For a long time, I called myself “a writer”… but only in my head.
I’d journal. Scribble down blog ideas. Write long captions on social media that no one asked for. But when it came to actually putting myself out there and saying, “Hey, I’m a writer — and yes, I can help you,”?
I froze.
Deep down, I was stuck in a loop of self-doubt, thinking:
“I’m not good enough yet.”
“Who would pay me for this?”
“Real writers have credentials, websites, portfolios…”
So I kept hiding. Writing quietly. Dreaming big — but taking almost no action.
What changed everything for me wasn’t a course or a big opportunity.
It was one very quiet, simple shift in how I thought:
“I don’t need to be perfect to be valuable.”
How That Shift Changed Everything
When I stopped obsessing over being “ready,” things started to move.
I let myself:
Write short, scrappy blog posts on topics I loved
Share them publicly — even if no one responded
Pitch myself to small blogs and websites, even if my hands were shaking
It wasn’t glamorous. I didn’t go viral.
But I stopped waiting for permission.
And then… someone paid me.
$75 for a blog post about something I actually enjoyed writing.
It wasn’t life-changing money, but it was a moment.
I remember thinking: Wait. That’s it? I just write, and someone pays me?
That little “yes” was all I needed to keep going.
Here’s the Mindset That Got Me There
I shifted from asking:
❌ “Am I good enough yet?”
To asking:
✅ “How can I help someone with what I already know how to do?”
That one change — thinking like a helpful human instead of a “qualified” writer — took all the pressure off. I realized I didn’t need to sound like a textbook. I just needed to be useful, clear, and kind.
Most of the clients I’ve worked with aren’t looking for the perfect writer.
They’re just looking for someone reliable. Someone who writes like a real person.
That could be you.
What Happened After That First “Yes”
I got asked to write again
Then again
Then for someone new
I slowly raised my rates, learned as I went, and built something real
All because I gave myself permission to show up as I was, not as I thought I had to be.
If You’re Feeling Stuck Right Now…
Please hear this:
You don’t need:
A degree in English
A thousand Instagram followers
A perfect website
A crystal-clear niche
You just need:
A few honest writing samples (even one is a start)
The willingness to pitch or apply before you feel “ready”
The belief that your words have value — even if they’re not perfect
Seriously. The only thing that changed my story was that I started showing up before I felt like I deserved to.
Final Thought: Just Start From Where You Are
You don’t have to “earn” the title of writer.
You already are one.
You just haven’t given yourself the credit yet.
So write the thing. Share it. Pitch it. Mess it up. Try again.
And remind yourself — you don’t have to be fearless, just a little bit brave.
Because that small mindset shift?
It’s where everything begins.
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