Just a quick mid-day word of would-be wisdom. I was thinking about forensic casework this morning for some reason, I was in particular remembering how important it was to be confident. Before any analysis was completed and prior to the writing of any reports, the lab supervisor would sit down with the techs and walk through our notes. The single most important thing we had to do was to be confident in our conclusion. If we felt something was indeterminate we could say so and if there was a technique we didn't know we could indicate that as well. But we had to trust our measurements, trust our impressions, and trust our conclusions. And we had to talk as if we believed ourselves.
If we didn't, the supervisor would be uneasy, and would start peering closely at the reports. And then everyone would be miserable, the work would be redone, and you'd end up quibbling over measurements that, in end, you may have done wrong but to a degree that had zero impact on the outcome of the analysis -- but once there's uneasiness, it's a double-check not a walk-through, and once an error is found if you look shaky, the floodgates are open.
This is key to your writing. Be confident when you're writing. Know you're saying what you want to say, how you want to say it. And be confident when you're talking to others about your writing. Respect yourself and your work.
When you do this, your readers and your crit partners will approach your work with a difference sort of confidence, too. They will enjoy the experience more, and you will get a higher level of feedback.
.Nevets.
Great advice. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post! You've done forensic work, Nevets? Is it like it is on CSI?
ReplyDeleteOne thing I always try to remember: own your words. Which I think is similar to what you're saying about confidence. Don't write anything you don't mean to, and always respect yourself, your reader, and your work.
@G'Eagle - Glad you think so!
ReplyDelete@Jennifer - Yeah, I did forensic anthropology for a while. A little entomology as well. Roughly the sort of thing you see on Bones, except, um, 95% different. I should do a post sometime about similarities and differences between forensics as I saw it and what's on TV and in books.
And I like that way of putting it: Own your words. Very assertive and strong. Also love that you emphasize respecting all people and parts of the process. So important!
Confidence is key in all most every element of life. I struggle with it in my writing from time to time- but for the most part at least I know I'm good in English, which makes me a great crit partner, and my honesty gives me enough confidence to produce something worth reading. :) Or else why do it right?
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoy how I want to read your title as "Believe in yourself" but you insist that your title is "Believe it yourself."
ReplyDeleteReveals something about me too.
This is very good advice! Also, I've posted your story on my site. Hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteCD
@Summer - It's true. Sometime down the road I'm going to post about confidence in general, but it's something I'm not comfortable with but am learning is important to embrace.
ReplyDelete@B - I was hoping I'd trip up a few suckers. Like a rolling stone.
@Clarissa - Glad you like the post, and thanks so much for posting the story!
@EVERYONE - I'll link to it tomorrow probably, but you should check out Clarissa's blog not only because she just posted her prize story, but because it's a great blog.
I came here from Clarissa's blog. I agree with this wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteI do think confidence is a big part of good writing--it shows if you don't believe in yourself and I think writers take more/better chances if they're confident.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Clarissa's blog--interesting stuff here! Thanks~ :o)
@Carol - Thanks for coming by! Your blog design makes me feel all warm and sunny. I like it, especially as it gets cold and dark up here. :)
ReplyDelete@Leigh - I'm glad you came! And you are so right. when you're more confident, you take more chances, you take smarter chances, and your writing is usually much better because of it. Which feeds your confidence. It's great!
Nevets, I really liked this post and you're right. Now I just need to work out a British way of doing it!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of lacking in the confidence department. I should get to stocking up.
ReplyDeletegreetings Nevets. I found you through Clarissa. I agree with your post 100%.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
@Alis - Stiff upper lip, queen and country, hanging on in quiet desperation, to hell with the Jerries, right ho, I say. Gotta be something in there that lets confidence sneak through that British reserve.
ReplyDelete@Kris - I know this sounds too easy, but the nice thing about confidence is that since it comes from within you can start accumulating it whenever you choose to. There might be baggage you need to toss off, and you might need to put up some shields to fend off the nay-sayers, but ultimately, if you decide to be more confident, it's all you. I'm sure you can do it! Keep staring at those people in the elevators. When when start to freak out just be like, "I thought so." And then go write like it.
@Nancy - Thanks for hopping over! Confidence comes about as naturally to me as singing does to a hippo, but I've learned how important it is. :)
ReplyDeleteWords I need to hear right now. Thanks Nevets.
ReplyDelete......dhole
@Donna - Awesome! I love it when the timing works out like that. :)
ReplyDeleteSo forensics is like teaching teenagers? Walk in there and look like someone who knows what she is doing. I didn´t know that, but I agree it is really important for a writer to begin acting like a writer. That is also why I began telling people I wrote crime fiction several months before I sold the first story. If *we* don´t believe it, why should anyone else?
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice! I learned this with Cinders. I'm trying to do the same thing with Thirds. :)
ReplyDelete@Dorte - haha Teenagers. hahaha Yes, exactly! I hadn't connected the two, but you're right. And I'm glad you're claiming your role. I think that's one of the very most important things we can do as authors.
ReplyDelete@Michelle - I think it showed with Cinders, and I'm sure it will with Thirds, because I think your alpha readers will not let you wimp out on yourself.
Um, I sure hope not. I'm reading Sublimation tomorrow, promise. It's on The List and I'm looking forward to it!
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