THIS is The Biggest Obstacle Facing Most Writers
Hint: it’s not writing speed or marketing skills
When I started writing at a young age, my friends and family told me how great my words were. I got high marks in creative writing projects throughout school, so naturally, I thought I was a big deal. But here’s the thing: I wasn’t.
Not even close. And to be perfectly honest, unless you have big publications clamoring over you, you probably aren’t either. It’s time to check yourself, instead of constantly complaining that your earnings are down on Medium.
The first cut is the deepest
I entered journalism school in 2001, and I was in for a rude awakening. Teachers with decades of experience in the industry ran this program, and they didn’t have much patience for know-it-all students.
Our first-year student roster was significantly thinner by the second year, as many of the writers found it too challenging. They were upset that they were no longer getting praise for writing mediocre stuff.
When I finished that program and entered my first professional newsroom, my trial-by-fire continued. I was paired with an editor who not only had extensive knowledge but also was tough as nails.
At first, this intimidated me: no longer was I getting the “great work, Jeff!” that I was used to. Instead was getting comments like, “This is not a good piece at all. Try again. And make it quick, we’re on deadline.”
Many of the writers here, the newer ones, in particular, have never worked with an editor. They’re not used to getting criticism that doesn’t coddle their ego. They can’t put it aside to learn and grow. Instead, they complain they’re being unfairly treated, and either quit or move on.
Learn to take criticism less personally
Ego is a fragile thing. One harsh criticism, and CRACK! Your confidence is shattered. When I first started writing professionally, I almost quit because my inflated ego was taking a beating. I was just a little fish in the world of kick-ass pros. But I learned to swim with them, rather than being consumed by them.
As I learned, if your editor tells you that your work is garbage, or a client tells you it doesn’t fit their creative brief, it’s a waste of energy to convince them otherwise. They’re not saying you are garbage, or they wouldn’t let you write for them to begin. They’re saying you can do better, which is really a compliment, not an insult.
For me this all means being open to all feedback, even feedback I end up not adopting. I learned over a relatively short time that criticism from editors (and others) is not a personal insult. They are challenging your writing while attempting to make it clearer or more valuable to the reader. I learned to see this as a blessing, rather than something to get upset over.
I felt attacked when an editor pulled apart a piece I had spent a lot of effort researching (including interviews). However, I realized they are only asking questions any reader would want to know — stuff like what does this line mean? What is the source of that information?
As writers, we often forget we are writing for a large audience that doesn’t know the back story. We often need another set of eyes to point out that the piece doesn’t work without additional context. You shouldn’t leave your readers with more questions than they started with, or wondering what the point of your article is.
Don’t let your ego steal your progress
My best advice for new writers is to shed their ego. The ego doesn’t really serve much of a purpose, at least when it comes to producing content for others. It makes you overly defensive, and editors may not want to work with you.
On the other hand, if you’re already fairly successful in writing but still carry around a big ego, then you might plateau professionally. You might not be open to improving what’s already good to make it excellent.
The bottom line is that if your ego is so big that you refuse to revise existing work or change your style as needed, then you will not make it as a professional writer.
Heck, I’ve been writing for close to 20 years now, and I still accept feedback from all sources. I know it doesn’t matter how “good” of a writer you are, your piece can always be better. If you are critical of your own work and let others dissect it, it will be better.
I have worked with freelance writers who pushed back on my revisions. Usually, it’s because they are successful in their field and don’t think I have anything to add. However, a good writer also knows how to present information in the most effective way, which they did not. In the end, they either accepted the changes and got better, or left us because their head was too big. That was their loss.
I get it — it hurts to have your work rejected, especially if you fancy yourself a seasoned scribe. But if you love writing — and really want to succeed — then tell your ego to take a hike. Only then can you fully embrace your talents and reach the next level.