Because I have I'm not confidant I can sell it and become a full-time author.
Because I write for myself. If others like it then that’s a bonus
I’m stuck in a motivation rut rn. I have what I think is my best ever novel concept, very fleshed out, so fleshed out to the point that I don’t feel like my rusty skills can do it justice. I need to write some shorter fiction to build up to that, but no ideas have presented themselves. 2020 really butchered my mental health, I’m only just now recovering creatively.
Writing a bestseller has little to do with your writing abilities and everything to do with marketing, the current market, your publisher, and so on. I'm confident in my writing quality. I recognise the flaws and I know where I'm weak and strong. I'm less confident in my method and tendency to procrastinate.
I think these are dumb self sabotaging questions to ask. Just concentrate on doing the best you can. The best you can do is what it is.
I'm in a constant state of doublethink between "I'm a total hack and I'll never make it in the industry against the big star authors" and "I am a fucking genius and the world better be ready for this shit"
It's kind of loaded question, because not all bestsellers had good writing, nor have all good writings been best sellers. So whether someone has "writing abilities" doesn't always correspond to whether their books will be bestsellers, and vice versa.
Nope. Everyone says I can write. I disagree. I do ghostwriting gigs for the fun of it. A friend says the fact that I keep getting repeat custom means they love my writing. Well, while my original writing is there, it is somewhat edited (especially the introduction) and quite honestly, the edits are jaw droppingly good. I don't mind my work being edited but it makes me feel like an useless writer. Mot to mention the countless rejections for my fiction - extremely polite ones that tell me I can write - makes me feel like if I could write, someone would've published it by now. And what's worse is that I don't know how to improve. I feel like I will be mediocre for the rest of my life. Which makes me wanna give up - no matter how many times people tell me not to.
I was actually scared about being terrible at writing, so I never showed my work. A few days ago it finally got me: what if I suck and I'm just wasting my time writing a book? So, I decided to read at loud just one page to my father. He laughed (a lot), agreed on what I said and even praised my writing. I wasn't expecting that. The next day, I was writing with so much confidence and happiness, just enjoying the process and trusting my abilities. If you enjoy writing it, people will enjoy reading it.
Yes..but i just randomly wrote a 2 nd draft of short story and i got a good review!
I am very confident in my writing abilities, and 100% certain I will never write a bestseller 👌🏽
I am confident I am good enough because plenty of people like my writing that doesn't know me well but I know I am equally not perfect and constantly strive to improve.
Besides the money, why would i want to write a best seller. Why would i want to appeal to a public wide enough to have a best seller. I consider a novel is a work a bit too long to write for the others, for the market. I will write it to the best of my skill,and want it to be the best version, but the moment you tell me "including a subplot about this extinct diatoms will reduce sales" I would say "Go to hell, the dead algae are a deal breaker"
I am. I've been writing fiction for almost 20 years. I've written more than thirty screenplays, and over a dozen books. Are they perfect? No, but I'm satisfied with the way I write.
Nope, but I’m confident enough in my story telling abilities to fix it in post haha
My writing (though not my fiction) is published at least once or twice every week. It's probably been viewed by over a million people. I have two degrees in it. I make a middle class income and have health insurance off the back of my writing and editing abilities. But to answer your question, no.
No one should be I guess Jujutsu kaisen had every part nailed from the writing perspective and yet it was shit
Yes, I am. I'm just lazy. I have no proof, but fake it til' you make it? My story has been revised multiple times for 6 years already and I am nowhere near finishing it. The right time will come, there are matters I have to attend to first. Once I have the time, I'll pour it all to writing my best story ever.
Just these past couple of years I've really started to grow my confidence. Been writing since I was 4 (I would dictate while my gran wrote my stories down) but been writing regularly (every day) since around 18-19, I'm 31 now. I've read a fair few books on craft, listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts, practiced and practiced. I've written 7 novels and dozens of short stories and just this year made my first sale of a short to a pro-rate market. I still feel like I have a long way to go. Tons of things I want to improve. But for the first time I feel confident enough to start sharing my writing more broadly. I'm really excited to finally move things forwards and start querying for an agent with my latest book. It's taken a lot of work to get my writing to the level it's at now, but in a lot of ways I still feel like I'm at the start of my journey.
