7 Very Helpful Tips for Living the Writer’s Life!

If you are starting out as a writer, you would most likely be excited and full of anticipation for the writing life. But as great as being a writer may be, you should know that a writer’s life can be difficult as well. It’s not all just book signings, endless royalty checks and movie deals. In fact a writer’s life usually consists of hard work and the occasional rejection. And it takes a great deal of time and patience before you gain any success as a writer. So you will need to know a few things before you set out on your writing journey.

Here are 7 Very helpful tips for living the writer’s life.

1. Be a bookworm

If you want to succeed as a writer, you should make reading a part of your life. This is because the more literary influences you expose yourself to, the more effective you will be as a writer. So make it a habit to read something new every day. It can be a short story, a novel or a short poem. It does not really matter. What’s important is that you read something new every day. That way, once you do start writing you will have a fount of concepts and influences to choose from.

2. Join a writing community

Being a writer can get lonely in the long run. Which is why you should reach out to fellow writers. Only fellow writers can relate to the hardships of writing. And only fellow writers can give you the right advice on how to succeed as a writer. So it makes sense that you join writing communities. By doing so, you will be exposed to other writers. And seeing as some of them are veterans and have had a lot of experience, you can be given the best advice. But the best thing about being part of a writing community is the sense of camaraderie and support that you get from your fellow writers.

Related reading: What Do Writers Have in Common?

3. Create your very own author blog

It always pays to create an author blog of your very own as early as possible. This is because an author blog is an extremely useful online platform from where you can conduct your book marketing. It is also a great tool to increase your online discoverability.  But aside from the book marketing aspects, having an author blog will also compel you to create quality work, because the better written your work the more chances people will discover and regularly check out your blog. And seeing as setting up an author blog costs next to nothing, you won’t have to spend anything to make a quality author blog.

4. Practice your craft

Writing is an art form and like any other art form you will need to practice a great deal in order to gain any proficiency with it.  Practice is especially important if you are a beginner writer because you have yet to develop a writing style of your very own. So the more you practice the more chances you will have of coming up with a writing style that is unique only to you. So it is imperative that you practice on a daily basis. You should also make a writing schedule so you can stay consistent with your writing sessions.

Related reading: 5 Creative Writing Exercises to Awaken Your Inner Writer

5. Have a great workplace

If you want to stay long as a writer, you will need to have a great workplace. This is because you will be expected to stay in this workplace for hours on end. And if it’s not comfortable or not conducive to writing, you can go stir crazy in a flash. So it is imperative that you have a great work place. It could be your bedroom, your study, your porch, a library or a café. In truth it could be practically anywhere, just as long as you are comfortable and you can envision yourself staying there for long periods of time.

6. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone

If there’s one thing you should remember about being a writer, it is the fact that you will be competing against a myriad of other writers. So making a name for yourself can be quite difficult.  So making a truly unique story should be your first priority. Only by doing so will you ever make an impact with your target market. So don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Experiment with new and interesting concepts and don’t let social convention tell you otherwise. Remember that the great writers of the past were not afraid to push the envelope, and neither should you. Only by doing so will you be able to make your mark on the literary world.

7. Have new experiences every day

Being a professional writer could get exhausting in the long run. Remember that most writers have to write content on a daily basis, and it is easy to lose your inspiration to write in the long run. So you should make it a priority to have new experiences every day. Try to travel to a new place or take up a new hobby. You could also meet new people and have meaningful conversations. Remember that inspiration is the most potent power source for your writing, so you should actively look for new sources of inspiration.

Conclusion

Being a professional writer is challenging, however, if you have the right mindset and strategy you will surely do well. With these tips, you’ll not only survive but thrive as a writer.