5 lessons for your writing career

One of the most important lessons that I've learned (and I find is reinforced again and again), is that you can't just think about one area of your writing at a time. You have to look at it as an entire system.

For example, if you're trying to grow your writing career, you might be tempted to focus on just one aspect: growing your audience, or improving your writing skills, or building up your brand, or finding new ways to collaborate...

But all of these things are interconnected — and they affect each other in ways that might not always be obvious.

Writing is a business, so you must treat it as one.

You're a writer after all, and it's important to remember that no one else is going to care as much about your writing career as you do. You can't expect anyone else (including your publisher or agent) to do the work for you. You need to be proactive and take responsibility for your own success.

Here are some additional lessons that have had the biggest impact on me:

1 // WHEN “EVERYONE” IS DOING IT, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

You're not like everyone else. Why should your writing be?

You have your own unique brand of genius. Your approach to writing is different from everyone else's, so don't be so busy trying to compete with other authors for the attention of readers, that you forget what makes you unique and valuable.

If you want to be successful in your writing, you need to separate yourself from the crowd.

Focus on what makes your writing and personal brand unique — and find the best ways to articulate that to your readers.

ASK YOURSELF

What is everyone doing in your industry or genre right now?

How can you do something different and stand out?

2 // BET ON YOURSELF

Commit to being honest with yourself about what you want out of life and what you’re willing to invest to get it.

Not all ideas are worth betting on. But, when the right idea and the right strategy come to you, you need to be willing and ready to bet on yourself. That means you need to believe in yourself and your abilities, even when everyone else around you seems to doubt you.

Find mentors who have already done what you want and are willing to share their insights with you. Keep setting new goals for yourself even as you reach milestones along the way.

It’s OK to make mistakes and start over.

Don't compare yourself to others, and give yourself permission to fail.

Start small, but don’t be afraid to bet on yourself.

ASK YOURSELF

Where have you held back in promoting or scaling your writing?

Is it time for you to bet on your growth?

3 // STAY RELEVANT

Change is inevitable in life and business, but we have certainly observed that change has been coming faster and faster the last few years… And it’s not slowing down. People’s beliefs, challenges, and behaviors are shifting. Messaging that worked two years ago may not work today.

It’s essential that you update your writing style or your core brand message to align with the challenges and opportunities your readers are facing today.

Keep your messaging relevant to ensure continued growth and to entice readers deeper into the fold.

ASK YOURSELF

What is important for your readers today? What do they care about?

What does your work and writing need to say (or what emotions do you need to invoke) to address what is desirable and most relevant to your readers, right now?

4 // AN AUTHOR PLATFORM IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL

What strategy should you use to grow your platform? What marketing approach would be best for you right now? What should your timeline for your book launch be? Should you be more focused on writing or marketing right now? Or should you be focused on book sales, networking, or cross promotions?

Or maybe your eyes just glazed over this right now thinking, I have no idea…

Can’t someone just tell me what to do?

Well, yes and no. When you begin to understand all the moving parts of your writing career, as well as your own goals and objectives for your job, you’ll be able to design a strategy that works best for you.

One size does not fit all in business so it’s key that you understand enough to personalize your way forward.

Yes, you can take a blueprint from a course, a colleague, or a mentor, and build from that. You can generally save a lot of time, money, and resources by not reinventing the wheel. But ultimately you'll need to learn the 'business basics' so you can personalize your approach and align your business with your values, goals, and desires for the future.

ASK YOURSELF

Are you trying to fit someone else’s blueprint or make it your own?

Do you need/want to personalize your success path?

5 // PREPARE TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S SUCCESS

What do you need now, and what do you need to do, to set yourself up for long-term growth?

Make the decisions you need to make today, with the future in mind.

Whatever you do, don’t stop learning.

As I've said, learn how to write holistically – not just learning how to use one tactic or another – because there is so much more that goes into growing your writing career.

Everything you do today prepares you for tomorrow.

Are you ready for your next level of growth?

ASK YOURSELF

What do I need to consider now to have the future I desire?

Will this decision help me get to where I want to be going?

*Points taken from a recent webinar I've attended. I am by no means a proffesional,, these were a few pointers I was able to takeaway from the workshop and give you all a glimpse of.