The Biggest Difference Between New and Successful Writers Has Almost Nothing To Do With Writing

If you don’t have thick skin or aren’t willing to grow it, you will not survive the writing world.

If you have ever met me in person, then you might know that I am intensely shy. I do not put myself out there, and I am happy with my small social sphere. It would be easy to assume that this is because I am an insecure person; at one time, I would have quietly and inwardly agreed with you.

As a writer, my aversion to submitting my work to bigger audiences than my dusty old blog quickly became a problem. Not only was I afraid of editors and what they thought, but the comment sections on digital magazines and social media left me frozen in dread. What if people hated my words? Would they also hate me? Would I get canceled? Would editors ever hire me again? The black hole of imposter syndrome got deeper and crazier until I realized that the main difference between the writers I saw as successful and me was that they had thick skin, and I did not.

How did these writers get so much confidence, and how could I grow my own?

Here is my guide on overcoming my insecurity as a writer.

Create some boundaries.

Setting up boundaries is a critical first step. Not only do you need to create a wall between yourself and anyone who throws you shade, but you need to…