What Does It Take To Be A Good Writer?

Don’t Waste Time Trying to Please People. -Stephen King.

Wanting to do their best work, new writers are naturally anxious. They ask questions. They probe. They Gorge. They sweat. It’s hoped they sweat while writing and not about how to start. Stephen King in his memoir titled “On Writing” stressed don’t waste time trying to please people. Indeed this is applicable in many situations as individuals attempt to develop their own Identity.

In a public authors forum, the question was asked “What does it take to be a good writer?” Writers chimed in. Here I share a few of their responses.

Writers…On Writing

• Read a lot. Write, write a lot
• Patience and Perseverance
• Finding the connection between your soul and your writing hand. It will require a number of disciplines like grammar, voice, tense and genre. But the key is opening your spirit to the process. Make your writing not a craft, but an empowered purpose in your life.
• An empathetic love of both stories and storytelling
• To keep writing
• Write something. Publish it. Learn from mistakes. Grow
• A unique voice telling an untold story that everyone wants to hear
• Passion, and drive, as well as supportive people in your life
• Persistence, then creativity, then literacy, finally intelligence
• Vision, creativity, persistence, stubbornness, patience, a thick skin
• Natural ability
• Practice, practice, practice, and more practice
• Honesty, passion, and courage
• A moment alone. A moment alone is where it starts
• Willingness to receive critical feedback
• Time, focus, imagination
• Personal passion, self-confidence, resilience to get it done, and never give up
• A good editor
• Tenacity
• Life experiences and a love for it. Put your heart and soul in it
• The ‘write’ attitude
• Learn, then learn more. Accept first that you always need to grow
• Finish even when you hate it. Even when you don’t want to. Even when you’re uninspired.

Rather Interesting thoughts from authors. Can you add any? Is there any that you would omit? Do share.

Want to plan your writing goals? Join us as we retreat.

Cheers!

Author: Dr. Shelly

Dr. Shelly Cameron is a leadership strategist, author, and executive coach dedicated to helping individuals uncover their purpose, elevate their leadership potential, and achieve meaningful success. She is the creator of the GreenLight Leadership Framework. As the curator of SuccessfulLeaders.net, Dr. Shelly shares insights drawn from her extensive experience in organizational development, human resources, and personal growth. She is passionate about empowering professionals to navigate change, manage stress, and design fulfilling lives through intentional goal setting, self-discovery, and continuous learning. Dr. Shelly's research on Success Strategies was published in the JAABC Business Journal. She is also the author of several books, including works on leadership, success, and cultural intelligence. View all posts by Dr. Shelly