The Secrets to Writing Online Consistently

If you want to be a writer, you have to write. And you have to write a lot.

This can start to feel like a constant treadmill. How can you make progress when it takes so much effort to stay where you are?

The trick is to make peace with certain hard truths, learn how you work best, and have a plan to overcome the tough times.

After publishing over 200 articles in 18 months, here are the things that keep me writing consistently.

#1. Befriend the Bad Days

You won’t always feel like writing. But it’s on the days when you don’t feel like it but show up anyway that matter.

They’re important because they’re proof you’re serious. That you’re dedicated. That you’re able to overcome. Beat enough bad days and you’re unstoppable.

And if you’re putting in work on the bad days, you’ll have a lot more to go back to on the good days.

So don’t see them as chores. See them as checkpoints.

#2. Writers Tell Stories. Choose Yours Carefully

Most of your life is happening in your mind.

If you’re filling your head with thoughts about how you aren’t cut out to be a writer, that you’re wasting your time, and that you’ll never be good enough, that’s the story you’re writing.

Don’t be surprised if it comes true.

Better to spend it having your own back. Remember that the more you write, the better you get. So just put one word after another. Let your body of work build up. Each article is one closer to your dream.

Don’t let negativity rule your mind. You can’t control it, but you don’t have to be a slave to it either.

#3. Run Your Own Race

Don’t compare yourself to other people. Especially the super successful.

I fell into that trap when I started. I was obsessed with writing advice. I read articles, studied courses, signed up for newsletters, watched YouTube and listened to podcasts. But most of the successful people out there are miles ahead of me. So their advice was hard for me to use.

The truth is I just needed to follow some really basic fundamentals at the start.

Write everyday. Practice consciously. Study specific writing techniques. And publish.

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else at all. Success looks different to everyone. Be grateful for yours. And if you don’t like it, you’ve got the power to change it.

If you’re getting better everyday, that’s all that matters…

#4. The Growth Gap > the Gap to Greatness

On the same note, you probably have an idea of where you want to end up. But if you obsessively look at this far off goal every day, you’re not going to feel like you’re making progress.

Stop looking how far you are away from where you want to be. Look at how far you’ve come since you started.

#5. Most People Enjoy Talking About Writing More Than Writing

But you don’t!

You’re doing it. You’ve made it. You’re a writer!

OK, so you might not be as successful as you want to be. But that’s a question of scale, not starting. You’re on the right mountain. Now you just need to keep taking steps one at a time. Keep doing that and you’ll get there.

Not everyone will be a successful writer. It’s just not possible. But anyone can be a writer. And therefore anyone can be the best version of themselves as a writer.

You’re on that path now. Would be a shame not to enjoy it, right?

—

This post was previously published on medium.com.

***