Because our words count

Finding your voice: writing that is authentic, that expresses your values, and comes from the heart

Taking responsiblity for your words: looking for ways to stretch and improve, learning from feedback, and creating work that you can be proud of

Trusting yourself: having confidence in your skill as a writer, in your right to express yourself, and in the power of your own words

Writing with positive intention: writing to make a difference, whether that’s to tell a story, communicate a big idea, or express something important to you

Writing to be read: writing that is clear, simple, and easy to read, and looking for ways to connect and engage with your reader

You’ll find the resources here that will help you to write with confidence.

The emphasis is on writing online with confidence – a key skill for the 21st Century – and finding your voice through blogging and social media.

Confident Writing has been named one of the top 10 blogs for writers for the last two years.

(I tend to think it’s more a blog for those who want to write than those who already define themselves writers… but I’ll accept the award gratefully anyway )

This site is a blog site which means a) it’s updated regularly and b) you’ll find lots of other people here who are interested in writing with confidence.  This is a friendly, thoughtful community which welcomes people in… which means that *you* are welcome in.

I welcome active involvement in Confident Writing and you’ll find that a really powerful way to learn, to stretch, and to gain more confidence in your own writing voice.

Readers and contributors to the blog have shared some of their own reflections on what Confident Writing means, and how it’s helped them to write with courage and confidence.

You’ll find their comments here: What Confident Writing Means to You

About Me

My name’s Joanna Paterson (formerly Young) and I’m the author, editor and publisher of this site.

What do you do? Well, I help people to find and tell their stories.

How do you do that? By creating the space (like writing retreats in Scotland).  By offering permission slips, through my words and maybe through my photographs too.  By running journal writing classes.  By creating opportunities for people to try new forms and formats, and share their words together.  (More on this coming soon.)

What do you write? I write as part of my teaching… I write to teach, and to learn.  I write to explore and discover.  I write in the hope that my words might help to wake someone up, to give them confidence and belief in their own right to write.

I also write prose poetry from photographs, in response to the invitations I see, hear and feel from the natural world. (If you can come up with a word for what this writing form might be, please do let me know!)  You’ll find that writing at my photography and prose poetry site: Join the Dance

What do you look like? This is me.

Or rather, it’s a representation of me.

But if we’re at a blogging conference or a tweet up, you’ll recognise me from this photograph

Joanna Paterson