How to Succeed as a New Writer

Writing must come from the heart

I started my blog as an independent new writer in 2015. Over the years, I’ve published over 400 articles, 7 books, and 7 online courses.

There have been frustrations and challenges along the way. But I’ve learned that new writers have a better chance of success when they avoid common mistakes and follow “best practices” from the start.

“Success” can mean different things. To me, it’s about making a good living. Not necessarily to get rich (which is also great, but not the primary goal).

Here are 5 important lessons I’ve learned about success as a writer. These things might sound obvious, but I wouldn’t overlook them. Success is often simpler than we think.

It’s all about the execution. Here we go.

Stick to a limited research time

“Where do I get ideas?” “What do I write about?” “I’m stuck with my writing!”

Whether you’re writing an article, book, or email — when you feel stuck, it’s usually because you’re out of ideas or insight.

This means you need more research. You can read a relevant book or article on the matter. Or watch documentaries and talk with mentors.

Just remember: Try not to get overly stuck in the research.

We always want to execute things as soon as possible. For example, if you’re writing a blog article about meditation, you don’t need to read every book on meditation.

When you do your research, give yourself a reasonable time limit. And stick to that.

Think about 1 person

When people talk about writing for a target market, new writers tend to define a whole batch of people, like, “I want to write for all millennials.” Which is fine. But that’s easier said than done. Unless you’ve put your writing out there and gotten real-world feedback, it’s hard to assume what kind of writing will resonate with your audience.

I’ve seen that with my own readers as well. My newsletter includes a variety of people from all walks of life: 70-year-old retirees, students, middle-aged small business owners, professionals in their late…