Rich Advice on How You Can Still Laugh While Writing Towards a Successful Outcome

What we think we know, or what I think we know

So many writers believe they have the right advice on how to become successful at writing, including me. The truth is if you want to write it right, there is a host of advice. Some are redundant, and some are unique.

Redundancy doesn't hurt us and sometimes it's key. Different advice is actually helpful. We even wordsmith how to be a great writer. You have to be a good wordsmith to write anything - it's an indication of your passion for language. More importantly, that passion for language is artistic.

Before writing online became so popular, success with writing meant you were lucky to get selected by a traditional publishing house to get your book out to the public. All those query letters either paid off or didn't. If they didn't work, then you turned to the alternative of self-publishing with the up-and-coming online tools and resources.

As a writer, you have to decide how you are going to define success and whether you are writing as a hobby as a wanna-be-writer, or you want to be paid for your long hard hours of writing. To me, writing is like painting, hours of detail until you get it just right. I know because I also paint.

Simple advice on grabbing a piece of your success

There is redundant advice everywhere you turn. Sometimes the tips are designed to be interesting, creative, and even funny. Sometimes tips are as redundant as brushing your teeth which is useful and still a meaningful activity, by the way. You want to grab the tips that are unique or teach you something different to pull into what you already know.

Here are the 7 simple meaningful tips to think on

Tip #1: It's essential to write every day. If you want to improve and perfect your writing strengths, you have to motivate a routine of pushing your words out. I look at writing as my new full-time job. It is amazing how it has inhaled my life and happily so. I gave up my 9 to 5 to fulfill a crazy attainable writing goal because as the adage goes, life is too short. Do be driven and decide what time of day you are willing to write to attain your goals. If you want to be successful on your writing journey, you have to be committed. It also requires some sacrifice like giving up TV shows you binge (sorry Hulu).

Tip #2: Hook up with writing communities. If you belong to an online writing platform, get to know other writers by sharing ideas. Read their work to learn better ways of writing. Invite feedback because constructive criticism is a good thing. Accepting help from other writers is worth their effort and your time, especially in a world that is full of writers. Join some writing groups on LinkedIn. Become a part of an online publication where there are samplings of niches if that is what you are leaning towards.

Tip #3: Embrace advice from your peers. If you know someone who has been successful in writing, tap that person for advice. Read their advice and ask questions. There are so many writers who are reachable online through social media. If you know of successful writers on any writing platform online, all it takes is a message requesting permission for some advice. That might serve as a simpler method as opposed to getting a million hits back on that one question you might post on Google. Focus on writers who provide solid practical, yet useful advice based on experience.

Tip #4: You cannot be a fabulous writer without reading a lot. I write for hours daily, but I also incorporate a lot of reading time too. Sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to be writing because there's so much wonderful reading to be experienced. The best advice about reading is if you want to be a successful great writer, then focus on material that is written by other great writers. You can't beat quality.

Tip #5: Put yourself out there. Share your work online because it's a method of self-marketing. If you do not have a website or blogging site, think about creating one. Be prepared to multi-task when building your writing life. Be enthusiastic with any presence online because, in order to become successful (creating earnings), it is important to self-market. And all of this activity could get you noticed by prospective publishers if that is the route you are wanting.

Tip #6: Fulfilling your writing goals. Once you build up your steam and routine to write, it will not take long to realize that you are churning a notion and words into something magical. Write it right until your head hits the pillow.

Tip #7: Do not worry about failure. All writers fail - that's how they get better. I self-published a book 10 years ago and it flopped, but it was not a mistake. I pushed to learn the process of creating something and following it through. Reading the piece now, however, has taught me four things: (1) I do not know everything; (2) editing is a tedious process; (3) share your work with others before publishing for feedback and reviews; and (4) write using non-confusing language to be understood by any reader. Takeaway: you cannot succeed without a fair amount of failure.

Write it right. Write until you are ready to show the world what you have created. Take your practical tools and experience, and create something fabulous.

Take that little idea and make it something big.

© Cathy Coombs

About the Author

I retired early as a senior-level legal secretary to write full-time. I have a B.A. in English Journalism & Creative Writing which confirmed my love of literature. I'm driven to read and write for hours each day. I churn five decades of living experience into redefining perspectives.