{"id":3547,"date":"2014-08-06T07:12:51","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T07:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terenceblacker.com\/New\/?p=3547"},"modified":"2014-08-06T07:12:51","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T07:12:51","slug":"top-nine-writers-rules-6-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terenceblacker.com\/New\/top-nine-writers-rules-6-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Nine Writer’s Rules #6: Confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is an undeniable (and frankly rather unattractive) aspect of a writer’s character that it needs to be finely balanced between \u00a0arrogance and insecurity. Confidence is needed to write in the first place; a degree of self-doubt is necessary for what is written not to be preeningly complacent and indulgent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Anthony Trollope to Caitlin Moran, the distinguished panel for this part The Writer’s Rules seem pretty unanimous as to the best approach, which is most pithily summarised in Rule Number 9. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Feel free (if you have the confidence) to add the tenth rule yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. ELIZABETH SMART<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Writers have to construct an importance, a sacred vocation, not to feel fiddling\u2026.\u00a0 If you feel foolish doing it, think of those who have done it and earned your everlasting gratitude.’<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. JONATHAN FRANZEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018However sick with foreboding you feel inside, it\u2019s best to radiate confidence and to hope that it\u2019s infectious.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. ANTHONY TROLLOPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘As for conceit, what man will do any good who is not conceited? Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself.’<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

4. NEIL GAIMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you\u2019re allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But it\u2019s definitely true for writing).’<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. ALICE MUNRO<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘When I was younger… there was a very good chance I wouldn’t write anything – I was just too frightened.’<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. MARTIN AMIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘All any writer has is a share of the truth\u00a0 –\u00a0 even Tolstoy. But to be any good you have to think you’re the best of your generation…. Without that ridiculous competitive pride I don’t think you’ve got a chance, really.’<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. TIM BOWLER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>‘<\/strong>Self-doubt definitely has virtues. It makes me fight for my story. So, welcome, friend, stay as long as you want. You make me stronger.’<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

8. NORMAN MAILER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018I never sit down to begin a book without thinking I\u2019ve lost it, it\u2019s not there any more. And then the feeling comes back.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

9. CAITLIN MORAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Fake it ’til you make it.’<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10.<\/strong><\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

A database of bossy advice from successful writers, on topics from Block to Marriage, is slowly taking shape here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is an undeniable (and frankly rather unattractive) aspect of a writer’s character that it needs to be finely balanced between \u00a0arrogance and insecurity. Confidence is needed to write in the first place; a degree of self-doubt is necessary for what is written not to be preeningly complacent and indulgent. From Anthony Trollope to Caitlin… Continue reading Top Nine Writer’s Rules #6: Confidence<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[677,138,999,986,1000],"class_list":["post-3547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-fiction","tag-publishing","tag-rules-of-writing","tag-writers-rules","tag-writers-rules-creative-writing","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTop Nine Writer's Rules #6: Confidence - Terence-Blacker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/terenceblacker.com\/New\/top-nine-writers-rules-6-confidence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top Nine Writer's Rules #6: Confidence - Terence-Blacker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It is an undeniable (and frankly rather unattractive) aspect of a writer’s character that it needs to be finely balanced between \u00a0arrogance and insecurity. 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