Writing Tips: 4 Powerful Daily Habits For Success
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Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
According to the New York Times, 81% of people want to write a book. But did you know that most people don’t know how to become an author. Successful authors know the key areas they need to focus their time on and while it may be surprising, none of these areas are a secret sauce. These tips are so common most people overlook them and in doing so, overlook success at the same time.
With this many people wanting to join the ranks of published authors, it’s crucial to understand exactly what to focus on, pursue the right book idea, and spend time establishing professional writing habits.
That said, so many titles are published daily, influencers sign book deals left and right, and self-publishing has taken the world by storm. Becoming an author may feel out of reach. The good news is, you don’t need publishing companies filling your inbox asking you to write a book to enter the arena.
In order to improve your writing skills, and therefore your chances at publishing success, there are just a few core tips to follow.
As mentioned, these tips are not profound. They may seem boring or even unnecessary. But small changes compound over time to create great results. Let’s dive in.
#1 - Develop A Mindset of Perseverance
The art of perseverance is vital to any creative endeavor. Aside from beginner’s luck, if we want to succeed, perseverance is the key ingredient. We have centuries of examples from whom to draw inspiration from:
Isaac Newton’s mother took him out of school so he could learn to farm
The Wright Brothers’ flying achievements were not publicly acknowledged for years
Walt Disney is said to have been fired for lacking creativity
Thirty publishers rejected Stephen King’s debut novel
The difference between these four successful creative’s and those who don’t succeed often comes down to point of view, or mindset. Newton persevered in his education despite his early setback. The Wright brothers pressed on, despite little to no public approval.
What we frequently see as an overnight success story (such as the Magic Kingdom we all love today) is usually a person who understood the importance of playing the long game and refusing to give up.
#2 - Meet Your Daily Word Count Goals
To end up with a successful writing career, every writer must first start writing. Your goals will play a large role in determining what you write and why. Establish your specific goal, and only then set a daily word count goal (a copywriter will create a much different type of word goal than someone pursuing creative writing).
If you hope to become a novelist, you may want to start writing short stories. While this type of writing is often regarded as a difficult genre to master, starting a story is easy, finishing one is not. The more you establish the mindset that you will complete your piece of writing, whatever it is, no matter what, the better trajectory you set for yourself. Completing short stories teaches this mindset.
If you are just starting out, aim to write one hundred words a day (roughly half of a page, double-spaced). If you already write, consider aiming for 500 to 750 words a day (2-3 pages). Whatever goal you choose to set, make sure you follow the SMART goals example.
Specific
The first step in creating a SMART goal is to make sure it is a specific one. I prefer to set a daily word count, rather than page count, because my goal is that much more specific. While on average, typed pages include 250 words, the more paragraphs or lines of dialogue, the more white space and less words.
By setting a daily word count I ensure that I meet a specific goal, rather than let myself skimp and include extra dialogue or paragraphs simply to fill the page.
Measurable
Next, make sure you can measure your result. If you choose to set a words-per-day goal, ensure you can easily find which words you wrote the day prior and which ones you write today. If you use Word documents, consider entering the date before you begin typing. Turn on Word Counter in Tools so you can track your progress.
Achievable
Writers who have published books for years may not feel intimidated by a 2,000 daily word goal. But, if you’re trying to familiarize yourself with the numerous creative writing tips, rules, and trends, this number could easily overwhelm you. Intentionally set a goal that is achievable but pushes you just enough that you need to work at it.
Realistic
Similar to creating an achievable goal, setting a realistic goal will result in your long-term success or failure. If you want to become a New York Times bestselling author, with time and effort, this could be an achievable goal. However, if you hope to achieve this dream with your first book, your goal isn’t realistic. The more realistic your goal, the higher chance you have of meeting it.
Time-Bound
Let’s say you want to write your first book in twelve months. If you plan to write a young adult novel of 70,000 words, how many days do you plan to write over the next year? After you settle on a number of writing days, conduct some simple math: (Word Count) divided by (Writing Days) = End Date.
#3 - Study Creative Writing
Perseverance is key to reaching goals, but perseverance in the correct direction is crucial. If you write 1000 words every day, but you don’t understand basic writing rules or genre tropes, you won’t get very far.
This is where productive study comes in. Take an online writing course, enroll in a literature class at your local college, sign up for a webinar, or hire a writing coach for some training.
Keep in mind that the more you learn, the more you will realize you don’t know. This is a good sign, as it means you are opening up your mind, accepting the lessons you’re learning, and moving forward. No matter what stage of the writing process you are at, the best writers continue to learn.
#4 - Learn From Other Successful Writers
Learning from others is one of the many joys of this creative field. If you are new to writing, studying under a bestselling author or simply grabbing coffee and asking their advice, can completely change your perspective.
If you are a more established writer, learning from the new and inspired can do wonders. Just as it’s so refreshing to watch a child experience the beach for the first time, the same is true for seasoned writers engaging with young writers.
Writers guilds, master classes, and webinars provide additional learning in a different format. Even if you only have time to sit down with a fellow writer who’s just a little way ahead of you in the writing journey, take advantage of this time. Learning from other writers is invaluable.
Start Today: Refuse To Deviate From Your Goal
One of the easiest ways to kill a dream is to read about all the steps you can take, get inspired, and then keep dreaming. Knowledge without action is inaction, it’s that simple. Consequently, the difference between those who dream and those who succeed comes down to action steps.
There are many ways to learn online, either for free or for an investment. Here are a few resources that have helped me over the years:
With the Internet at our fingertips or in our pockets, these resources are available 24/7. Whether you are in line at the grocery store, waiting for your morning coffee, or in an Uber on your daily commute to work, make use of the extensive resources available to you.
Additionally, if you know about a writer or coach who offers mentoring sessions and are able to invest in one on one learning, consider doing so. Simply write a cover letter explaining your goal, credibility, and desire to learn. Follow the template of a query or job interview letter, revise, and then send it off and move on to your next task.
Remember, one of the easiest ways to experience failure is by preparing for success without ever taking that first step. I don’t know if creatives ever feel fully prepared to dive in, but after the initial step, the inertia of habit helps keep us going.
Isaac Newton overcame educational difficulties. The Wright brothers pressed on when the world was against them.
Walt Disney wasn’t “creative enough,” and Mr. King couldn’t find a publisher. In the end, they all succeeded. Feel discouraged? You’re in good company—so don’t give up!
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Think You Have a Book in You? Think Again
