5 Ways To Cultivate Perseverance As A Writer
February can be a dismal month. Winter maintains its icy grip while summer seems like a distant dream. You may be questioning whether you're on the right path or wondering if you'll ever make progress toward your writing goals. I had the opportunity recently to hear a lecture by New York Times bestselling author Anthony Doerr, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All the Light We Cannot See. Did you know that it took Anthony ten years to finish writing that manuscript? What a testament to the critical importance of perseverance as a writer! So, if you’re feeling discouraged or doubtful that you’ll ever finish your book, don’t give up. Just keep writing.
In that spirit, I want to recommend 5 ways to cultivate perseverance as a writer. In order to experience fulfillment in writing and publishing, you must have patience and see it as a long game. There are rarely any quick wins or sudden successes. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
1) Redefine Success
One of the best ways to foster perseverance is to change how you think about success. The incomparable Maya Angelou nailed it when she said, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Although metrics such as follower counts, advance dollars, and book sales are important, resist the urge to define yourself by them. Find joy, satisfaction, and meaning in writing the stories you feel compelled to tell as effectively as you can. Ask yourself questions such as, Why did I become a writer? What motivates me to write? Let your answers draw you back again and again to the simple yet hard act of getting words on the page.
2) Seek Out Stories That Inspire You
We all know stories are powerful, which is why we write! This is why it’s critical to learn about other writers who are making an impact. This story about the Oscar-winning short film “Hair Love” is a great example of how audience support propelled a simple story onto the national stage. There are many sources where you can discover these inspiring testimonials. Talk with your friends, especially other published authors. Ask them how they keep writing when they’re tempted to give up. Or check out the books section of the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, or your local newspaper. Subscribe to Literary Hub or one of Book Riot’s many email newsletters. Or listen to book-focused podcasts or radio programs such as Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR to hear interviews with authors about the writing process and their journey of getting published. Since writing is a solitary activity, it’s easy to isolate yourself and lose sight of the many good things that are happening in the world of books and publishing.
3) Establish a Writing Routine
One of the most effective ways to develop your perseverance is to commit to a regular writing rhythm. While you don’t necessarily need to set aside time to write every single day, it is important to make sure you are prioritizing your writing. Due to the increasing pressures of our busy, non-stop lives, this means you must create blocks of time in your schedule when you will sit down and work on your writing projects without distractions. This time can be dedicated to writing, research, or revising, but you do need to hold yourself accountable to putting in the hours and maintaining a regular routine that ensures you’re making progress toward your goals.
4) Celebrate Your Achievements
When you set out to pursue a goal, celebrating your small wins along the way is essential if you want to maintain your motivation and keep going. Take a few minutes to plan your writing projects, if you haven’t already. Once you have established your big goals, such as when you want to finish your manuscript or publish your book, establish several micro-deadlines as well. View these steps along the way as important markers of your progress and determine how you will celebrate once you achieve them. For instance, treat yourself to a meal out or a movie when you hit your weekly word count target. Or take a few days off from writing once you reach the half-way point in your manuscript. Whatever you do, tailor these celebrations to you and your project.
5) Do Something That Fuels Your Creativity
If you sense that you have reached a plateau in your writing or you’ve run out of new ideas, maybe it’s time to do something that will spark creativity. This could be something simple like playing a board game or doing a puzzle. Or perhaps you tackle a creative project such as woodworking, crochet, or painting that stimulates your right-brain artistic side. Exercise, especially outdoor activity, is another great way to spur your creative thinking. Go outside for a walk or a hike, breathe in the fresh air, and allow your mind to wander. You may be surprised by how these simple activities will give you fresh creative energy in your writing.
Remember, just keep writing! No matter your situation or struggle, here at The Bindery Agency we are cheering you on in your writing endeavors.
And if you’ve hit a brick wall or need advice about writing or publishing, check out the other articles and ebooks on our website and consider subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter. We also invite you to listen to On Publishing, our new publishing-focused podcast. Our interviews with authors and publishing industry insiders will inspire you to persevere in your own writing. You can listen to On Publishing here on our website. Episodes are also available on many podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, RadioPublic, and Overcast. Don’t forget to review and subscribe so you’ll be notified when new episodes are uploaded weekly.