Writing with Confidence
[image error]A few weeks ago, the lovely Misty Baker over at KindleObsessed posted a plea to authors to try harder to evoke emotional responses in their readers. I typed in a little comment about how everyone responds to books differently, but that as an author I need to "dig deep and touch places that aren't pleasant." Misty responded that that's what she meant, and we both went on our merry ways.
But I kept thinking about that post and about my response, and it dawned on me why authors might not be evoking emotional responses as much as we'd like: We don't have enough confidence.
It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? Putting "writing" and "confidence" in the same sentence seems anathema to this anguished, self-deprecating writer thing we're all going for. But here's what I mean… We need to believe so deeply in the stories we're telling, and we need to have so much faith in our own storytelling ability, that the confidence shines through in our writing.
Do you know that guy—the one you went to school with, or the one from your office, or the one you see in the coffee shop every weekend? The guy who just has this swagger—this shoulders-thrown-back, lift-of-the-chin, hero-striding attitude that you see and he just exudes confidence? He doesn't have to be good looking or have six-pack abs—in fact, it's more telling when he's not and he doesn't. He's just that guy that you know has self-assurance in spades. He exudes it.
That's the attitude you want in your writing, I think.
How do you develop it? I think there are a few ways:
1) Work on craft, grammar, and usage. When you have a really good grasp of how to use commas, when to use fragments, and why –ly adverbs are very weak, your writing will start to become invisible to readers. They won't have to edit as they read, and the words will get out of the way so that the story will shine.
2) Solicit advice. There is confidence in humility. A really good critique partner won't just tell you "it's good" or "it stinks." He or she will tell you what's good and what isn't. But the value isn't just in what the critique partner says—it's in how you hear it and what you do with it. Yes, it's your story, but consider constructive feedback very carefully. When you can put your own baggage aside and consider what's best for the story, you develop humility. Making changes that work for the story will help you develop confidence.
3) Push yourself. Experiment with your style, voice, and genre. Purposely write stories you aren't comfortable with. Write something completely opposite of what you normally write. It may be really awful, but pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is a good way to grow. Think about weight training—you have to lift heavier weights regularly or you never grow muscle.
4) Evoke an emotional response in yourself. If you can write a scene that makes your heart race, your eyes water, your palms sweat, or your lip twist into a snarky grin, you're evoking an emotional response in yourself. Chances are pretty good that you'll evoke an emotional response in someone else, too. But don't stop at the surface emotion—dig deeper. Access pains, sorrows, joys, fears, anxieties of your own and put them on the page.
5) Put the story first. This one is kind of hard to define, but I think authors get in the way of our stories sometimes. Put your own ego and anxiety aside and let the story emerge. Even if it's ugly and brutal and not what you think it should be, write it. You can always cut, but getting out of the way of the story will help you find that deep place where you're just the medium and the story takes life.
Do I write with confidence? Not always. I'm learning. It's part of the journey. But with pushing myself every day and getting out of the way of my story, I'm confident that my writing is improving constantly. I long for the day I get an e-mail or wall post or note that says, "I cried when…" The best compliment a writer can get from a reader, I think, is, "your story moved me."
About the Author
Amy Rose Davis is an independent epic fantasy author. She lives in Oregon with her [image error]husband, Bryce, and their four children. Bryce provides comic relief, editing, and inspiration, and regularly talks her off the various ledges she climbs onto.
Amy is an unapologetic coffee addict, but her other vices include chocolate, margaritas, and whiskey. She prefers cats to dogs (but houses both), loves the color green, and enjoys the smell of new pencils and crayons. She has eclectic tastes in friends, music, and books, and is as likely to watch 300 as Becoming Jane. Her books are available in all major e-bookstores.
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RAVENMARKED
by Amy Rose Davis
[image error]For one with the ravenmark, there is no balance.
Connor Mac Niall has everything he wants. As the best freelance man-at-arms in the known world, his reputation brings him jobs that provide adventure, women, and money in abundance.
But Connor has a secret: He's ravenmarked. The avenging spirit of the earth, known as the Morrag, has chosen him to be her angel of death–to kill those she wants killed. Connor has run from her call half his life, and working as a freelance helps him keep the need to kill quelled.
When Connor reluctantly agrees to escort a fleeing royal heir to safety, he has no idea that the journey will bring him face to face with the Morrag–and require that he choose between destiny and freedom. He finds himself confronted with old regrets and new choices. On one side pursued by a sorcerer who wants him dead and on the other side tempted by the Morrag to submit his will to hers, Connor unwittingly escorts his charge right into the path of greatest danger for them both. He faces a choice: Submit his will to the Morrag's control or let the royal heir die.
Set against a backdrop of romance, political instability, and magic, Ravenmarked is the first in a five-book epic fantasy series titled The Taurin Chronicles.
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