In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield explains you have to “turn pro” in your head before…

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Good writers take criticism on the chin and say “thank you” to helpful feedback; they listen to both the external and internal voices that drive them. And they use it all to make their writing better. They’re resigned to the fact that first drafts suck and that the true mark of a champion is a commitment to the craft. It’s not about writing in

Your brand is the sum of all the parts of you that are important to your writing.

The biggest mistake writers make is believing they don’t need a brand. Wrong. This is a common fallacy and, quite frankly, ridiculous. Everyone has a brand. One way or another, you are making an impression on your audience.

In order to create your best work, you’ll have to make room for it. You’ll have to cut out the excess noise and focus on what really matters: the writing.

But this is not the end. It’s only the beginning of another journey. Whether you’re starting to tackle writing for the first time or you’re a lifelong veteran, relax. There is better work you’ve yet to create. So how do we do this? How do we get out of the trap? We start with courage.

A writer’s voice is the combination of passion, personality, and people. It’s communication in a way that is both personally fulfilling and relevant to your audience. It’s meaningful and marketable.

Now write the following words: I am a writer. Good. Now do it tomorrow and the next day. Continue this practice for the rest of your life until you believe it. And then keep doing it as a means of practice and ritual. Because there will always be doubt. Always anxiety and second-guessing. Just keep doing it. Welcome to the life of an artist.

You have to be yourself, to speak in a way that is true to you. This is the next step to claiming your life as a writer—taking yourself seriously so your audience will too.