I like to think I have come a long way in terms of style and branding. When I started my wattpad journey, and really my publishing journey, I had no idea what I was doing. If I'm honest, I am still pretty fuzzy, but I have a firmer grip on things than I did before.

I am in the midst of a social media restyling. I have learned just enough to make me look fancy. 

The overhaul is rolling right along, and it gave me reason to reflect on how far I've come. I still consider myself amateur when it comes to graphics, but I am proud of my improving skill set. 

Take the evolution of Edgewise's cover:

Each cover incarnation is actually a good gauge of where I was/am skill-wise, the latest cover being the tipping point that I felt comfortable enough to start really tinkering with my own social media imagery. 

In the past week or so, I've revamped my website and started tweaking my social media pages to match. I still have a few to go, but as a package I've discovered I am a bit 'twisted carnival' in my image. I'm okay with that. 

The image overhaul is important, not just because it's a good foundation to build a brand on, but because I managed to do it on my own steam. A year ago I couldn't imagine tackling this project by myself. I couldn't imagine being good enough to do something like this on my own. I have come so far in confidence and ability that I am doing it, and it's not looking half bad. Confidence as a writer, as a creator, is such a hard won feeling. It's been such a wobbly year, this is a painfully hard won feeling. 

I feel as writers, we all share that feeling. Confidence is a battlefield for the creative brain. To post, to continue a story, to put yourself out there. And no matter where you are on your writing/ creating journey, it is a battle that still takes place. 

You gotta remember to celebrate how far you've come.