I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. From the age of four, when I wrote my first poem (about a tree) and illustrated it with crayons that smelled like fruit punch, to now: a full-time author who works for herself (and her cat), writing has always been my passion.
But becoming a successful writer? That’s another story entirely. In fact, there are many misconceptions about what it means to be a “successful” writer these days especially if you’re not famous or don’t make millions off your books each year.
And even more misconceptions about what makes someone truly great at their craft. While any writer will tell you they’re working on improving their craft every day (and always did so), here are some traits that set successful writers apart from those who aren’t quite there yet:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Develop a consistent writing routine. |
| 2. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. |
| 3. Cultivate a curious and open mind. |
| 4. Practice active reading and analysis. |
| 5. Seek feedback and be open to revisions. |
| 6. Hone your storytelling skills. |
| 7. Embrace solitude to foster creativity. |
| 8. Learn from established writers’ works. |
| 9. Set clear goals and track your progress. |
| 10. Adapt to change and new ideas. |
| 11. Develop resilience in the face of challenges. |
| 12. Balance self-discipline with self-care. |
| 13. Cultivate a growth mindset. |
| 14. Embrace rejection as part of the process. |
Not Being Scared To Write
The first trait of a successful writer is not being scared to write.
Writing is a skill that can be learned, practiced and improved upon. It’s also something that can be honed and perfected with practice, patience and dedication.
The sooner you realize writing that it’s something you can improve upon the faster you’ll start seeing your writing improve as well.
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Not Being Scared Of Failure
You need to be okay with failing and learn from it. Just because you don’t get something right the first time doesn’t mean that you failed, nor does it mean that you should give up forever. In fact, failure is a part of life and a part of learning.
Yes, sometimes we might feel like we have failed at something for years (and maybe even decades) only to realize later on in life when we look back at our journey that this was actually an important step towards success or even just understanding ourselves better!
Growing A Thicker Skin
There are many ways to grow a thicker skin. One of the most effective is to take criticism, rejection and failure in stride. This can be hard to do at first but with practice, you’ll find that these things don’t affect you as much anymore.
You might have a different experience than me but I have never once been upset when someone disliked or rejected something I wrote. In fact, I take it as a sign that my work was strong enough for them to get emotional about!
I’ve also accepted my share of failures over the years and learned from them every time. This makes me better equipped for future challenges because now I know how to handle them better than before .
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Writing Characters In Your Control
Now that you know the basics of how to write a character, let’s get into the specifics. You should only write characters that are in your control. That means they can be based on people you know or have met, or they can be completely made up and based on your imagination.
Some writers will even make up their personas and characteristics for themselves, like a superhero or princess living in another world! The key is making sure that whatever you choose works best for what needs to happen in your story so it can come alive for readers everywhere!
Another way to make sure characters work well together is by making sure there’s a balance between all types of traits available at any given time.
This will ensure no one type stands out too much from others which could cause problems later down the road when trying not only keep things interesting but also keep them consistent as well (because we’ve all seen those shows where some episodes seem better than others for whatever reason).
Learning How To Edit Your Work
Editing your work is an essential part of the writing process. It’s also one of the most difficult things to do correctly, but it’s important to know how to edit your work properly.
When you’re editing, you need to pay attention to every single aspect of your writing not just spelling and grammar (although those are important), but also word choice and sentence structure as well as punctuation and capitalization. As you edit your work, ask yourself:
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Is This Sentence Too Long? Can I Shorten It? How Can I Make My Point More Concisely?
Is there a better word for this than “happy”? What does happy really mean in context here? If nothing else works out for me here, maybe I could try using “grateful” instead!
Becoming A Better Editor Of Others’ Work
The advantage of editing others’ work is that you can learn so much. Reviewing other people’s writing will help you hone your own writing style and find areas where you need improvement.
When editing, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
Don’t be afraid to give honest feedback on what could have been done better. If no one tells them, they might never know they missed something or could have done something differently.
Ask for feedback from others as well you may not be able to see all the ways your piece can improve!
Learn from others’ mistakes: if someone else has made a mistake in their writing, take note of it so that it doesn’t happen again! If a writer does something particularly well (e.g., uses metaphor effectively), think how this piece could benefit from incorporating similar techniques into yours!
Spending Time Listening To Other People Speak
Listening is an important part of writing. A writer should listen to others tell stories, so they can learn how to tell their own. A writer should also listen to other’s stories, so they can learn how to make their characters more believable.
And writers should also listen to others’ stories, so they can learn how to make their plots more believable especially when those plots involve murder or mayhem!
A lot of people don’t realize the importance of listening to they think that reading books is enough for them to become a good writer, but it isn’t!
The most confident writers are always searching for new information about what makes good writing great (and terrible), and one way they do this is by spending time listening with an open mind and heart.
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Studying The World Around You And Taking Notes
Successful writers are constantly observing the world around them and taking notes. They write down everything they see, hear and read to be able to put it into their writing later on.
However, this is not limited to just those things that you like or agree with; it’s also how you learn about the world and how people interact with each other.
If you want to improve your writing skills, then study what other people are doing as well as what they say about themselves and others in their writings.
Filling Notebooks With Ideas, Not Empty Pages
The first step to becoming a successful writer is writing down your ideas.
