Do you want more as a writer?
Do you feel like you’ve been working hard but your dreams are still way out of reach?
It could be that you’re missing one critical element: to achieve more, you must become more.
If You Want More as a Writer, You Must Become More
I recently ran across this quote by business philosopher Jim Rohn:
“For things to change, YOU have to change. For things to get better, YOU have to get better. For things to improve, YOU have to improve. When you grow, EVERYTHING in your life grows with you.”
I spent some time reading and re-reading that quote. It makes sense, but it’s not something we usually think about.
Typically, when we writers want more—more publishing contracts, more readers, more reviews—we jump right into researching and trying new techniques that we think may bring us what we want.
We decide we need to scout out and submit to more publishers. Or conduct more book advertising to readers. Or get in touch with more readers who may be willing to leave reviews.
We go right from what we want to how we think we can get it, and that “how” usually involves some sort of activity that directly applies to the goal.
It rarely if ever involves self-reflection.
But as I read and re-read that quote, I wondered if we’re getting it all wrong. Instead of jumping right into tactics, should we be taking a closer look at ourselves first?
If You Want More as a Writer, It’s About Attracting More
I did some more studying of Jim Rohn and discovered that what he’s really talking about here is the law of attraction—the idea that you attract to yourself the level of success that you deserve because of who you are, not necessarily because of what tactics you employ.
He even says in this video: “Success is something you attract, not something you pursue.”
I’ve been interested in the law of attraction for a while, so I’m a little surprised that I still seem to have so much to learn about it!
But I had to pause and think about this too. As familiar as I am with this idea, I realize that I still fail to apply it often enough in my life—particularly in my writing career.
Says Rohn in that same video, “Success is looking for a good place to stay. So instead of going after it, you work on yourself.”
What does that mean if you’re a writer? I think each of us has to ask ourselves: What kind of writer am I becoming?
If You Want More, What Kind of Writer Are You Becoming?
This isn’t about the simple answer—whether you are becoming a sci-fi, mystery, or nonfiction writer.
It’s about your entire life—the atmosphere you’re living in, what you’re doing with your days, how you’re taking care of your creative self, what sort of investment you’re making in your education as a writer, what your attitudes and beliefs are, and so much more.
I hear writers saying things like, “If I had more money, I’d hire a book editor (or take a marketing workshop or go to a writing conference).”
But is this really about money, or is it about you—your attitude and beliefs?
What if you changed that attitude or belief and decided you could save the money to invest in your writing education? How might that change the type of writer you would then become in three years?
Other writers often blame the industry—or agents and editors—for not achieving the success they crave. It’s easy to do that. The publishing industry is extremely competitive. It is tough out there. But if your attitude is that the industry is working against you, what sort of writer will you be in three years?
On the other hand, if you believe that through your hard work and creativity, you can experience success as a writer, what sort of writer might you be in three years?
Everything In Your Life Affects the Writer You Will Become
I think it’s also interesting to step back and say, “How is my daily routine right now affecting me as a writer? Is it making me a better writer overall, or is it dragging me down and hurting my potential?”
We have a lot of control over our daily routines, so we can make changes there if we want to. Might there be another way of doing things that would help increase your motivation to write? Inspire you to write more? Or help you to have more energy during your writing sessions?
Most likely there are other ways—but you have to be willing to explore the issue and find those ways that will work for you.
We should also question our level of discipline when it comes to writing. How often do you neglect your daily writing practice? When you do, how does it affect the rest of your writing life? Neglect usually leads to neglect. Just like not exercising one day leads to not exercising the next day, not writing one day leads to not writing the next day.
What kind of writer are you becoming? A writer who is disciplined in their writing practice, or one who neglects it—and everything related to it?
If You Want More as a Writer, Examine Your Thoughts and Beliefs
Examining our beliefs also has the potential to open our eyes to who we are becoming. I know writers who are so consumed with self-doubt they believe they will never be successful, so though they may try, it can be a half-hearted effort because their doubts are holding them back.
Other writers are so afraid of being judged that they completely avoid situations such as workshops or critiques that could help them improve, cutting themselves off at the knees so to speak when it comes to their own development.
Some writers delude themselves into thinking they are already the best writers they will ever be, so they ignore any opportunities they may get for bettering themselves. That’s a sad situation indeed, as it means the writer will stay at the same level for years—or until their attitude changes.
If You Want More, Work Primarily On Yourself
Jim Rohn says that to experience success in the marketplace, we must work “primarily” on ourselves.
The questions we should be asking, then, are these: Can I become a better writer? Can I offer more value to my readers? Could I even become an “above-average” writer?
After all, if you want more—a stellar author career—don’t you have to first, become a stellar author?
And if the answer is “yes,” then rather than jump straight into tactics, perhaps we should self-reflect first.
“How can I work harder on myself as a writer?”
I’m going to be exploring this question in my own writing life, and I invite you to do the same.
Featured image by George Milton.