The 5 Traits That Predict You’ll Be In The Top 5% Of Writers

Those who reach the top display these 5 characteristics

It’s not enough to know how to write.

Building a writing business takes a long time. And requires certain traits. I’ve seen creators more talented than me quit. This has shocked me. I was convinced they’d make it.

But it’s tougher than you imagine. At the start, you think the hardest battle is with the blank screen. And finding enough words. But then you discover a new adversary. Yourself. And it’s only those who win this battle that survive online.

Those who make it display these 5 traits.

1. They play the long game

I felt terrible 3 miles into the London marathon.

So many runners had passed me. And I was surrounded by runners who were older or clearly carrying more weight than me. I didn’t know why I was doing so badly. But at mile 22 all was revealed.

Most runners had started too fast. Feeling pumped full of energy. They mistook excitement for endurance. And with 4 miles to go they had nothing left. Some were walking, others were in agony. But I passed them all with ease.

New writers make the same mistake.

They mistake initial enthusiasm for the ability to endure. They are not the same. It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. The aim of the game isn’t to write loads this week. It’s to be still writing in 3 years.

So pace yourself. Pick a sustainable speed. Ask yourself. Can I write like this for 3 years? No prizes are handed out at mile 1.

Success doesn’t come from a one-time viral hit. But from the cumulation of quality content. Delivered over years. This builds a loyal readership. And raises your reputation in your niche.

For example, I’m shocked at how many people write articles that are too long. I’m constantly advising new writers to turn their 7-minute epics into 2 x 4-minute articles. This is a long game. Why blow your load early?

It’s easy to overtake more talented writers. Write for longer.

Those who last win.

2. They keep adapting

Imagine you are on a plane from New York to London.

The pilot has set the flight plan. What % of the journey is your plane on that route? 90%, 75%, 50%. The answer is less than 1%. The pilot spends the whole flight making a series of small adjustments to stay on track.

This needs to be your writing mindset.

The problem is we set a flight plan and assume we’ll follow it. So when an article bombs. Or the algorithm changes. We feel despair and lose motivation. We have an odd expectation that things will go to plan.

Top writers don’t.

It’s more dangerous when things go well. We get excited and think we’ve cracked it. But in truth, you’ve hit on a trend. Ride the wave while it lasts. You are in a fast-moving dynamic environment. Don’t be surprised if today’s tactic doesn’t work tomorrow.

Top writers do two things at once.

They exploit whatever works at the moment. But at the same time they explore what’s coming next. So experiment and take calculated risks. Never rest. Always be on the hunt for new ideas and tactics.

Keep agile to avoid being left behind.

3. They show resilience

Getting to the top isn’t easy.

You’ll face hard challenges. Times when things don’t work out:

• products that flop
• rejection from editors
• algorithms screwing you over
• negative comments from readers

This is tough. There’ll be moments when you want to give up. Consumed by self-doubt and insecurity. This is normal. What separates those at the top is how they respond.

No surprises

Firstly they are not surprised.

Expecting problems makes them easier to handle. Buddha calls this the second arrow. The first arrow is the bad event. The second arrow is our reaction to it. Many people make life worse with their reactions. And increase their problems.

For example, imagine you write an article. You have high hopes for it. It might be the best thing you’ve ever written. But it performs badly. The first arrow is an article that gives you no additional followers, doesn’t build your reputation, and earns you little money.

But you are left feeling low. You wake up in a bad mood. You struggle to write. Procrastinate. Consumed by negative thoughts. This is the second arrow. Self-inflicted pain. And is totally unnecessary.

Stop resisting things going wrong and learn to accept them.

Look for the gold

Secondly, those who rise to the top see challenges as a chance to get better.

I know this sounds like a cheesy Pinterest post. But you need to view all obstacles as opportunities. Focus on growing. Complaining is not a strategy. It’s a waste.

The ultimate mindset hack is to learn to love failure. I’m not there yet. But I’m slowly learning to lean into failure more. And fear it less.

4. They develop deep empathy

Shifting from a me-focus to a them-focus is a game-changer.

• New writers are obsessed with themselves
• Good writers are obsessed with their words
• Great writers are obsessed with their readers

Think deeply about what problems your readers have. Listen carefully to comments to identify what dreams they’re chasing. This makes your writing personal and connects it to readers.

In their brilliant book Made to Stick. Dan and Chip Heath identify the curse of knowledge as a huge barrier to communication. We don’t know what it’s like not to know something. Top-tier writers realise their audience is the lifeblood of their success. They give time to deeply understanding their pain points, aspirations, and questions.

Empathy is a powerful tool. It enables you to create content that resonates. Adopt a reader-centred approach. And you’ll be rewarded with engaged long-term fans.

5. They never stop learning

Matt Gairo makes a good living writing.

He earns 6 figures. His audience is 4x my size. He recently signed up for my free email course. And left this kind review.

Top writers retain a hunger to learn.

They stay humble. And are prepared to pick up tips wherever they can. It’s easy for new writers to adopt this attitude. But as you grow if confidence strays into arrogance. It‘ll choke your growth and rob you of success.

This is about more than scrolling online content. It’s having a growth plan. Identifying what you need to learn. And being relentless in using that learning. I have a checklist of 3–5 ways I’m improving my writing. I apply it to everything I write. It’s the only way to get better.

Be brave in seeking feedback. Consume only high-quality content. Do you still have an insatiable appetite to learn more? A commitment to continuous learning keeps you fresh. It fuels your personal growth and gives you boundless energy to write.

And maybe even one day. It could position you as an authoritative voice in your niche.

If you want to build your writing skills. You’ll love my 5-step writing system. Join 611 writers and get it here: