Mentally Preparing for the Challenge of Being a Writer

During my early days of online writing, one of the first e-books I ever self published was: "Shut Up and Write". Besides motivating new writers and giving tips and advice, it shared valuable resources to help them succeed.

Today, I offer the same thing with: 👉 Goode Writers Write Good

Mentally Preparing for the Challenge of Being a Writer - Everything you need to consider seriously

If you’re a new writer and you’re just starting out online, you may as well get used to one fact about the internet right now, and that is:   “Frustration comes with the territory!” 

It doesn’t matter if you want to get paid solely for writing articles and web content, you want to run your own blog and promote ads and affiliate products, or you want to write, publish and sell your own eBooks.  Frustration still comes with the territory. 

You may have already started experiencing it, depending on just how new you really are to the internet and the world of online writing and marketing.

In this material, you’ll notice that I often direct my comments to more than just the new and inexperienced online writer.  I reference writers and freelancers, as well as online marketers and other entrepreneurs.  This is because some of the same issues that directly affect new writers (and even experienced ones), often affect other types of online workers.  Those commonalities are the reason this information is being provided.

Why Bother Following this Instructional Series?

This material was written for anyone who is trying to generate a regular online income, particularly if they have some form of writing skills.  You don’t have to profess to be a writer, in order to utilize your writing skills.  

Most website and blog owners have come to realize that having decent writing skills can go a long way on the internet, even when you don’t view yourself as a writer.  This is more and more evident, as we come to recognize the benefits of posting in social media communities and creating followers, friends and fans.  In these forums, good writing that can engage the reader will definitely come in handy.  

The importance of good writing is even needed with some of the more visual online resources such as YouTube video marketing.  Think about it; someone has to be responsible for writing the video scripts, not to mention press releases, ad copy, and other forms of advertising.

The series of stories I'll be providing are not for skimming, but for absorbing!

The first thing this material is going to do is have you think long and hard about the kind of writing that you want to do.  It will touch on the different kinds of writing related income that is currently available.  

But you’ll get more than just the generic information that you can find in practically any writing related training guide or publication.  These valuable stories go further, by shedding more light on some of the common writing related issues often overlooked by other writing related instructional resources.   

For instance, the writer’s frame of mind is a crucial element to both the quality and the quantity of work that is ultimately produced by the writer. It would be a big mistake not to devote a respectable amount of time and attention to the topic of attitude.   That is why so many valuable comments about the “write” attitude are woven into the framework of this material.

But surely, no online writing guide would be complete without providing specifics about where to find legitimate write for pay opportunities.  Or would it? 

Oddly enough, this was one of the biggest complaints that readers give about a number of the writing related guides that are currently on the market.  Most of the negative reviews that readers leave behind indicate that a lot of eBooks for writers don’t really contain practical help or useful resources.  

Many books are accused of merely regurgitating the same content.  Don’t expect the same thing from this publication.

Goode Writers Write Good is an online resource that will give you more than just a quick glance into possible writing opportunities and diverse types of writing income. 

This series will do much more for you than simply help you to think positively about your online writing agenda, schedule, and ultimate goal.  It will give you concrete writing tips and advice that can help you sharpen your writing skills and tweak them to specific online writing sites.  You'll even get sections that offer step-by-step instructions to help you get started earning cash with your writing, sooner than later.

Let's Talk about Mental Preparation

The first step to accomplishing the goal of earning writing related money online is a crucial one.  The step involves mental preparation.  However, as important as the first step is, it is one that is often glossed over, or overlooked altogether.  This should never be the case. 

On the contrary, aspiring online writers should consciously prepare themselves mentally for the challenges that lay ahead.  Mental preparation is essential, no matter what point or level you are at in your writing career (or other online endeavor).  That is why I suggest you follow this guide as if you are a beginner, even if you are not. 

Yes, some of the information might not be completely new to you, and you may have even tried some of the steps that you come across in this material.  But if that is true, you can really benefit by combining what you have already done correctly, with the new information you learn here. 

On the other hand, you may actually find that you have been misusing the resources available to you.  Not using certain resources correctly can sometimes be worse than not using them at all.  You will come to understand this better, with the help of this information.  You will also begin to appreciate something else about the online resources you use.  You’ll come to understand that it is okay if you don’t get the same results as someone else.

We all have different personality types, and this will generally have a bearing on how we approach our online writing.  This is well understood, in our discussion about mental preparedness.  So as you read and uncover certain gems of information, concentrate and zoom in on the points that you notice are specific and relevant to YOU, not just as a writer, but as a person.

