What do you do if your confidence wavers when faced with new writing challenges and opportunities?

Just like any other emotion, fear is also a human emotion only and it is completely fine to have fear in certain situations, since in absence of fear one might take an impulsive decision, the results of which may be drastically bad. Therefore, a leader should never refrain from acknowledging fear. It is fine to be afraid of certain things when it comes to writing: What if your book doesn't even sell one copy in an year? What if you lost your manuscript that you didn't create a backup for? What if your content offended a community and there's repercussions? It's therefore important to have and acknowledge fear just like any other emotion. It helps bring balance in your thoughts and actions, and prevents you from taking impulsive decisions.

I believe it's important to recognize when fear is present and understand that it's a natural response to new challenges. When I was tasked with writing EDMs for an event, I felt nervous about whether I could effectively the points or not. However, acknowledging my fear allowed me to confront it and move forward with the project.

When confronted with unfamiliar writing challenges and opportunities, it's crucial to acknowledge any initial feelings of fear or self-doubt that may arise. These emotions are natural reactions to stepping out of one's comfort zone and venturing into uncharted territory. By recognizing and accepting these feelings, I can confront them head-on, rather than allowing them to hinder my progress. This acknowledgment serves as a vital first step in the process of overcoming obstacles and building confidence in my writing abilities.

If my confidence is already down and I am also fearing failure/not being able to write, the last thing I would want is getting another failure blocking my mental space and hindering my creativity further. Therefore, I would set small, realistic goals that I can tackle in smaller periods of time so I can get a psychological edge every time I crack a goal. For example, a month-long project can be broken down into 4 quarters with a deadline of six days for each of the quarters and 5/6 days left to put everything else in place/proofread your content. Each part can be further divided into daily goals/goals per team for better clarity of your workload and deadlines, and prevents you from being overburdened.

Setting achievable goals helps in breaking down daunting tasks into manageable steps. When I was given a tight deadline to write a series of blog posts on a technical topic that I didn't know much about, I divided the workload into smaller sections and set specific goals for each. This approach not only made the task less overwhelming but also allowed me to track my progress effectively.

Setting realistic goals not only helps me break down larger writing tasks into manageable steps, but it also provides me with a clear roadmap for success. By establishing achievable objectives, I can maintain a sense of direction and purpose, allowing me to stay motivated and focused on making progress in my writing journey.

Seeking feedback is a great way to help boost your confidence. Your colleagues, peers, mentors or acquaintances that you can trust with providing you authentic, unbiased feedback about your writing, can be of great value to your career. It helps you look at your own art from a third person's POV and not as your own, since most artists find it difficult to rate/criticize their own work since they've already been through it multiple times. Therefore, always be on a lookout for constructive, insightful feedback as it can be a great stepping stone in hindsight.

Seeking feedback from colleagues or mentors can provide valuable insights and help improve the quality of your work. For example, whenever I write anything, I ensure that my copy is reviewed by my colleagues/ manager before sending it out. Their feedback has always helped me refine the messaging and make it more persuasive.

Seeking feedback from a diverse range of sources, including peers, mentors, or writing professionals, is invaluable in my growth as a writer. Their perspectives offer unique insights and validation, guiding me towards a deeper understanding of my craft. Constructive criticism not only helps me identify areas for improvement but also serves to reinforce my existing strengths, empowering me to refine my writing skills and reach new heights in my creative endeavors.

Continuous learning is crucial for staying updated with industry trends and honing your skills. Whenever I encounter a writing challenge that I'm unfamiliar with, such as creating content for a new social media platform, I make it a point to research best practices and learn from relevant resources to enhance my expertise.

Continuous learning is key to building confidence in writing. Whether through reading, taking courses, or practicing new techniques, each learning opportunity enhances my skills and expands my writing toolkit.

Visualizing success can boost confidence and motivation. Before pitching a new concept to a client, I take a moment to envision their positive reaction and the successful outcome of the project. This mental exercise helps me approach the presentation with a positive mindset and increased confidence.

Visualizing success and envisioning myself conquering writing challenges serves as a powerful tool to elevate my confidence and motivation levels. When I visualize positive outcomes, I cultivate a mindset of optimism and determination that propels me forward in my writing endeavors. This mental rehearsal not only instills a sense of belief in my abilities but also equips me with the resilience needed to tackle new writing tasks with vigor and tenacity.

Being adaptable allows you to navigate unexpected changes and challenges with ease. When a client suddenly requested revisions to a copy I had already finalized, I remained flexible and incorporated their feedback promptly. Embracing adaptability not only fosters client satisfaction but also demonstrates professionalism and resilience in the face of adversity.

Sometimes, it's not the writing I have trouble with, it's just figuring out where to start. I have found that embracing AI can prove helpful in these situations, not to do my writing, but to come up with example structures and content. Often, looking over what AI generates can be enough to spark my own creativity and once I have that spark, getting started becomes much easier.

I think this is a common challenge for artists and writers. Take a look at some of your good work: what made it work, who liked it, why was it a success? This could help you regain some of that confidence. You've done this before and you can do it again!

It's essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout and sustain creativity. As a copywriter, I make sure to take regular breaks and engage in activities that inspire me, whether it's reading a novel, exploring nature, or playing video games. These experiences rejuvenate my mind and keep my creativity flowing.