Perhaps you’ve wanted to become a successful writer for as long as you can remember. Then again, maybe the idea of being a writer is a more recent development in your life. Either way, being a professional writer or published author can be a rewarding yet challenging experience.
Some writers seem to soar straight to the top ranks of success while others find this ultimate goal a bit more elusive. It can be tempting to throw in the towel if you’ve been writing for a while and haven’t achieved the level of success you had hoped to accomplish. The goal of this post is to inspire and encourage you to keep going.
You are the only one who can define what success means to you
Typical definitions for the word “success” include phrases such as “accomplishment of an aim or purpose” and “a good outcome.” Beyond that, however, the idea of success is ambiguous, meaning that there are numerous ways to interpret its meaning. As a writer, you are the only person who can define success.
What success is to you may be quite different from what it means to another writer. For instance, another writer’s idea of success might be to earn enough income to make ends meet while your idea of success might be to make it to the New York Times Best Seller list. Both definitions are acceptable because each writer is unique and has a specific goal in mind.
Therefore, before you give up on your writing goals, make sure you have clearly defined what success means to you as a writer. (In fact, your definition might change in various situations.)
Lack of creative fulfillment can stunt writing success
Even if (or, perhaps, especially if) you’re a prolific author, the more creative fulfillment you have as a writer, the easier it is to write and to achieve success. The saying “all work and no play makes John a dull boy” is applicable to writers as well. If you only write for professional or employment reasons, you run the risk of “writer’s burn out,” which often creates a “writer’s block” that can be difficult to overcome.
No matter what type of writing you do for a living, make sure you are also writing for pleasure on a regular basis. For instance, perhaps you have a contract to write five romance novels over the next several years, but your true love in writing in poetry. You will no doubt experience more creative fulfillment if you allow yourself time to write poems, even if that’s not the type of writing that is generating income in your life.
Make sure you’re educated in your writing niche
If your idea of writing success includes earning a steady income from writing, it’s important to lay the groundwork you need to achieve your goals. Being a successful writer means that you must be well-educated in your chosen genre or style of writing.
Chances of being a successful fiction writer are not great, if you know nothing about how to build a plot, character development, thematic elements and other aspects of creative writing. On the other hand, if you’re an experienced fiction writer who is transitioning into a non-fiction copywriting career, for instance, you’ll want to educate yourself in your new niche to set yourself up for success.
You might work in numerous niches throughout your writing career. In fact, if one type of writing isn’t working out, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t be a professional writer. It might just mean that you should try a different type of writing, further educate yourself in your chosen field or refine your goals. If you want to be a successful writer, don’t give up. Set achievable goals and keep working toward them.
