Writing Is A Profound Act Of Trust

With 9 ways to build self-trust through action.

Writing is a profound act of trust—in ourselves and in others.

When we write, we trust that our ideas, feelings, and perspectives have inherent value. We trust that despite the intimidating blank page, we can find the words to express what matters. We trust our ability to navigate uncertainty, knowing the final destination may differ from what we initially imagined.

At the same time, we trust our readers to meet us halfway, to handle our vulnerability with care, to bring their intelligence to our words, and to find value in what we’ve created.

But self-trust reaches far beyond writing. It’s the bedrock of how we move through life, influencing everything from our daily choices to life-altering decisions. When we trust ourselves, we become powerfully resilient, wildly creative, and authentically ourselves.

Like any relationship, self-trust grows strongest through consistent action.

For many writers, self-trust doesn’t come naturally. But it can be cultivated—through deliberate action, persistent habit, and intentional mindset.

If you’ve followed my journey, you may remember my long-standing fear of writing craft resources, which led me to avoid them for years. Happily, that fear is gone now. As I worked through some of the best writing books out there, I found powerful lessons on self-trust. Here’s what I learned.

1. Show Up for Your Writing (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King emphasizes the importance of showing up to the page consistently. He writes, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” Writing daily, or at least regularly, reinforces trust in yourself because you’re proving that you can do it, even when it’s hard.

When consistency is a struggle, focus on showing up for yourself. This is the ultimate act of self-trust. You owe this commitment to your writing. The more you write, the more you cement the belief that you are, in fact, a writer.

2. Silence Your Inner Critic (At Least at First)

Anne Lamott, in Bird by Bird, champions the liberating power of the “shitty first draft.” Too often, writers expect instant perfection, but true self-trust means allowing messy, imperfect words to flow. She warns, “Perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness and playfulness and life force.”

Draft first. Edit later. Trust that revision will bring out the best in your work. And when your inner critic gets too loud, turn down the volume with this list of free resources.

3. Follow Your Curiosity

Elizabeth Gilbert, in Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, encourages writers to trust their creative instincts. Instead of forcing yourself to write what you think you should, chase the stories that ignite your curiosity.

If an idea excites you, pursue it relentlessly. If a scene in your story keeps nudging you to be written, trust that magnetic pull. Your intuition is wiser than you realize.

4. Reframe Self-Doubt as a Sign of Growth

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield describes self-doubt as not just natural but necessary in creative work. He calls it “Resistance,” that internal force trying to stop you from writing. The presence of Resistance is actually a good sign—it signals you’re doing work that matters deeply.

Instead of seeing doubt as proof you’re not good enough, see it as proof that you care. Every writer has doubted themselves. You’re in good company.

5. Engage with Your Own Writing

Ursula K. Le Guin, in Steering the Craft, suggests reading your work aloud to develop an ear for language and rhythm. When you hear your words spoken, you feel instinctively what soars and what stumbles.

The more intimately you engage with your own writing, the more confidently your authentic voice will emerge. Without knowing your true voice, there can be no trust.

6. Understand the Paradox of Self-Trust

Le Guin also points out a contradiction: “One of the few things most writers agree on is that we can’t trust our judgment on our own freshly written work. To see its faults and virtues we need to look at it after a real interval.”

This might seem counterintuitive—how can you trust yourself when you also know you can’t fully trust your impressions of your own work? The key is recognizing that self-trust isn’t about instant certainty. It’s about trusting your ability to revise, improve, and see your work more clearly with time.

You don’t need to perfect judgment in the moment. You only need to trust that with space and grace, you’ll return with fresh eyes and make it better.

Trust the process, even when you don’t immediately trust the product.

7. Get Selective About Feedback

Not every reader is the right reader. In The Situation and the Story, Vivian Gornick talks about how memoirists must understand their own stories before sharing them. The same applies to all writing. Build self-trust before inviting too many external voices in.

Choose feedback partners who will champion your growth. Constructive critique nourishes; vague discouragement destroys. If someone’s feedback makes you want to quit, they’re not the right reader for you.

8. Revisit Your Successes

Self-trust requires acknowledging what you’ve already accomplished. Keep a folder of your writing that makes your heart sing. Save meaningful compliments. When doubt creeps in, go back and remind yourself: I’ve written great things before. I will do it again.

9. Write What Feels True

The most powerful writing erupts from authenticity. Writing to impress others rather than what resonates with you guarantees you’ll feel like an imposter. When you write from raw honesty (whether fiction or non-fiction), you’ll start to trust yourself more.

As Natalie Goldberg urges in Writing Down the Bones, “Keep your hand moving. Just write. No thoughts. No judgment.” Let your truth cascade onto the page.

✨ Trust Is Built Through Action ✨

Trusting yourself as a writer isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a practice. Every time you face the blank page, push through doubt, or embrace the messy first draft, you prove to yourself that you can do this.

Some days, you’ll feel unstoppable. Other days, you’ll feel like an absolute fraud. Keep going anyway. Trust isn’t about never questioning yourself. It’s about showing up despite uncertainty, knowing that with every word, you’re building something real.

So, keep writing. The trust will come. And remember—you’re already good enough.