Writers Unbound

This is the first in a series on (you guessed it) Work Principles for Writers. I’ll be posting these every Wednesday, and once I have enough accumulated I will compile them into a report which you’ll be able to download (free).

Feedback is great! Please let me know what you think. Is this information helpful? Too general? Redundant? Have you heard it all before? Do you have a different opinion? What are your experiences in these areas? I would love to add additional information when I begin the compiling process, so please offer any critique, comment, or question you have.

1. Imitate high quality.

We’ve talked about originality before, and how it is almost one of those unattainable qualities that resists pursuit. The more you try to be original, the less original you become. You can’t avoid universal themes, shared experiences, and common origins. A good writer will learn that originality is not the key; good stories, accurate information, and clear expression are. Find writers who produce that kind of writing and try to write the way they do. Imitate, but don’t imitate anyone. Imitate writers that tweak you, the ones who write paragraphs you remember for weeks, the ones who turn mundane stories into emotional experiences. Imitate quality, and soon you will find that the feel, the sound, the flow of that kind of writing. It will begin to be something you do with your own perspective, in your own writing. You might even find yourself being original without even trying.

2. Learn from successful people.

Not just successful writers, successful people. Read biographies, watch documentaries; better yet, define the successful people in your life and talk to them. Ask questions, listen, find out how they make decisions and set priorities and determine which risks to take and which to pass by. You will find that success has common themes regardless of the area. A successful mom of small children can tell you a lot about time management, juggling projects, and dealing with stress. A successful restaurant owner can tell you about dealing with people, expanding business, and trying new products. And, yes, successful writers can tell you a lot too. So find successful people in your world and learn all you can from them.

3. Ignore cheaters, scammers, and get-rich-quick promises.

Or, in other words, do not imitate or learn from low quality, unsuccessful people (writers or otherwise). Some people do get rich quickly in a completely legitimate way; more often, though, attaining “wealth” requires time, diligence, and a lot of hard work. I don’t say that to discourage you (I’m out here too; we’re all trying) but to encourage you to ignore plans and people that will simply waste your time.
Choose carefully, then, the websites you frequent, the books you read, the material you believe, and the conferences you attend. Test the legitimacy of the sources. Talk to other (unassociated) people who have worked with the company or individual and find out what they think. Trust your gut. If it is just a little too shiny, too sparkly, and too fluffy, let it go. Find the real substance instead.

What do you think?

Make it a good day.

Image Credit: Books by Bacteriano, Success by alter1fo, Money by Unhindered by Talent.