Popular Articles

 

10 Ways to Make a 6-Figure Income as a Freelance Writer By Bob Bly

 

Starving Writer No More By Peter Bowerman

 

3 Ways to Find Your Niche as a Freelance Writer By Nick Usborne

 

Popular Courses

 

Learn the profitable craft of direct response copywriting...with Michael Masterson's Accelerated program for Six-Figure Copywriting

 

Travel the world and make money...with The Ultimate Travel Writer's Course

 

 


 

 

How to Overcome Your Writing Inhibitions

by Nick Usborne


The biggest thing that gets in the way of writing is inhibition.

 

It may be a conscious inhibition. Perhaps you don’t believe you are good enough.

 

Or have concerns that people will criticize what you write. Or worse still, laugh at your efforts.

 

It may be an unconscious inhibition. This is tougher territory. I believe most of the limits in our lives are set by ourselves. We limit what we can achieve. We doubt ourselves. We put a brake on our ambitions.

 

Very often, we don’t know why. There’s just a block there we can’t seem to get past.

 

As we grow older we might get a hint as to the origins of these blocks, and overcome them.

 

But what if you would like to be a writer now, and can’t seem to find the confidence or momentum to get started?

 

Take one small step at a time

 

If you want to write...whether it’s for advertising, articles, a novel, screenplay or poem...start in a way that doesn’t scare you.

 

Let’s take the example of writing a non-fiction book.

 

You don’t have to look at the whole scary picture on day one. Don’t get frozen by the prospect of having to write thousands of words, find a publisher, deal with the promotional side of being an author and more.

 

If you do have some inhibitions, the big picture will surely bring them to the surface.

 

So take one step at a time.

 

Write a few lines and paragraphs here and there, just to yourself. Don’t worry about other people reading them. Just write to yourself. Take notes, start a journal. Get started.

 

Taking your words to the public

 

Again, when it comes time to write for a public audience, you don’t have to jump into the deep end on day one.

 

You can start by writing articles for a small trade journal or a local newspaper.

 

Better still, start a weblog. It’s just an online journal and will not only get you into the habit of writing every day, but will, in time, attract a group of readers. And these readers can provide you with invaluable comments and feedback.

 

In fact, many authors create a blog while writing a non-fiction book. They do it to try out their ideas and also to solicit feedback.

 

Once you are ready, once you know you have enough material, and are confident enough in your own writing and communication skills, then is the time to start on the big project.

 

The best tip of all...write every day

 

Plenty of people have made this point before. But it’s an invaluable tip.

 

If you want to be a writer in any medium or field, then the act of writing has to become as familiar to you as breathing, as present as the sound of your own heart beating.

 

And the only way to get to that point is to write something every day.

 

If you want to be a poet, write a poem or part of a poem every day. It may be bad, it may be incomplete. You may just throw it away. But you will have written something, and your brain will have learned something.

 

If you want to write articles, write an article or part of an article every day.

 

The same goes for advertising copy, screenplays or anything else.

 

You don’t have to finish anything each day. Nor does it have to be good or seen by anyone else.

 

But the more you write, the more you practice, the more you will learn.

 

And the more you learn, the more confident you will become in your craft.

 

And yes, the day will come when you are ready to write something wonderful, and share it with the world.

 

NOTE: To increase your productivity as a writer, follow the 5 rituals I lay out in my guide for writers, Writing Rituals. Learn more at the Writing Rituals web site...

 

 

Related learning materials:

 

Nick Usborne's Million Dollar Secrets to Online Copywriting

The demand for print and direct mail copywriters is static, to say the least. The real demand right now is for copywriters who have the skills to write effective copy for the web. This is a professional-grade course that will make you a specialist in online copywriting. This is where the future for copywriters lies! More about this online copywriting course...

 

 

Michael Masterson's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting

Improve your copywriting skills and enter the very lucrative market for direct marketing copywriters. This is a comprehensive course and my #1 recommendation for anyone who wants to learn how to write copy that drives results. Read my in-depth review

 

 

Writing for the Web

Get this 35-page Guide FREE when you sign up for the Excess Voice Newsletter.

 

Get your copy of Writing For the Web #1 - 7 Challenges every Writer and Copywriter faces when writing for the Web.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This is my new newsletter, for my site at nickusborne.com, and replaces the old Freelance Writing Success Newsletter. However, the focus is still on writing for the web and freelancing. So don’t be confused when you find links to my nickusborne.com site in each issue! : )

 

Sign up NOW and I'll send you the link where you can download this 35-page guide...

 

Sign Up for my Excess Voice Newsletter...

(Your email address will be used only for the purpose of sending you this newsletter, and you'll be free to unsubscribe at any time.)

 

 

Copyright FreelanceWritingSuccess.com. All Rights Reserved.