1. I started focusing better.
2. I started setting more ambitious writing goals.
3. Writing became something I looked forward to, instead of something I dreaded.
4. So I really, really started to like writing. A lot.
5. I stopped caring so much about whether or not people liked me/my writing. And I started gaining confidence.
6. I got better at writing, because I felt freer and braver knowing others’ opinions didn’t matter.
7. I started hearing back from more potential clients and employers as a result.
8. And my blog started growing.
9. I wrote more because it made me feel good.
10. I fell in love with the creative art of experimentation — something I’d been terrified of before.
11. I somehow managed to make a career out of my favorite hobby.
12. And even on my worst days, I still love what I do. And that matters more than anything else.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Meg Dowell Writes 
Thanks for sharing. I don’t think I try to impress people, but then again, it matters what they think. Hopefully I’ll become more like you :-)
I mean, it does matter to a point. You just can’t let it bother you too much. Just because some people don’t care for what you’re writing doesn’t mean others won’t. :)
You nailed it!
Thanks! :)
Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this useful post from the Novelty Revisions blog with what can happen when you stop trying to impress people with your writing.
Very good way of looking at everything in life, not just writing! We’re constantly trying to find the healthy balance between knowing other people matter and trying to impress them, and once we end up letting ourselves try to impress everyone, we become pretty stressed because who even needs that? (Or who CAN do that?)
Right?? I wouldn’t write if it made me miserable, and writing to make other people happy all the time would make me miserable!
This is such an encouraging and inspiring post! I always try to do my best work when writing, and I definitely want to keep improving, but the points you made really gave me a lot to think about. Thank you for writing this! I needed to see it today. 😊
You’re SO welcome! Happy I could provide some encouragement to you today. :)