How do you write confidently?
To write confidently, you need to practice and hone your skills, building upon prior skills and experiences just like any other craft. No one tied their shoes confidently when they first tried it. No one was a confident driver when they first got behind the wheel. If I were to jump out of a plane tomorrow, I'd be worried. Writing is no different.
The nice thing is that we have time to practice, just like tying our shoes and driving a car. And, as an added bonus, we can edit our words before anyone sees our efforts. That alone should boost our confidence level. We can add and delete as many times as we like until the deadline. No one needs to know if an email or a post or an essay took 3 drafts or 35 drafts.
The nice thing is that we have time to practice, just like tying our shoes and driving a car. And, as an added bonus, we can edit our words before anyone sees our efforts. That alone should boost our confidence level. We can add and delete as many times as we like until the deadline. No one needs to know if an email or a post or an essay took 3 drafts or 35 drafts.
The challenge to writing confidently is that it is an intuitive process. This isn't something I can teach with a bunch of handouts and examples. You have a sense of yourself as a writer, and through my experience with novice writers, I see that many of you (too many) tend to categorize yourselves in one of two ways, to your detriment. What I hope to do on this page is to talk some of you, and you'll know who you are, out of your mistaken perception of your skills so that you can refocus your attentions on how to improve your writing.
The rest of you may not need this redirection right now, but keep it in mind in case someday you do.
I want confident writers in my class, not under- or over-confident ones. Don't let ego get in the way of education.
The rest of you may not need this redirection right now, but keep it in mind in case someday you do.
I want confident writers in my class, not under- or over-confident ones. Don't let ego get in the way of education.
Let's be realistic now.
I can be objective when I edit for practice and for my final draft.
Recognize that real confidence in academic writing is gained through practice. You may be confident in any of your skills in creative writing or editing or organizing or meeting deadlines, but all of those together are components of academic writing for this class.
You'll have plenty of practice in writing and revising this term, never fear. So, if you'd like to practice writing with confidence, you need to practice editing for confidence. Most students are good at sharing content and editing for content or to meet assignment criteria. Add one more point to consider:
You'll have plenty of practice in writing and revising this term, never fear. So, if you'd like to practice writing with confidence, you need to practice editing for confidence. Most students are good at sharing content and editing for content or to meet assignment criteria. Add one more point to consider:
- Am I writing objectively and appropriately for the college level?
I can build confidence (and style) when I write.
Once you've overcome those mental obstacles, it is time to write like the objective, improving writer that you are. If you have a point, make it simply and in a straightforward manner, without extra language to hedge your opinion or to give it more praise than it has earned. Remember, your audience should do the praising, right?
Examples:
Examples:
- It is only my opinion, but I kind of think the local sales tax should be raised to support improvements in our city.
- I really believe that the tiny little increase in sales tax is necessary to support much needed improvements to our fine community, and no one can disagree with that.
I think the local sales tax should be raised to support improvements in our city.
If my writing isn't brilliant 100% of the time, we can delete the language that overstates the argument. Phrases that focus on the author or add hyperbole to the essay can also damage the author's credibility.
I believe the increase in sales tax is necessary to support improvements to our community.
Wow! Take a look at the edits. When we remove the writer's opinion of herself, the argument is almost identical, isn't it? Straightforward and simple, and far more confident than "it is only my opinion" writing. With a straightforward opinion in the beginning, the author can move on to add support for that argument, improving her style as her drafts progress.
In your own drafts, examine your improved, objective sentences to determine if they're appropriate for college-level submission. Strive for thoughtful and creative sentences with considerations of diction, structure, and tone. As your style improves, so will your confidence, making your essays stronger and your audience more appreciative of your skills.
In your own drafts, examine your improved, objective sentences to determine if they're appropriate for college-level submission. Strive for thoughtful and creative sentences with considerations of diction, structure, and tone. As your style improves, so will your confidence, making your essays stronger and your audience more appreciative of your skills.