Highly Likely Ways to Help You Succeed as a Writer
I’ve been reading a lot of motivational, get-stuff-done, cut-the-crap books lately, and there are a few common denominators that apply to a number of life situations. Forming good habits is all the rage right now, and conversely, bad habits are, well…bad. Minimalism is good; hoarding is bad. Meditating and mindfulness are good; being uninformed and thoughtless are bad.
Here’s the cheater version. It all boils down to this:
Be a good human. Keep your word. Do your work. Be nice to others. Share. Be a helper. Be a doer. Be grateful. Be a learner. Be a teacher. Give patience. Receive kindness. Be nice.
It’s pretty much everything my grandpa taught me growing up on the farm, but now we have the luxury of highlighting this wisdom in books.
I thought it would be fun to break down some of the standard how-to-be-a-raging-success-in-the-world lessons and translate them into how we can achieve success as professional authors and writers.
Friends, I’ve been working from home for a LONG time, and I’ve had a lot of contemplation time, so hear me out. By the end of this little series, you’ll be highly likely to succeed as a writer. And even if you don’t, you’ll end up being a helluva great person!
Successful Writer Idea #1
Never get so busy that you run out of time to learn and experience new things.
Where do you think all those fantabulously glorious stories you write come from? They most certainly do NOT come from ringing phones, missed deadlines, and irritated colleagues. Nope, they come from giving yourself time to breathe, time to learn, and time to grow as a writer.
Give yourself permission to take time out to discover a new local bookstore. Or go to a reading at the library. (I love kids’ books, so when authors are visiting, I’m in!) Go to the theater (or the theatre, if that’s your jam). Or the comedy club or Salsa dancing. Or butter sculpting or goat herding. You get the idea.
Whatever you do, when you get out there and experience ALL. THE. THINGS. that are going on, you’ll give your writer’s brain a much-needed rest — and BONUS, you’ll be collecting stories you can weave into your writing.
Never get too busy to explore & learn!
