When you hear the word invest, money might be the first thing that comes to mind. While investing money in your craft can help improve your skills and confidence to some extent, the most meaningful thing you can invest is your time. That may sound cheesy, but it’s true.

What does that look like? For me, it’s BA in creative writing. I know, que the laughs. That being said, everything I learned, the amazing writers I met, and the incredible experiences I had were more than worth it. (Though, perhaps I’m trying to convince myself the student loans were well spent.)

You don’t need to go into debt to have these experiences. You just need to invest a little bit of your time. Here are some things I recommend investing time in that will help you build your writing confidence.

Books in Your Genre and On Your Craft

You have to take the time to learn about the impactful works in your genre if you want to grow your skills as a writer. You have to read what you write and take note of what moves you and what doesn’t.

A note on craft books: There are some writers out there who think they are a waste of time. It really just depends on what you’re looking to get out of them. If you’re hoping a craft book will reveal the secret to writing your first book or making the New York Times Best Seller list, you’re shit out of luck. But if you are looking for insights into writing techniques and elements of story, then I recommend reading one. Just know that they won’t help you actually finish writing a story. Only writing does that.

Attending Writing Groups and Events

There’s this cliche saying I’ve heard from many people: Show me who you hang out with, and I’ll tell you who you are. While writing that saying makes me feel like a nagging parental, there is some validity to it. The people you surround yourself with affect your behaviors and habits. Which is why I surround myself with other writers.

By joining writing workshops and/or attending open mic nights, you will find yourself among some amazing writers at different skill levels—writers you can learn from and who will learn from you. I’ve been lucky enough to find some incredible writers in Twin Falls, Idaho. Every person I’ve met has inspired me, motivated me, and mentored me in one way or another.

Take a minute to research writing groups and events in your area. If there are none, consider taking a look at some online groups or even starting your own. It can be scary at first, but it’s well worth it.

Just Write

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Just write. The best investment you can make toward improving your writing skills and confidence is by spending time writing.

That’s all for this week. Only two more posts to go in this series on building your writing confidence. I hope you’ve been enjoying it so far. If you have, feel free to share the post on your socials!