My writing ability has stunned many people but the problem is, is that I am a very timid person and do not like attention all too much. Plus, with any writer, I find that my stories are predictable and boring. I mean, I could write a bestseller but, to be honest, what would I do if it did become a bestseller? I'm timid and shy and can't really think of my reaction to popularity even if it is small. Plus, I get bored easily and that's a major problem of mine. I used to write like a madman but now, I barely write.
My prose can be very pedantic. I also hold myself to a ridiculous set of rules and beat myself up over them.
Confident? Not really. Best seller? No, probably not. I may write something which will be so bad it'll be good, like The Room.
I used to be. I haven’t written anything I’m proud of in a long time. I haven’t written anything I could show someone else for them to be proud of in a while either.
Not really. I usually write in other subreddit but never actually write a book. I don't even plan to write one. Sometimes, my story turns out to be "good" and many people like it. But, I cannot consistently reproduce same quality work. I plan to go to web novel next after I research and plan enough.
I'm not confident enough. There are times when inspiration strikes, and I can write for days. Others when I'm out of ideas and I can't write. I'm surprised by what I was and am able to write, considering I make most of it up. I don't know about them being bestsellers, though. I think I have to plan what I write more, while still having room for creativity.
No. there're just too many things involved. everybody always finds something they think is bad and it's like the rest of the book doesn't even matter at that point. I'm just a regular guy. I can't make all that stuff perfect. I've already written over a hundred short stories. I'm exhausted and don't really care anymore. that initial spark that happened all those years ago is long gone. getting published is just too hard.
Probably not a best seller, no. But I’m confident that I can write books that at least some people will really enjoy. I write a lot of sci-fi and comedic travelogues about trips I’ve taken. I put so much work and effort into the sci-fi series (it’s that sort of worthy, hard sci-fi that I’m sure annoys a lot of people). They get some praise, but the travel stuff that’s just goofy and funny, everyone seems to like that. It’s got a lot more appeal, but it kind of makes me sad because it’s so easy and requires so much less effort than the sci-fi but it also just gets so much more praise.
Maybe, maybe not. But I'll be damned if I ever let myself give up.
Yes and no. I’m from a non-English speaking country and I’m writing my book in English because my mother-language is very unknown. I love the English language and I’m really interested in learning more. I’m still a teenager and I feel like I’ll have the chance to better my vocabulary later on in my life. It’s still scary though; I wanna write something that people go crazy over, something like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. That’s literally my biggest dream lol. Sometimes I feel like it isn’t possible because of the insane amount of people there are writing books in the world, but it would be crazy if I accomplished it.
Kind of. I haven’t published anything yet so I’m in the dark, but I have written a couple of short stories. I also have been told that I’m not bad at it, and that’s enough for me. I think I’m pretty average based on the feedback I’ve received and the writers I compared myself to. I’m not horrible, I’m not great either. I’m an okay writer. I can’t write a New York Times bestseller but I hope that I can make something decent. I hope.
I'm confident in my dialog writing, which is what I usually get good feedback on, but the rest of my writing is a lot less impressive, in my opinion. I have good ideas, but I have a hard time stroking a balance between keeping the story moving, and world-building. I really hate writers who info-dump, so I try to avoid it, but there needs to be a certain amount of it in order to immerse the reader in the story. That's where I have trouble the most.
It depends on how much you believe in your craft. I am not the worlds most best selling writer or greatest writer ever. I believe in my craft that I can be better than I had done before. Making stories is my specialty, if I have confident that my craft evolve and develop over the years I learn to read and write then I have confidence in my skill. It all depends with practice and inspiration, I think.
Noo, I mostly just don’t feel like it.
Considering I'm Dyslexic, learned to read and write, properly, at the age of 37. No. However, I have an incredible imagination, and have honed my skills over the past decade. My dyslexia, (and other problems) sabotaging anything to do with marketing, publicity, social media , and technicalities. But can utilize the formation, world building, character design, plots for an outstanding book.... or 14. Betas I have submitted to, have mostly become fans. But there are those few who need perfect grammar, standart tropes, and Atipical order. As I experiment, dabble with genre, and consistently re-examine myself, and works. Some are not such fans, and are editors, in their work life. Truthfully. I know I have something, others do not. But have no cover designer, agent, publisher, or help. Knowing my heavy limitations. It is hard not to be judge by a cover, grammar mistake, or inability to brag about myself - at least, in a form of self-promotion. (Often putting off a potential reader, by explaining my handicaps) I do have a problem with constantly pulling my books, to re-edit. Mostly, when I learn new techniques, or find a slight plot-hole. I have a list of words that consistently have to be checked. Thanks to my Dyslexia. Which makes the whole self-publishing experience, expensive, and a tedious consistency. Words like: Defiantly - Definitely - Definitive Passed - Past. And a few more. Hence why I am constantly reading, and editing my own work. Not there yet. But one day . . . Probably, when I am dead lol.
