The Real Secret To Writing Success No One Is Talking About
Why writers burn out and lose their joy
Does writing only have value if it goes viral?
You start writing because you like writing. But then this passion dies. Replaced by a fixation with numbers. Writing to maximize views chokes the life out of it. And steal its joy.
It causes you to join the sad scrap heap of writers who’ve quit.
There’s nothing wrong with receiving money, fame, and popularity. And I’ve had a little taste of this. But the creative act of taking an idea. Converting it into words is what thrills me.
Retain your love of writing. This is the real secret of success. But it’s almost impossible to do. Which is why 95% of creators fail.
Let me show you how to be in the successful 5%.
What steals your writing joy
Three boys with a kind heart cleared the leaves off their elderly neighbor’s path. He thanked them and asked if they could do it next week for $10. They happily agreed. And for weeks they merrily cleared his path for $10. But then the old man hit some money problems and dropped the price to $5.
‘Five dollars?’ the boy exclaimed. ‘We’re are not clearing your path for that!’
We can enjoy doing something for free. But when you add a value to it. It distorts our experience. You get trapped into valuing a piece by its numbers. Views, comments or dollars become the point.
This is dangerous.
I got an incredible offer recently. A magazine editor completed my writing course. Loved my writing style and invited me to write for her magazine. A 4-page spread for $475. When she sent me the proof I was on such a high. To see my writing in a color glossy magazine. With beautiful photos. I was buzzing. But the excitement wasn’t about views or comments. It wasn’t even about the $475.
I was overflowing with the joy of creating something. The process was its own reward.
But there’s a trap waiting for me.
What if I get another offer to write in a magazine? And another. What if in a year I’ve written 21 and made $10k? Great right? But what if the offers dry up and someone approaches me to write for $50? I begrudgingly do it. But I feel devalued.
What started as joy has been robbed of its value. Precisely because it’s been given a number. Everything is judged online. Everything is given a value. The numbers define what’s good and what’s not. And this warps your attitude.
Yesterday I got an email from a writer who went full-time this year. Sounds perfect. He’s turned his passion into his living. But he’s burnt out and lost the joy of writing. He has to write to pay the bills. The pressure is on to only create what has monetary value. And this is killing him
Ali Abdaal the viral Youtuber shares a similar experience. When he was making videos part-time while working as a doctor. It was fun. The money’s a bonus. But now he’s a full-time creator. With sponsor deadlines and numerical targets. The joy’s been distorted.
A failed experiment
I gained a precious insight from a recent experiment.
I took a biologist’s brilliant piece of writing. And dissected why it worked—pulling out the writing lessons. I had so much fun with it. I smiled as I clicked publish. I could feel the joy oozing out of my pores. But the article bombed.
I felt deflated.
But if I had fun writing it. And was proud of my creation. Why wasn’t that enough? Do views have to define the joy?
I got a couple of great comments on it:
If I helped 2 people. Made a little difference in their lives. Doesn’t that make the writing worth it? Can’t that be a source of joy?
What matters when you are writing?
- helping a few people
- going viral & making money
- enjoying the writing experience
The 2 reasons to write (only 1 is good)
Psychologists call this intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. And the repercussions of each is huge:
Intrinsic = enjoying the thing itself
Extrinsic = enjoying the results of the (money, status, promotion, praise)
Researches studied firefighters and fundraisers. They found those with intrinsic motivation worked longer and had more persistence. They also performed better. Enjoying the work itself is a better fuel. It’s like comparing wood with paper. Only one sustains the fire.
Research with students found those focused on learning made fewer errors and learned faster. They found the experience fulfilling. Those focused on grades and results enjoyed it less and performed worse.
Quick summary — intrinsic motivations generates:
- better performance
- more enjoyment
- more fulfillment
- more content
- last longer
This sounds odd. But if you want better results don’t focus on them. Going viral, building an audience, and making lots of money is a byproduct. They come from enjoying writing itself.
So rediscover why you write. Lean into a deeper purpose to release the joy. Delight in your topic. Relish the writing process (as painful as it sometimes is). Revel in the sheer love of helping people.
Write something that won’t go viral. Just for the joy it’ll bring you.
Do that and you’ve already won.
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