Writing
At its very foundation, writing is an act of communication. It’s the way we share information, ideas and our visions; it’s how we entertain, explore complex relationships and share simple joys.
It is not a creative act that exclusively belongs to a select few. While we are not all great writers, recognized by the reading public at large, we are all writers. We write notes. We write letters. We write emails to friends. These may strike you as small and insignificant writings, but they are not. They are evidence that you can, in fact, write.
And the fact that you’re here now is evidence that you want to get better at writing.
The Successful Writer is a growing, evolving website on the craft of writing, with articles covering everything from creative writing to writing a novel to copywriting and more. But first, let’s take a look at some common mistaken beliefs about the craft of writing …
Writing is easy for some and hard for others - the truth is … writing is a struggle for just about everyone. Even seasoned professionals can struggle to write. However, the more often you write, the easier the process will become. When you encounter periods when it seems impossibly difficult, you’re almost always working against yourself. These are the times you need to stop and pay attention at what you’re silently telling yourself. I’m willing to bet you’ll discover these types of thought are following you around:
- I can’t write.
- I’m not a good writer.
- Writing is too hard.
- I don’t have anything new to say.
- I don’t know what comes next.
- I’ll never be as good as …
- What I’m writing is garbage. It’s not good enough.
You make writing easier when you toss out all the negatives you’re repeating to yourself and simply jump joyously into the process. Don’t concern yourself with writing perfect. Don’t worry about if it’s good enough or if it’ll sell or if your friends in the writing group will like it. Write with enthusiasm for the process and the rest will fade into the background.
You’ve got to be talented to be a writer - Not true. Talent helps, there’s no denying that. It can set you apart from the masses. But far more than being talented, you’ve got to be persistent. You’ve got to be willing to keep after your craft, to write as often as possible, to be willing to learn about the process and be willing to expand your knowledge. These are important traits that will bring you success in your writing if your keep after them.
Very few writers make a living at their craft - Writing is like any other profession … it requires hard work, dedication, focus, and a plan. Writing in your journal occasionally will not build a writing career. You have to approach your writing like a business. You have to understand how publishers think, what they’re looking for, and how to meet their needs. If you want to self-publish, if you want to write copy, if you want to freelance … you need to understand the business you’re in and be dedicated to building your reputation as a writer. There’s no reason you can’t make a living at it. It all depends on how badly you want the brass ring.
Don’t let preconceived ideas interfere with your pursuit of a writing career. Instead, educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the craft. And most important of all … write!
If you have a question about the craft and can’t find the answer here, just drop us a note at: Ask A Writing Question and we’ll do our best to get an answer for you.
And to navigate this website, simply use the categories section on the right sidebar to take you deeper into the site.
One final note … we thought you might enjoy learning the secret of all successful writers. It sounds so simple and actually it is, yet so many beginning writers fail to do it. What is it? Just this: write everyday. It’s as simple as that. Write everyday.
Now go get started.
