You're not charging enough
COURAGE BEFORE CONFIDENCE
I decided to skip the piece I had planned for today because you all need a pep talk. Don’t ask why. It’s just a feeling and I’m going with it.
I held a workshop yesterday for writers like yourself. The way I host my workshops is that I don’t set them up as webinars. I set them up like regular Zoom meetings so anyone can ask me a question at any point during the session. What ends up happening is more conversation than lecture and we get to discuss the real issues and challenges that are preventing you from becoming superstars.
I’ve been hosting workshops for years, but these specific types of workshops have been ongoing since September. What I’ve noticed is that so many of the questions aren’t writing questions at all. They are questions based in fear.
What do I mean? Writers say things like “I get so worried that…” or “Will my readers understand if I do…” or “Can I…”
Let me tell you something right now: fear is the number one dream killer in the world. You know what else? The fear you feel as a writer never really goes away. I’m saying this as probably the most confident writer you’ll ever meet. But even in my confidence, I still get anxious every time I hit publish on one of these newsletters or every time I send a new novel to my agent or every time I get an edit back from one of my publishers. The only difference between you and me is that I act through the fear instead of letting it stop me.
I’m reading a book by music producer Rick Rubin. He says that as an artist, your desire to create your art must be stronger than your self-doubt. He recognizes that self-doubt is ever present, but Rubin also acknowledges that if you’re not able to create through the self doubt, then maybe being an artist isn’t for you.
It sounds harsh, but I agree.
When I reflect more deeply on the questions I receive during my workshops, I realize that many of those same fear questions are rooted in “am I good enough.” One thing we writers sure are good at is downplaying ourselves. We shrink our experiences, minimize our accomplishments, and try to coat our dreams in logic.
Check out this clip on IG as an example. It’s from a podcast called All The Smoke. Two former NBA players, Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, host the podcast and their guest in this clip was legendary music exec, Dame Dash. In the clip, Dash asks Stephen Jackson, one of the hosts, “what’s your dream.” Jackson responds and says his dream is to be an actor. What happens next is so magical.
Dash counts the number of cameras in the room and tells Jackson that he can be an actor anytime he’s ready. Dash then gets up, tells Jackson to act out a scene, then yells cut when he’s finished.
“That’s your first scene,” Dash says to a smiling Jackson. But then look what Jackson does. Right after doing his first impromptu scene, he tells Dash, referring to himself, “That was some low level acting.”
Sabotage. Fear. Dream killing.
Instead of being excited that he just acted for the first time, Jackson immediately downplays his accomplishment. He let his insecurities take over and continued to find reasons why acting “for real” would be difficult and why he can’t do it.
Every time I hear stories like this, I think about author Courtney Maum. She has a saying that I’ve been using: “Claim your credentials.”
If you are alive today, then you have experiences that matter. If you’ve written something before, then you have experience as a writer. If you’ve helped a friend with one of their projects, then you have experience as an editor. I’m not telling you to lie or even embellish your experiences, I’m telling you to own them! All of your experiences are valuable and all of them matter. Don’t let fear or insecurity tell you otherwise.
So why did I call this piece “You’re not charging enough?” Because not charging enough is one way I see so many writers diminish their value and lose confidence. So this is what I want you to do:
If you’re currently offering writing services, I want you to double your price. Yes, I said double. I know your heart just leapt into your throat and you’re forehead started sweating. Guess what? I don’t care. Double it. Right now.
If you’ve never charged for anything but are ready to offer a service, I want you to increase the cost of whatever you were thinking of charging by 50%. So if you were thinking of charging $100, charge $150. No excuses, no talking your way out of it, no trying to be “logical” because you think “no one will pay me xyz for my service.” I’m telling you right now that you are wrong. You are worth so much more than you think and this small exercise will prove it.
Listen, I’ve been where you are right now. I recently doubled the price for one of my offerings and my hands shake every time I send that invoice. Like I said earlier, the fear never goes away. But if you’re able to be courageous one time and write through the fear, you’ll build a little bit of confidence. Then if you’re able to be courageous one more time and write through your fear, you’ll gain a little more confidence. The more you’re able to be courageous, the more trust you build in yourself. That trust will quiet the self-doubt and allow you to operate in your full superstardom.
Thanks so much for reading this piece. I hope after reading this, you find the courage to combat your fears and step into your purpose. Writing really is a calling. It’s something we feel like we have no choice but to do.
If you’re struggling with fear or need some guidance on how to kick start your writing career, check out my course WRITE TO BE HEARD. This course is for all emerging writers who are ready to break free from emotional roadblocks and start making a living from your passion.