9 Things Prolific Writers Don’t Do

Don’t overthink the writing process.

Many people think of writing as a talent, something some people have and others don’t.

And while there is some truth to that, there’s a deeper truth about writing that most people miss:

Better writing is often made possible by what you’re willing to give up.

I’ve been writing on this platform for the past year which isn’t all that long. I’ve noticed some patterns in online writers who don’t write very much or make it very far.

• They blame the platform for their lack of reads and views.
• They spend more time complaining than writing.
• They assume they deserve success simply because they write something.

But I’m learning that most people who want to write online have unrealistic expectations. If you’d like to become a better, more prolific writer, learn to identify the habits that are holding you back. Then work like mad to eliminate them.

Here are 9 things prolific writers don’t do.

Don’t expect quick success

When you’re getting started, you’re not going to write anything that gets a ton of attention for a while. Use that to your advantage.

Instead of complaining about how few people read your writing, look at this as the time to hone your craft. Do you really want the masses to read your earliest attempts at writing? I know I don’t.

If you get the idea of quick success out of your head, your mind will be less cluttered. That means you’ll have more space freed up to write.

Don’t assume anyone will care

Prolific writers don’t hinge their ego on people reading their content.

It great when people do read, make no mistake. But prolific writers don’t obsess over their numbers and stats. Both of those are tools used to tell you what works and what doesn’t. Used for anything else, and they become vanity metrics.

Here’s a harsh truth: nobody cares about what you write.

It’s your job to make them care by giving them the value they can’t find anywhere else.

Don’t complain about how hard it is to be a writer

Here’s an important lesson I’ve learned:

Anything you want to get really good at is going to be hard because you have to push yourself beyond what the average person is willing to do.

Yes, being a writer is hard. So is being a parent, a spouse, a CEO, an entrepreneur, and anything between. You could use the time you spend complaining about writing in a Facebook group or Slack channel to write more.

Prolific writers know writing is hard because anything you want to be great at is hard.

Don’t overthink the writing process

You need your writing to be perfect, and that’s why you never get anywhere.

I know it’s scary to put your work out in the world. I know it’s hard to risk rejection from publishers. But if you’re overthinking and obsessing over everything, your writing will suffer. You’ll second guess your decisions and smooth over the rough edges that make you stand out as a writer.

You aren’t going for perfect, you’re going for prolific.

Write a crappy first draft, edit it well (a few times), and hit publish. Stop overthinking and start creating.

Don’t make excuses for not writing

I have a full-time job and two small children and I publish three to five stories every week. It would be easy for me to find excuses not to write, but since it’s a goal I’ve set my mind on I make it happen. The same can be true for you.

I don’t know your situation, and I’m sure your time is tight like everyone else’s. But excuses are the enemy when it comes to writing. You can find excuses, or you can find opportunities.

• Get up earlier
• Stay up later
• Write on your lunch break
• Write instead of watching tv
• Do what works for you.

Nobody is going to hand you more spare time to chase your dreams. Prolific writers make it happen and leave excuses to the amateurs.

Don’t try to be original

I bet you’ve heard the saying “steal like an artist.” It’s true because you can’t create anything someone else hasn’t already created in some form. Like the writer of Ecclesiastes says:

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (1:9, NIV)

Inject your personality and your perspective into your writing and it will be original enough. Prolific writers don’t obsess over coming up with something original.

Don’t wait for inspiration

The writer Somerset Maugham once said:

“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”

Inspiration comes through consistency. Prolific writers know inspiration isn’t flash-in-the-pan but something you cultivate through persistence.

If you’re looking for inspiration, sit down and write out ten headline ideas as fast as you can. If you’re stuck, start writing about how you don’t know what to write about and see what happens. A lack of inspiration is usually connected to a lack of action.

Don’t take feedback personally

Have you ever felt a twinge of nerves before sending your story to a publication? Sure, it might be because you’re afraid of rejection. But you also might be afraid of feedback.

Prolific writers welcome constructive feedback and consider themselves a student of the craft. Editors and teachers want to help you, not quash your creativity. You do yourself a favor to play nice when someone gives you constructive feedback.

Don’t listen to negative self-talk

Your mind will attempt to spew all kinds of BS while you’re trying to write including but not limited to:

• Who do you think you are to write this?
• Nobody’s going to read your crap.
• You’re such a fake.
• You don’t have anything to say.
• You aren’t qualified to write about this.
• What do you want for dinner tonight?

One of the biggest obstacles a writer has to overcome is her thoughts. If you listen to the chatterbox in your head you’ll never live up to your potential as a writer. Most of what your mind tells you comes from a place of fear. How do you overcome it?

Recognize when your mind is trying to sabotage you with negative self-talk. If you can recognize when it’s happening, you can choose to ignore it and keep plowing ahead. If you can believe negative thoughts about yourself, you can also believe positive ones.

Prolific writers are prolific because they keep writing no matter what. If you want to write more, you have to strip away the things in your life and writing practice that aren’t necessary so there’s more room for the things that are.