secrets successful writers don’t tell you
Is it possible to learn them? Can they help with your novel? How you can apply them right away
As a writer, you stare at your laptop wishing and waiting for a story to come to you. You want to be the best writer out there, yet you struggle. You want everyone reading your book. But something is stopping you, inspiration is missing.
You walk through a bookstore looking at the countless writers whose books sell in the millions and you wish to be one of them. But how do they do it? What’s their secret? What can you do to become one of them? Believe it or not, there is a way. Something you can do to become a successful writer right away.
in this blog, we will be looking at secrets successful writers don’t tell you…
SECRETS SUCCESSFUL WRITERS DON’T TELL YOU
Table of Contents
Whenever up and coming writers are asked “what do you believe it takes to be a successful writer?” they answer, “Work hard, focus, believe, don’t give up, and practice your writing.”
But let’s face it, those answers are great, but don’t actually write a novel. There has to be more. New writers already give everything and more, but in the end, the book still isn’t written.
SECRET TO SUCCESS
However, when a successful writer is asked the same question their answer is surprisingly different. But what is their “secret to success” that new writers would love to know?
Well, here is it. They’re not writing for themselves, they’re not writing for fans or critics. When they sit down to write they’re writing to impress one person. They have one particular person in mind who they’re trying to impress. They want one certain person to read it and like it.
HIS GOAL IS TO IMPRESS HER WITH HIS WRITING
When Stephen King writes his novels he writes them for his wife, not the public. Wanting her to read them and enjoy them. He doesn’t really think of millions of people around the world. He writes for her. His goal is to impress her with his stories. He wants to make her happy with his writing.
In his book “On Writing” he speaks of how he wrote a story as a child and handed it to his mother. She read it and loved it, but he told her he didn’t make it up. He copied it from a magazine pretending it was his. He spoke of how she looked disappointed and how it hurt him, feeling he let her down. So he set out to write a story that would make her happy. He wanted to make her smile again, but this time with something original.
WRITING ON A SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL
Even to this day in his 70s on a subconscious level, he writes for his mother, wanting to make her smile again. With his mother gone, he now writes for his wife, hoping to make her happy with his new stories.
In his mind, he is still a child not wanting to disappoint his mother with a story he copied. Stephen King does not write for the critics or millions of people, he writes to impress his wife, and on a subconscious level, he writes for his mother.
TRYING TO IMPRESS ONE PERSON
A lot of successful writers do not “write” for critics or money. They have something emotional driving them. You’d be amazed at how many successful artists are creating their art to impress someone. Either knowingly, or subconsciously.
It’s somewhat similar to the advice you’re given when making a video for Youtube. You’re told not to “make a video for millions of people” but in fact, “make a video as though talking to one person you know. Hoping to empress that friend, not strangers.”
ASK YOURSELF “WHO AM I WRITING FOR?”
This way your videos come across as real and down to earth. When you watch the videos you feel as though the host is speaking right to you as though they’re in the room with you.
This is a technique you can apply to your writing. Ask yourself “who am I writing for?” Are you writing for millions of people? Or are you keeping one person in mind hoping they love it? This will push you beyond your limit to be a better writer because you’re trying to impress them, not strangers.
“STEP UP TO KEEP UP”
Even the philosopher Plato tried a similar technique like this long ago. He wanted to impress smart people with what he had to say. But he had no one around to talk to. When alone he would daydream picturing himself in a room with some of the smartest men of his day who were talking about current issues.
He pictured himself speaking and having to “step up” to keep up” he didn’t want to be laughed out of the room (even though it was a daydream). By applying this technique (which other famous philosophers try as well) he was able to come up with some of the most groundbreaking ideas in philosophy that are still studied today.
IMAGINE THEM JUDGING YOUR WORK
New painters can picture themselves while painting having their artwork hanging in an art gallery being judged by a critic they wish to impress. Forcing them to paint something amazing. Because of this, they push themselves beyond their limits, what they end up painting is amazing.
You can apply this technique to your writing. When writing a novel, imagine literary critics and your friends judging your work. Take a moment and ask what do you have to do to impress them. How would you win them over? To make this happen you want to push yourself to your greatest limits.
YOU FIRST HAVE TO LEARN TO WRITE
But remember, before you start writing take time to learn how to write. Read every book on writing and watch all the videos online where writing advice is given. So you can apply it to your writing and become a better writer.
However, remember the most important rule about writing. It is to have fun. As a writer, you want to feel the fire and enjoy writing. Set out to be the best writer out there. The most successful writers love what they do. They do not see it “as work”. They get up in the morning and look forward to writing.
WRITING NEEDS TO BE A JOY, NOT WORK
The worst thing you can do is look at writing as a chore. You don’t want to force yourself to write. If you do you’ll find yourself not wanting to, coming up with excuses to avoid writing. You need to find joy in creating.
