Survive the Writer's Life

Successful writers share the same traits. These traits help them to overcome problems that cause other writers to quit.

The Ability to Survive Rejection

Exercise: Answer the following either yes or no:
Does it hurt to hear a negative critique of your work? Does if hurt if people do not praise your work?
Do you loose your temper at least once a week?
Do you suffer from road rage?
Do you finish everything you start?
Do you cry when hurt or rejected?

Add up the yes answers. If there are less than two no answers, congratulations. You are on your way to becoming a multi rejected, often frustrated, and eventually published author.

This is the biggie (talent, passion and punctuation notwithstanding).

Time can eat away at your determination and confidence.

Learn and Study

Stubborn Determination to Succeed

Years of un-rewarded writing, enough rejection letters to paper a bathroom, smirks from family, arguments about unfinished laundry or a jungle in the back yard, can douse the flame of the most passionate writer.

Love Research

Successful writers spend a lot of time researching their topics. They also spend a lot of time specializing in four or five topics that will help them develop a niche or image as an industry professional. This makes it easier for them to sell articles, short stories, and novels. Successful writers are sponges. They do not consider time researching, taking courses, or attending conferences, as a waste of time. Eventually, their writing has that extra something that comes from knowing more than the general population. They also develop their skills, transforming their articles from the same evergreen content most writers churn out, and having heart, thought, and unusual content.

Passion

Writers talk about passion as if it is common knowledge, but most do not know what passion really is. Passion is not something that makes us angry or stirs the emotions. It is not the motivation that makes us debate and argue. Passion motivates people into action. Passion causes people to volunteer, spend money, invest time, and take risks. Passion is the difference between struggling writers and successful authors.

Talent is only passion realized.

Fear of Hard Work

Successful writers are not worried about writing several hours a day. Julie Garwood rose at five am and wrote until her children awoke. When I started writing I wrote for five hours a day, did my housework, spent the evening with my family, and then I wrote from nine until midnight. I did not worry about whether I had an assignment or a contract. I even tossed the television when I realized that I could free up more than eight hours a week.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Writing is a business. The day a writer starts their novel, writes for a web site, or takes a writing course, they are in business. They are not in business for the artistic value, or because they want to work at home, or freedom. They do not turn down work because it doesn't meet their standards, the same way a dress shop would not refuse to sell cheaper dresses because they want everyone to be impressed with their work.

Smart writers learn about tax breaks and business law, creating a business plan, and setting goals for the future.

Anyone can learn how to develop these skills and talents, it only takes determination and the willingness to learn.