It’s so simple, but it’s also one of the hardest things to do as a writer. I’ll admit: I am not great at this yet, but it’s something that I’m trying to improve on every day.
One of my favorite quotes is from my friend and writing partner, Anna Taylor: “If you don’t write down all of your ideas when they come to you, someone else will.”
And she’s right! There are plenty of people out there who would love nothing more than to steal your work before it’s even written or published by taking advantage of those moments where an idea pops into your head and then gets lost forever.
Because you didn’t take any time away from whatever else was going on in your life at the moment (or because we’re all just so busy).
If you want to be successful as a writer someday whether that means making money or just being able to take a break you have got to write down every single idea that comes into your head immediately after having it!
Being Willing To Learn Something New Every Day
The most successful writers are also the ones who are always looking for new ways to grow. You don’t have to be an expert in every field, but if you’re not learning something new every day, it’s a sign that you might be getting stale.
As a writer, this means reading is your best friend. Reading allows you to learn about subjects that interest you and even those subjects outside of your expertise. It will help keep your writing fresh and keep it from becoming boring or repetitive when used appropriately in your work!
Reading isn’t just for when you’re stuck on what to write next either — reading is also an excellent way to stay informed about current events or issues in society at large (like politics).
This can help give context for storylines as well as provide inspiration for characters or plotlines themselves if needed!#ENDWRITE
Taking Your Work Seriously, But Not Yourself
Being able to laugh at yourself and at others is one of the most important skills a writer can have. It shows that you’re not too precious about your work and can take feedback, criticism, and rejection in stride.
If you can’t laugh at yourself, you’ll never be able to write anything real or honest; if someone laughs at your work it’s probably because they think it’s funny and that’s a compliment!
When writing comedy (or anything), it’s important to make sure that no one takes themselves too seriously. If people are laughing because they find what they’re reading funny, then they’ll keep reading.
Putting The Work Of Writing First Over Everything Else
When you’re serious about improving your craft as a writer, it’s important to put the work of writing first.
This means that if someone asks you to do something else (like help them move), and that thing gets in the way of your writing, then don’t do it. You have to put your writing time at the top of your priority list.
If someone asks me to help them with something at work on my day off, I simply say “no.” And it doesn’t bother me one bit! I know how important a good night’s sleep is for my creativity and productivity during the day.
So if someone needs help moving or cleaning their house or whatever else on my day off, I’ll be there for them when they need me most!
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Reading 100 Books For Every Book You Write
Reading is a form of research, knowledge, learning and inspiration. It will help you to improve your writing skills.
If you’re a writer, then reading 100 books for every book that you write is the best way to learn how to be better at what you do.
Reading will also give you an insight into how other authors have written their novels so that when it comes to writing your own novel, you can use this information as inspiration for what works in terms of structure or style.
Reading allows us to develop our vocabulary which makes our written communication more fluent and effective than if we were not able to read such well-written books from authors who know how important it is for writers like yourself!
Writing Short Stories For The Rest Of Your Life, Even If It Gets You Nowhere In Terms Of Fame Or Fortune (Or Maybe Even Attention)
For many writers, it’s the short story that helps them learn the craft of writing. It’s often a chance to practice skills and techniques that may be new or unfamiliar.
Short stories are also a way to build an audience not because they can make you famous (though sometimes they do!), but because readers love reading them.
If you want to improve your writing, start by writing some short stories!
Starting each project with a fresh perspective and open mind, even if you’re working on two books at once (and sometimes three).
In order to write a truly successful book, you’ll need to make sure that you have the right mindset. You should start with a blank slate and an open mind so that you can take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way.
This doesn’t mean that every idea is going to work in fact, some ideas are going to be bad from the start (and others will be great!).
But no matter how good or bad something is, there’s always room for improvement. If it helps, think about how many times JK Rowling started over on Harry Potter before she came up with what we now know as one of literature’s most popular series ever.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when writing is that you are not alone. There are countless resources out there to help you succeed as a writer.
You can always find someone who has been in your shoes and can offer advice on how they got through it. If all else fails, don’t worry – there’s always tomorrow!
Further Reading
How to Become a Better Writer: Explore practical tips and strategies to elevate your writing skills and enhance your writing style.
How to Be a Good Script Writer: Delve into the world of scriptwriting and discover key insights on becoming a proficient scriptwriter, covering both the creative and technical aspects.
Improve Writing Skills: Get valuable advice on how to sharpen your writing abilities and communicate effectively, whether for professional or personal purposes.
And now, here’s the “FAQs” section:
FAQs
How can I improve my writing skills?
Improving your writing skills involves consistent practice, seeking feedback, and studying various writing techniques. Consider taking writing courses, reading widely, and analyzing well-written content.
What are some effective ways to overcome writer’s block?
Writer’s block can be overcome by changing your environment, setting specific goals, practicing freewriting, and taking short breaks to refresh your mind.
How do I become a successful scriptwriter?
To become a successful scriptwriter, focus on storytelling, character development, and mastering the format of scripts for different mediums like film, television, or theater.
What resources can help me enhance my creative writing?
There are numerous resources available, such as books on writing techniques, online writing communities, workshops, and writing prompts that can spark your creativity.
How important is feedback in improving my writing?
Feedback is crucial for growth as a writer. Constructive feedback from peers, mentors, or editors can provide insights into areas of improvement and help you refine your writing skills.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.