There are certain qualities we prize in the writing world.

One of them is knowledge. It seems like we should know what we are getting ourselves into, right? Who respects a writer who seems aloof and doesn’t know what’s going on?

Another quality we prize is humility. Surely we don’t want to become one of those writers who have a pretty high opinion of themselves, right?

There is some truth in that. But there is also something to be said for going ahead and doing the work even though we don’t have it all figured out. There is something to be said for having a pretty good amount of confidence in who we are and what we have to say.

It’s a balance, to be sure. But so many writers are timid and unsure that perhaps a good old-fashioned attitude of “I don’t know and I don’t care” would do us some good now and then.

Or as Steven Pressfield wrote in his fantastic little book, Do the Work: “Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprise is going to be—and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway.”

It’s OK not to have everything figured out. It’s OK to be confident and courageous. You’re good enough. You’re smart enough. And if you stick with it, you’re gonna make it.