4 Habits of a Good Writer

*Collaborative post

 

Whether you write for fun, for pleasure or for work, writing is a wonderful outlet for creativity and passion, it strengthens your imagination, makes you a better communicator and can be a soothing and meditative practice. If you’re thinking of starting your own blog or maybe even writing your own book then dreams of success and appreciation are often marred by the concern that your writing isn’t good enough or consistent. 

But the trick here is to never give up. A good writer has lots of passion and if you have that then you’re already winning. Couple passion with a good writing processor, a printer and plenty of ink – discover remanufactured ink cartridges here if you need to top up your printer – and you have all the tools you’re going to need.  

Now we need to delve a little deeper and focus on the habits every good writer should aspire to have. Read on for the top 4 habits of a good writer. 

 

 

Never Stop Writing 

Being a good writer means getting into the habit of writing endlessly. As a writer you rely on your words to help express your thoughts, your feelings, dreams and aspirations therefore you need to push the boundaries of your talents and your determination and write every day. You may not feel motivated, you may be stuck for a topic or experience writers block. But everything from writing a review on Amazon to noting an experience in your journal to writing a blog post about heartbreak is still writing experience and endorsing a good writing habit. It’s practice. 

 

Never Stop Reading  

You’ll never enhance your writing skills and find new ways to express your feelings and ideas onto paper without reading regularly. Reading will boost your vocabulary, spark your imagination and steer you in the direction of good, high quality content. The only way you’ll learn what makes good content and excellent writing is by reading what works and what is already successful. Pick up a book, read an article in a lifestyle magazine, discover poetry and short stories, read blogs and forums. The literary world is endless, so make sure you’re indulging yourself at every opportunity.  

 

Learning to write is a lifetime process and is something you will always see yourself as a student in. As writing and publishing are two sides to the same coin it doesn’t hurt to read a few articles on how to launch your book or learn to self-publish. Earning a living by writing is not just the creative components, but it’s the promotional side (unfortunately), and learning the ropes can better prepare you for the business.  

 

Never Stop Believing  

Rejection. Hard criticism. And cold hard refusal. Writers experience all of this at some point in their careers. Whether your latest blog post wasn’t as engaging as you’d hoped, or your novel has been turned down by every publisher you’ve propositioned it with and even trashed by another writer. Giving up your writing dream is foolish. Remember, Harry Potter was rejected a staggering 12 times before JK Rowling was catapulted into literary glory. Never stop believing.  

 

Never Rush 

Sticking to a strict writing schedule is the perfect way to get into a good writing routine. However, strict deadlines can often crush creativity and force a writer’s hand into producing sub-par content. As a writer, rushing your work is a cardinal sin, so take your time. If your deadlines are looming then ask for extensions or prioritise your writing time above other tasks to give yourself more time. Remember, you cannot rush art.