Editor’s Picks — Top 10: If You Are a Writer, Act Like One

Reading, highlighting, and appreciating these top 10 writers is going to make you a better writer

If you are a writer, you have a dream. It probably goes like this: “I want to be a great writer to earn a lot of money.” Or it could have been like this: “I want to write excellent stories.”

The money always makes its move. Initially, it doesn’t distract you, but when you have to pay the bills, it distracts you from doing the real work — that work is writing.

You continuously live your dream in your head. Since you are not earning big bucks, you start doubting yourself. Writing — your real work — becomes too hard for you. Writers shouldn't act like that.

So how can you act like a writer?

Jeff Goins, in his book, “You Are a Writer,” presents one possible answer: “Those words reverberated in my mind: You are a writer. You just need to write. So that’s what I did. Not thinking about writing or talking about it, but actually doing it. Which is the hardest thing in the world for a writer to do.

I would wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning and write for hours before going to work. When I finished the day, I’d spend another couple of hours in the evening. Just writing. I would write on lunch breaks and when I could grab a spare moment. I’d stay up late and put in weekend hours.

Every chance I could get, I was writing. I didn’t care about anything else. I was euphoric. I was in love. Maybe you’ve experienced this. Maybe you hope to. Either way, I want to make something clear. You are a writer. You just need to write. It’s time to kill the excuses and start writing. Time to become a writer again. Not a marketer or an entrepreneur. A writer. A real one. All of this — this business of becoming a writer — starts not with the hands, but with the head.”

One of the things writers do is to read a lot. So, please read these top 10 talented writers — without skipping and skimming:

10. Want to Improve Your Writing?

MaryJo Wagner, Ph.D.’s piece is about William Zinsser’s writing advice. MaryJo is somebody you would love to read again.

Zinsser tells you how to write without being rule-bound, stuffy, and boring. And he tells stories along the way so you’re learning while being entertained. (More writers should follow this style!) He gives you basic principles and methods in addition to how to write in specific genres: interviews, travel articles, memoirs, science and technology, business writing, sports, the arts, and even humor.

9. Why I Will Never Share Edit Histories In Writing Gigs

John Teehan writes in a simple and sweet voice. He is angry because one of his clients wanted to discuss a discount after he saw his logs. But he chooses the right words to show the right amount of anger. Don’t miss it.

I did not respond immediately. I couldn’t. That message was just too much to handle at the moment with the heat I was suddenly feeling.

An hour or so later, I wrote back (as opposed to calling — I wanted an e-mail log of the conversation) and informed her that I don’t charge by time but by project or word count. The Google Doc reflected only a part of the work I’d done on the assignment.

I mentioned that what I bring to the table is experience and ability developed over the years. I politely declined to discuss discounts.

8. 6 Tips By an Amateur(ish) Writer To Create Your Routine

Haucem Sadki’s writing style is absolutely honest. He is not pretentious or condescending at any time. His simple tips are very practical. He is going to be a pro writer very soon.

Maybe I am not qualified to give you advice about writing as I am a beginner — writing has always been my passion but I never had the courage to share my thoughts about anything online, everything I wrote before is kept in notebooks buried in my closet and that will probably never see the light of day but I should never say never.

While, as I said, I am still in my beginning when it comes to blogging and writing online, one thing I never gave up, was writing.

7. Death, The Choreography Of Guernica

You are going to like Drama Llama’s article if you are interested in understanding the big picture of our society.

In 1934 three former members of the Martha Graham Company, Jane Dudley, Sophie Maslow, and Anna Sokolow joined the ‘New Dance Group’, they aimed to make dance accessible for all through low tuition fees and dance works based on socio-political concern. (Au, 2002, 128–130)

Initially, the school gave classes in the Holm and Wigman technique and by 1940 also included the Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey techniques, as well as ballet, composition, ethnic and modern dance classes. Later Merce Cunningham and Lester Horton’s techniques were added to the curriculum which can be still seen to the present day.

6. Are The Star Wars Prequels Better Than The New Films?

Isaiah McCall is a brilliant writer and a USA Today reporter. If you read this story, you are definitely going to read his other stories.

Before Star Wars: Episode 9 came out I decided to go through all the movies again; from the original trilogy to the Star Wars prequels up until the 8th movie. I didn’t do it for me, I did it for my little sister. She had only seen the newer movies and felt lukewarm about them. So, it was my duty as her older brother to show her the rise — and harsh fall of Star Wars.

5. 7 Ways to Be a Hero Without Doing Anything You Don’t Want to Do

I wrote this piece. It's about your journey to discover your hidden hero.

Whether it is Nietzsche’s superior human or Jerry Siegel’s Superman — who first appeared in American comic books published by DC Comics in 1938 — the idea of a super-human has been here for a long time now. To be a hero, you have to understand what it means to be a hero — and unlearn the popular meaning of the word.

Superhero movies, in our modern world, are a magical part of our childhood. A study suggests that even infants recognize heroic acts.

4. 7 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Social Media Engagement

Crystal Jackson is a former therapist. She is an accomplished writer and a wordsmith. If you decide to read her story, you may learn about social media as well as writing well.

Social media has become an inextricable part of our work. While we might prefer to disengage, it’s often necessary to maintain an active presence online. Finding a balance between an active social media presence and an actual life can be challenging.

For many, social media is where we share our photos, funny memes, and updates about our lives. When we use social media for work, we have to be more intentional about the content we provide and the way in which we engage with the public. Inconsistent posting can hurt our views and limit the audience for future posts.

3. What to Do if You’re Tired Without Having Done Anything

Incantations by Shirin is a Thought Catalog contributor. You have probably missed her masterpiece. Her style is entertaining, informative, and she makes you aware of who you are and what you can become. If you read this story, you’ll wait for her next piece. Enjoy.

You haven’t done anything that is line with a vision of an idealistic future you want for yourself. An activity that moves you one step closer to that dream that sets your soul on fire — the goal you would unabashedly pursue if you were guaranteed to succeed at anything in life!

I’d be willing to bet that even though it feels a helluva lot like fatigue in your body, what you’re experiencing is actually just a lack of motivation.

2. Bitcoin Will Make You Richer And Here’s Why

Another big one by Isaiah McCall. Read it to learn the secrets of writing well and becoming rich.

Bitcoin is going to change the world — and if you take a second to learn about it, you’ll understand why. After an abysmal 2018 to 2019 stretch, Bitcoin is nearing an all-time high. The price is up 166% this year and big-name investors don’t think it’s going to stop.

Why is Bitcoin rallying right now? Because more people are starting to accept, and trust it as a currency.

1. My Good Travel, Bad Sex Story

Britni Pepper’s story is at number one today. She writes to amuse you, to make you laugh, to let you be yourself, and to live a little. She enjoys telling stories that readers enjoy reading. If you haven’t read it already, go for it now. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

Final Thoughts

No matter how hard I work, it’s hard for me to read everything we publish on Illumination-Curated.

If you are an editor, writer, or reader of Illumination — and if you have read a story that you enjoyed, leave its link in the comments. If you want to write a few words as a review of the story, it would help me even more. I’ll publish the brief review with your name.

I may also include stories you select in my top 10 stories tomorrow.

To improve your chances of success as a writer, read these curation guidelines.

You can read my curated stories here.

Note: The title is inspired by Jeff Goins’ book: “You are a writer: so start acting like one.”