This post is written by Patryce Bowling, Senior Community Engagement Specialist at Wattpad.

  • **The problem: **While following guides can give you the lay of the land on press releases and other documents, it can be hard to know if you’re actually _good _at crafting these documents.
  • **Why it matters: **Fear of crafting solid material can hamper one’s confidence, or willingness to branch out in their field, thus limiting chances for success.
  • **The solution: **Writing is hard, but seeking out opportunities to practice and grow skills goes a long way towards improving confidence in your craft.

So there you are, setting out to write a press release, and then… nothing happens. The words aren’t coming and you’re not sure what to write. In those moments I’ve found myself turning to the internet for a step-to-step guide, but that’s only taken me so far. Once I’ve followed the steps and written the document, I’ve often found myself asking “but how do I know if what I’ve crafted is any good?”

Writing can be a challenge, and a lack of confidence in what you’re creating certainly doesn’t help. If you’ve felt the same, you’re certainly not alone. Over the years, I’ve found a few things that have helped me overcome some of these doubts.

Ask for (and be willing to give) help

Years ago, I thought I had the chance to turn my curiosity for policy work into a career opportunity by helping out on a task. No doubt I’d perform the task skillfully, they'd be impressed, and so would begin my journey in policy. Well, that didn’t happen. You see, I was asked to prepare a briefing note on a programme, and instead, I provided them with a 15-page document. I wanted to do a good job, but I was too concerned that admitting I didn’t know how to write it would undercut their willingness to let me try. Don’t be like me.

Admitting that you don’t know something and asking for support is an opportunity to learn and grow. For those that already have these skills, don’t pull the ladder up behind you – offer guidance, offer direction. That mentorship and those words of wisdom go a long way towards instilling confidence. Sharing knowledge is a kindness that we can, and should, willingly bestow.

Go back to school (if possible)

Does this mean you need to take on a certificate programme or another degree? Absolutely not! But, if there’s a specific skill you’re looking to refine or learn, taking a course could be a great step towards building confidence in your abilities. In the example of a press release, you can easily search online and find the sections that should be included. A course then provides insight that can’t be effectively conveyed in an article – you’ll often learn up-to-date information on the “real world” practices in the field you’re looking to work in, and best of all, you get to practice the task and get specific advice on how to improve.

Admitting that you don’t know something and asking for support is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Volunteer

Find an organisation with a mission you believe in and offer your time. Not only will you have the joy of giving back to an area that matters to you, but you’ll be exposed to new projects, new people, and new environments. You’ll have to learn what matters to the organisation and its audience, tailoring your approach in much the same way you tailor your press releases to attract the right audience, and effectively represent your organisation's program, event, and so on. Additionally, the nature of volunteering and the often limited resources can result in a range of opportunities to try new skills and practice them in ways you might be unable to do in a work environment.

Practice and don’t be afraid to fail

With my briefing note debacle I definitely felt embarrassed, and it was easy to think that I blew an opportunity. However, in the years since then – as a result of many of the points shared above – I’m reasonably confident in my ability to prepare a solid document that actually is brief. Mistakes are going to happen, they’re a natural part of learning. Sit with the feeling, but more importantly, look at what went wrong, and use it to inform how you tweak your approach next time.

Being willing to ask for (and offer!) help is invaluable.

Writing can be hard, and writing technical documents like press releases brings with it its own set of challenges. However, what I’ve learned is that being willing to ask for (and offer!) help is invaluable, and taking additional opportunities to learn and practice goes a long way towards improving confidence. Mistakes and perceived failure are inevitable, but remember that writing is a journey, and with time, you’ll be able to look back on how your skills have grown while feeling ready, and excited, to take on new challenges.

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