Through these pages, you will begin to understand that you cannot and should not expect the same results as someone else.   And why would you anyway?  After all, success doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to one person, that it does to another.

Define in your own mind, what kind of writer you want to be and what kind of writing that you ultimately want to do.  Once you get to the point where it’s time to zoom in on that ultimate goal, determine what exactly it will take to make you feel you’ve succeeded.   Then, proceed to be the best writer that you can be.

Are You Truly Writer Material?

The question of whether or not you are writer material is a valid one because all too often people think they are, but find that they really aren't.  Being an online writer can be a fun and easy going type of career if it is what you really love.  On the other hand, grinding out articles and web content for hard to please clients and editors may not be your cup of tea.

There are probably as many downsides to writing for pay as a career choice, as there are upsides.  But if you're the type of person that truly loves writing and seeing words come together on a page, you will enjoy working as a paid online writer. 

That doesn't mean you won't have some discouraging moments, because you will, especially if you're just getting started.  However, you will be so busy learning and applying new concepts that you won't have time to stay discouraged long.

Being a paid writer may call for you to make some important decisions.  For instance, writing online as a content writer typically means providing content that is unbiased and not opinionated.  This is often hard to do. 

Whether we mean to or not, writers have a way of allowing our opinions and attitudes spill into the writing we do.  Some people have strong personalities and are more prone to do this than others, but the truth is, we’re all guilty of it. 

If you know that you want to write content that includes your personal opinions and views, make sure to find a writing platform that will allow you to do this, and still get paid.

Have You Considered these Points About Being a Writer?

No matter what kind of writer you decide in your mind to be, the writer in you is only a part of who you actually are.  When you start writing for pay, there will be times (probably lots of times) when the other you will try to get in the way of what you write. 

“The other you” is the person you are in your normal world.  You know, the mom, the daughter, the father, the son, the auntie, the uncle, the whatever.  “The other you” is composed of your place or role, in the family and also your place or station in life. 

Everything in your life, including all the experiences you encountered along the way, has managed to shape your views, values and opinions.  It stands to reason that at some point during your online writing career, you will succeed in getting in the way of your writing. 

Needless to say, depending on the situation, this can cause quite a writing dilemma.

What if Writing Dilemmas Arise?

If you plan on having an online writing career on a full time basis, you will have to realize that writing dilemmas can often arise.  This is true for writers of all levels, not just new writers.  You may have to decide about accepting a writing assignment that pays you to write about a controversial issue. 

Perhaps you have a strong view about the issue, but you're NOT doing an opinion piece.  If it is not an editorial, or an opinion article, technically, it is supposed to be unbiased; meaning just state the facts.  The other issue is that you may not be willing to be objective. 

You've seen it before.  You are reading an article that is merely supposed to be informative, but the writer's personal view is apparent from the way the article is worded. 

It happens to the best of us, and honestly, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot we can do about it (That is why you will sometimes see a disclaimer at the end of the articles you read).

Allowing your other self to get in the way of your writer self can cause you to create articles that are less appealing.  As you might realize, it is crucial that your articles be appealing to readers if they are going to finish reading the content.  Article appeal also ensures that you get readers who continue to follow or return to your blog or website.

As writers, we must be aware of this common (and purely human) tendency.  We must try to take steps to resist the urge to let the "other you" dominate the "writing you".  Instead, we need to master the art of not giving opinions, unless it's on opinion styled articles and editorial pieces.  This will help ensure that you have the stuff that real writers are made of.

Will You Commit to Writing?

So now you know that not everyone who picks up a pen or sits down to a computer will succeed as an online writer.  If you are sincere about starting or continuing on this path, have you decided to fully commit?  It is not realistic to think that success (whatever that means to you) will come overnight. 

You will clearly have to search deep within yourself to determine if you have the staying power that being a paid freelance writer will require. 

Once you make that all important decision, all the other aspects can then be considered, such as:  Your current writing skills (or lack of skills), what type of writing you want to be associated with, and what your ultimate online objective happens to be. 

By now, you probably have some idea of what kind of online writing you want to do, but your ultimate goal may actually turn out to be something different.  Have you given this some thought?

In the next lesson I publish, I'll go further on the topic of your attitude and writing mindset as a new writer just getting started. But this time, prepare to explore some interesting and relatable points about the type of content you hope to write and get paid for.

Until then, remember: Goode writers write good ✍️.