How to be a Successful Writer

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Article by: Sarah Myles, freelance writer at Globe Soup.

“How do I become a successful writer?” It’s a question that has been whispered to the cosmos by millions. It’s the conundrum that scratches at the back of our minds as we go about our daily grind, and it’s the riddle that keeps us up night. The question is not straightforward. In fact, in order to answer it effectively, we have to properly examine what it is we mean when we ask how to be a successful writer. This is because “success” is subjective – especially in writing.

The meaning of “success” is truly in the eye of the beholder. It can look different depending on the perspective and ambitions of the person striving to reach it. This has always been the case but, in the modern age, social media can muddy the waters. Staying focused on our own, personal idea of writing success can be challenging while we’re being bombarded with messages and images about what writing success ‘should’ look like. So, in order to know how to be a successful writer, we first have to know what “success” means to us.

Versions of writing success

There are many different versions of writing success. Of course, an incredibly lucrative publishing contract that includes film and TV rights in international territories would be nice, but that is not the only metric by which writing success can be measured – regardless of how it may seem when we scroll through Instagram.

So, what does your version of writing success look like?

·       Finishing a story or manuscript

For some, getting to the end of a story or completing a manuscript makes a successful writer. It means you have spent time developing an effective narrative, building a world in which it can exist, and creating characters through whom the story can be told. You’ve put that all together and delivered it into the world. Even if you are the only person to have read it so far, that’s a big success.

·       Submitting a piece of writing

It can take a lot of courage of submit a piece of writing – whether you are sending it to an editor, agent, or publisher, or sharing it with other writers for feedback. In fact, submitting a piece of writing for other people to read can be a huge obstacle in anyone’s writing career. With that in mind, tackling that obstacle and sending a piece of writing out for any form of critique or evaluation is definitely a version of writing success.

·       Self-publishing

There are many different ways to put your writing into the world and, for many writers, self-publishing is the goal. It can be challenging, with all aspects of the publishing process falling to you or those you hire – including editing, cover design, formatting, and ongoing marketing. It can also take many forms, with novels, anthologies, and personal blogs and websites all falling under the umbrella of self-publishing as writing success.

·       Earning money

If your ambition is to build a career as a writer – especially as a freelance writer – then earning money is a version of writing success. Selling a piece of writing is a huge achievement and, for many people, this denotes their move to being a ‘professional’ writer, however small the payment. Financial compensation for your writing can be as validating and motivating as winning a writing competition and can be an early step in creating regular income with writing.

·       Securing an agent

For those whose ambition includes the representation of a literary agent, securing an agent constitutes writing success. It takes a significant amount of time and effort to achieve this goal, in addition to the difficult decision-making process that can accompany any agency offers. Finding the right agent is a mammoth task, and then there is the querying process with which to contend. Cover letters and submission packages – all tailored to the specific submission guidelines of particular agents, and all dispatched into the ether without guarantee of response. It is both nerve-wracking and exhausting, so to actually secure an agent at the end of it is a great achievement.

·       Securing a book deal

Some writers dream of traditional publishing and, for them, securing a book deal means writing success. It is confirmation that established businesses with resources and industry access believe in your work and want to invest in it. It brings you a step closer to holding your printed novel or anthology in your hands and puts you on the path to reaching a wider audience with your work.

Deciding what your version of writing success looks like starts with understanding the reason you write. Do you write solely for yourself, for your own pleasure, or do you write to connect with an audience? Do you write to generate vital income? How much time are you able to invest in your writing goals? Interrogating your ambitions and dreams in this way helps you clarify what you need to achieve in order to be a successful writer.

Being successful as a writer

Once you’re absolutely clear about what your version of writing success looks like, there are ways and means of bringing it a little closer.

·       Write it down or establish an image that relates to your version of writing success

If dream-boards are your thing, do that. But it doesn’t need to be so elaborate. It could be as simple as a sticky-note on the edge of your computer monitor, or a single image that you associate with your goal stuck on the wall of your writing space. You could even write it on a little card and keep it in your wallet. Whatever works for you as a reminder or talisman, within your daily routine.

·       Write, write, write (and also, read)

Sometimes, what we assume is fear of failure stops us from doing the work to achieve our goals. Surprisingly often, when we actually unpack that, it’s really fear of success that holds us back. We can have a list of incredible story ideas and a notebook full of brilliant outlines, but unless we actually write the piece itself, we will not achieve our version of writing success. Not only that but writing – and reading - leads to the improvement of our writing. The more you read and write, the better your writing becomes. You figure things out as you go along, relating to plot, pace, character, and world-building. All of that brings you closer to your version of writing success.

·       Learn from others

While there are many excellent online courses, classes, and seminars available – both as individual purchases and as part of membership to different writing organisations, there is also immense value in building a network of writers and learning from each other through feedback and workshopping. You can do this with in-person or online writing groups, or through Facebook forums such as the Globe Soup ‘Love Writing!’ page.

·       Celebrate your milestones – the hits and the misses

Whichever version of writing success is yours, there will be good days and bad days as you try to make it a reality. There will be days of feeling uninspired and of staring at a blank page, and there will be days when the stories flow beautifully. There will be rejections, and there will be acceptances. It is essential to celebrate all of it – the hits and the misses – because even when nothing seems to be working at all, you’re still in the game, striving for writing success.

So, now that we’ve examined what being a successful writer really means to you, how close are you to achieving that dream? Perhaps, now you’ve tuned out everyone else’s opinion of what writing success ‘should’ look like, you’ve realised that you’re already there. Perhaps you’re now moving on to the next goal. The beauty of it is, it’s not set in stone. If you stay flexible, allow for change, and keep your mind open to different paths, you’ll be a successful writer your way – and that is surely the most satisfying way to do it.

Sarah Myles is a freelance writer. She has worked as a blogger, contributing author, copywriter, and award-winning columnist for a variety of outlets. Originally from London, Sarah now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, two children, and a moody ghost. You can find more of Sarah's work at www.sarahmyles.net and www.smyleswritingservices.com