From Digital Pubbing:
There were more than 45 thousand writers and authors working to make a living in the United States in 2019. That’s a lot of people pursuing their passion.
Unfortunately, despite an increase in the number of people exploring the world of writing work, there are still a lot of writers who struggle to achieve success. There’s more to reaching your goals than writing something and publishing it on one of the many online channels that exist today.
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We all have issues with self-esteem from time to time. We ask ourselves if we’re knowledgeable enough to create something that people want to read. However, if you want to succeed as a writer, you’ll need to find a way to rediscover that confidence.
If you don’t believe you have what it takes, you’re never going to reach your goals. It’s up to you to convince everyone, from your publishers and investors to your future readers, that you’re definitely worth their time.
If you’re struggling to keep a grip on your confidence, consider making a list of all the things that you have to offer, from expertise to unique insights. Reflect on this when your self-esteem drops.
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Understanding the market is critical in any profession. You need to know exactly who you are selling your skills to so that you can prepare to speak their language. Before you start writing, evaluate your audience, and create user personas.
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Having a good view of your audience as you’re writing will improve your chances of reaching your reader on the right level. At the same time, knowing your audience well should help you figure out how to present your new book to your customers.
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Although you can’t necessarily rely on someone to prepare you for everything that might happen on your journey, a mentor can assist with some essential navigation.
Link to the rest at Digital Pubbing
I find many writers who think they’re pansters but really need to plot (or outline).
This is all sensible advice, although you would have to be pretty unprepared to face the world not to know this stuff already. Still, “understand your market, know your audience” is good enough advice that I looked up the OP, and clunked on this:
“Remember, a mentor can be anyone you look up to and admire. You can find these people on writing forums, websites, or even at your current job.”
I look up to Albert, our border collie and an outstanding colleague at my current job, when he jumps on a truck roof to surveil the landscape, and I admire him when he takes off across a field in a black and white streak, but as a writing mentor, his doggish vocabulary is commendable, but he still can’t read.
I’ve found that fending off would-be mentors is a survival skill. Albert helps with that.
I have been doing all those things, but I’m still not an NFL running back. What am I doing wrong?
Except… some people don’t really have anything to say, either in fiction or non-fiction, and would be better off doing something else. There *is* such a thing as false confidence.