Strive to be the best in the world as a writer. Not just a best seller now, but a book that will be read hundreds of years from now, a literary classic. Imagine how much you’d have to push yourself to be that great of a writer. This can be done. When you look back at the literary greats of our time what do they all have in common? They wanted to be remembered. Wanting to be the best.
But all of them were human, they had to work hard. And their hard work paid off. Why not you?
YOUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS YOURSELF
Do not aim to be average, want in your heart for everyone to read your book. And ask yourself, what do you have to learn to become better? Picture walking into a bookstore and seeing your novel on a shelf with countless fans wanting to buy it, loving every word. Set it as a goal to aim for.
Remember the biggest obstacle you’ll ever face in life is yourself. You hold yourself back.
TO BECOME BETTER YOU HAVE TO READ A LOT
As Stephen King says the only way to become a great writer is to read. You have to learn the craft by seeing how others have written their novels. Learn how to tell a story by seeing how other successful authors tell their stories.
However, you don’t want to “copy them”. You want to find your “own voice” as a writer. To a point where someone can read your book and know it’s you. There could be no cover on the book and still millions of people will know it’s you. (Finding your own voice will take time as it did for all successful authors.)
STUDY SMART SUCCESSFUL WRITERS
When you sit down to write ask yourself, how do great writers use the 5 senses, craft wonderful characters? Tell a complete story from start to finish? Study their writing and see what you can apply to your new novel. Studying smart people’s behavior is a smart thing to do.
Remember you can’t learn everything from one writer, you need to get out there and read countless writers. From new ones to the literary classic. Every book has something to teach you.
YOU CAN LEARN FROM SO MANY AUTHORS
When you read different authors you’ll notice each writer tends to specialize in one thing. Some are great at crafting characters, others at creating plots. Some writers can paint a beautiful landscape and locations. Each one has something to learn from.
You can read three different authors and learn from each of them. Take all three lessons and combine them into a great story.
STEPHEN KING HAD TO LEARN HOW TO WRITE
Set out to read every book and watch every video on writing. You want to take in as much information as you can. See yourself writing the greatest novel ever written, make it your goal. Don’t stress if you fail on your first try. Start slow and work your way up, getting better each time. Learning from your mistakes.
Even Stephen King went to school to learn how to write. Vincent van Gogh took painting lessons. Amadeus Mozart had to be taught music theory by his father.
READ AS MANY GENRES AS YOU CAN
When reading books on writing don’t just quickly flip through them, take in as much advice as you can from all of them. What one book lacks, another might rise in. You can combine all the information making you a better writer.
You want to read every genre you can, don’t limit yourself to one style only. See what’s out there. You’d be surprised by what different genres could teach you that you never knew. Everything from romance, to science fiction, horror, mystery. See how those writers craft their novels and how you can learn from them. Making your writing better.
YOU BECOME SMARTER AS YOU GO ON
The more you read the more you’ll see patterns on how great books are written. The mystery of how to write a great novel is figured out in your mind. Like puzzle pieces falling from the sky landing in their correct place.
You may not know it but each time you read you become smarter in how to write a novel. To a point where you look back at your old stories and laugh. Wondering how did you write like that, but your writing gets better each time.
ANALYSIS LEADS TO PARALYSIS
Each time you sit down to write ask yourself “will my work stand as a literary classic that will stand the test of time?” “Will my book be read a hundred years from now?” Set it as your goal. But don’t stress yourself to a point where you do not write. You need to aim for a great novel but don’t let it stop you from writing.
Analysis leads to paralysis, have you ever heard that term? If you think “too much” about how to write you’ll freeze up. You will put it off. The best thing to do is start writing, no matter how bad it is, at least you’re writing.
START OFF WITH A SHORT STORY
If you study how to write “too much” that’s all you will do, and not actually write. Your goal should be to write and learn about writing at the same time.
Start off with a short story. Anything to get your fingers moving. Not just daydreaming about writing.
But where do great writers get their ideas from? Some get them while watching a movie or reading other novels. You’d be amazed how many other writers get their sparkle of ideas from movies.
THEY ARE INSPIRED BY MOVIES
Great writers are great daydreamers. They watch a movie and replay it in their minds seeing the storyline playing out differently. They make a few changes here and there until they have a new story idea.
The next thing you know they’re sitting down writing their new story. So many changes have been made it has nothing to do with the original movie that inspired it. When reading it you’d never suspect the story idea came from a movie.
FEEL THE POSITIVE ENERGY
Remember as a writer when you start writing a novel write it for someone in particular, not for millions of strangers who will judge it. Have someone you care about in mind who you want to impress. (even if that person is made up in your mind). Feel the energy to keep on writing, picturing them reading your latest chapter and loving it. Someone who motivates you to carry on.
you might be interested in these blogs…
WHO’S WRITING STYLE SHOULD YOU COPY?
WHY 3 HOURS IS ENOUGH TIME IN A DAY TO WRITE A NOVEL
THE GREATEST SECRET TO WRITING AN AMAZING NOVEL