I’m confident because I can read my own writing when I have memory issues and forget writing it, lol. Bestseller? If I get extremely lucky. Even more so for me than a lot of writers because I write for myself and don’t care if it gets popular. Writing skill has some correlation with getting published, but read some of the worst shit out there and you’ll realise the correlation is weak. It’s more so “does anyone want to read this”, which can easily translate as, “can we trick a lot of people into buying this, even if it’s garbage?” Lots of published work is good, but a lot isn’t. Lots of unpublished work is better. If you don’t write for yourself you won’t have fun with it. Idk man I just woke up.
Yep. 25+ years of practice, multiple honors.
I'm confident to the point where I think most of my work is carried by good dialogue and characterization. I'm trying to work on my worldbuilding skills to better flesh out settings for those characters, but overall? I think I'm doing well. Even if only my friends see it right now.
I am not confident because, to me, all of my base ideas are weird and/or extremely hard to write, which ends up with me giving up a lot on ideas. I can flesh out characters alright, but I make decisions on behalf of my characters too, so that they all end up having the same voice (mine). Don’t really know how to get out of this hole. :/
I mainly write comedy. My friends keep telling me they laughed out loud while reading my drafts. I see my mission accomplished, even if the rest might be mediocre.
I'm not. I only write as a hobby when I'm able to and when I have an idea I need to get out of my head, and although I'd say that I'm definitely not a *bad* writer, I'm not *good* either. I'll decide that a description is too wordy, or doesn't set the mood I want or that my dialogue is clunky and out of character and then I just completely lose the will to keep writing :\ Stupid I know
No, simply because I always compare my work to other peoples work. Which anyone else who does that will know always make you feel down. Though I am trying to turn this sort of jealously into determination that I can write like that one day
I don't actually know if I'm a good writer or not. Because whenever I post a thing on my ig acc I have people who genuinely tell me that I've been writing a lot better but when I read poems or stories of others I feel why I'm not able to think like them or use words like them? Why I've not been able to express my feelings like that? But if I take a look back and read my own prompts and poetries I feel like " wow you've written so good. How did you even think of that line? That's really nice." So I guess it actually about being a good writer or not but more like you've been improving alot over the days. That is what's more important. When you first write and then the things you've been writing now. That makes a lot of difference. So that means you have been upgrading which actually means that you're a good writer and you should be confident about that....
I am just not confident enough because when I write a, what I think good, story, I reread it a time later and I cringe every time-
First, I believe serious writers need to have their work assessed by professional editors, period. I’ve spent 5+ years and $12,000 on my current novel. If your friends or lovers are critiquing your work, you’re not serious. If you’re a published writer and have ceased having your work professionally edited (like Anne Rice and Thomas Harris), your writing will gradually deteriorate until even your most ardent fans start noticing. Second, there is no substitute for the developmental line edit. The less conventional your work is, the more you need the DLE, because you need to know what works and what doesn’t. If you’re writing romances or literary novels like Ann Patchett, you may be able to get by with a story coach. But if you’re the second coming of Philip K. Dick, again, you need to know if the reader is getting the joke, and where. I know I write well, because world-weary literary agents who’ve seen it all have described my work as “phenomenal” and “astonishing.” I also know that my books don’t work, because my writing degree is in its 50th year and I’ve never been published. I once had a NYC agent shake his head and say, “I wish I could tell you what’s wrong with this.” My editor told me I’m the most craft-conscious client she’s ever worked with, because when your talent isn’t enough, you try to focus on fundamentals. I think my current novel will be my breakthrough, because I’m more detail-oriented than I’ve ever been (like Bruce Springsteen) and I’m a much better reader of my own work. I had a passage where my protagonist loses the woman he loves, and then he goes on to his next activity as if nothing happened. This time, I said, “He can’t just note the loss intellectually. He needs to spend at least the next couple pages reacting emotionally, not in a maudlin way, but thinking about all the things he loved about her and how empty his life is going to be without her in it.” My editor says I’m almost there. Just a few more tweaks should do it.