The Unconventional Guide to Writing Success: 5 Little-Known Strategies That Actually Work

Every writer dreams of becoming a best-selling author, selling millions of copies of their book, becoming a household name, and having a section of a bookstore filled with their work - and a movie deal wouldn't be so bad either. 

But this goal can sometimes feel elusive like a cat trying to find the little red light from a laser pointer. Every time they think it's just within their grasp it moves away and there's nothing under their paw.

While there are countless books with advice on writing and how to become a best seller some of the most effective strategies for success are hidden in plain sight. 

In this article, we'll explore five unconventional strategies that can bring you to the path of success in your writing using little-known secrets that are often overlooked. 

1. Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone 

When learning to walk you fell on your butt at least once or twice and that I know as a fact. It's a shame that as we get older we forget the lesson this taught us and instead of learning from our failures and getting up and trying again - and again - we give up the first time we get a bit of a bruise on our tushes.

You submitted your book to a dozen of publishers and none of them accepted it - this doesn't mean your book is a failure. It just means you need to submit it to another dozen publishers. 

One of those twelve publishers is going to give you a reason why they didn't accept your book and from there, you have a choice to make. Working to fix the issue or giving up - fyi - the choice that leads to success is the one where you don't give up.

2. Flow With Unpredictability

Building a writing routine is great advice that I often give to writers myself, but there's something that gets forgotten in the translation…

You can write outside of this routine. 

You can write as you sit on the park bench because a strange old man mumbled something as you waited and it gave you the idea of a scene to work on. 

You can write in the middle of the night when the air conditioner has stopped working and the heat and the silence gave you the idea for a story about a man trapped in a heating duct. 

Sure you can hold yourself to the accountability of a writing routine, but don't forget about striking while the iron is hot and writing just because you feel like it. 

This is where some of the best ideas can be born. 

3. Collaborate (and listen) 

Just because we spend all day with our made-up characters and our imaginary conversations does not mean that we have to continue on alone in the writing endeavor. 

There are thousands of others out there just like you that also have these conversations with themselves and are living hundreds of lives in their very own head. 

Writing groups, critique partners, beta readers - there's nothing bad to be gained from building a community around you but there's everything to lose if you believe that it's ok to continue on alone with nothing but the thoughts and characters in your head to get you through. 

4. Learn Continuously

You know that the book you picked up in the writing reference section of your local bookstore about how to become a bestselling author isn't actually going to make it magically possible and hold the true secret for you to become one - right? 

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. 

We as authors sometimes think that we know our craft well enough that there's nothing we can learn, especially if we hold the belief that we're natural-born storytellers - while this may be true the mentality that you have nothing more you can learn is going to hold you back. 

You can always learn tricks to make dialogue flow better, to make scene changes less sharp, tricks for book marketing, or just general ways to improve your storytelling. 

"If you're the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room."

Writers learn best by reading the work of others, but that doesn't also mean we can't also listen to advice others have to give as well. 

5. Hang On a Little Longer

 There's a story my father used to tell me about the man who started digging for gold. Day after day he showed up to this mine and spent all day mining into the ground and coming up sore and empty-handed at the end of the day. 

Then one day he quits, he hands his pickax off to a stranger he passed on his way home from work and decided he was never again going down into the mine. 

Well, the next day he walks by the mine on his way to find a new job and he sees that stranger running out of the mine with a big pile of gold in his hand. 

That would have been him that day if he hadn't decided to quit.

A writer who doesn't write will never be successful. 

A writer who doesn't share their work will never become an author. 

An author that gives up because their sales aren't what they thought they would be won't see their next book hit the bestseller list. 

---

 Becoming a successful author is really no secret, it takes hard work and showing up to write even when you want to quit.

You'll find your success, even if it's small compared to others as long as you are proud of what you have accomplished at the end of the day and you gave it your best. 

Now go write. 

Your success is waiting for you. 

With love, 

B. King xo xo

____________________________________________________

*If you've liked what you read you can show your support by subscribing, pledging your support, or leaving me a tip that directly supports and aids me as a writer.

By joining Vocal+ you can earn more per read on every story you publish on Vocal.

Click my link to start your 7-day free trial today and start earning more for your stories.

_____________________________________________

This story was originally posted on Medium. Join Medium as a member for just $5/month to access premium content and help me continue creating articles like these. You can also earn money by posting your own stories using Mediums' Partner Program.

Help power my writing with a virtual coffee! Starting at just $1. Your support keeps my creativity brewing. Treat me to a cup! ☕

Thanks for your support and happy writing!