Literature’s Bestsellers: Becoming a Successful Writer

People write to express themselves, share ideas, and satisfy their desire to be heard. But most importantly, anyone who writes wants to make a mark and become a successful writer.

Who is your favorite writer?

Although straightforward, this question can lead to multiple answers from distinct and unique routes. Some may list their favorite authors who have written classics and bestsellers. Others may take a different approach and share names that aren’t quite popular but have made their marks and written for magazines. These figures, whether mainstream or unconventional, can all be considered successful, given their names have made it well beyond personal blogs and secretive journals.

When hearing the words “successful writer,” various ideas come to people’s minds. After all, writers have diverse opportunities to showcase their potential in multiple sub-industries to write for.

To some, a successful writer is a published author, universally recognized, and whose works have been recognized by popular publishing establishments like New York Times. These writers are household names on readers’ bookshelves, the big names like Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, and Neil Gaiman. While to others, success in writing doesn’t necessarily equate to popularity. All one has to do is finish their piece and have it published; success equivalent to personal satisfaction and pride in its completion.

How Authors Should Define Success

By its definition, the word success encompasses such a massive meaning and purpose.

At its core, success is attained when a person accomplishes their aim or has fulfilled their purpose. From this alone, one can imagine how vast and personal the measure of it is. No two people share the same purpose. Hence, success can’t be defined from a general and universal perspective. When determining a successful writer, the authors should set the standard and goals. Whether they’re successful or not shouldn’t come from the public’s perspective but rather their insights and judgment of their achievements.

For instance, Edward R. Lipinski is an author with a rich background and diverse experiences behind his name. With over 40 years of working in the industry, he has already experienced what most authors haven’t. He has written for New York Times and has authored various materials, and from a regular reader’s perspective, he’s an example of a successful writer. But others would disagree with the argument that he’s a name that doesn’t quite pop up into people’s minds.

So, is Edward worthy of the label? Or does he need more achievements and awards and finish more books to be called successful on merit? Regardless of how many words he’s written or how many books he’s published, labeling him a success should depend on whether he feels worthy of it.

Many authors, with various titles under their names and popularity in their reputation, don’t feel worthy of being called successful. And most of the time, this is because they’re too heavy on themselves, aiming for more than they’ve accomplished.

But for simpler people, what must they do to achieve success?

How One Becomes a Successful Writer

Becoming a successful writer may follow multiple paths, but all will lead to triumph. Most writers may hesitate to venture outside their comfort zones because the journey will be intimidating. But depending on where they’ve set their eyes and how they’ve defined success, this endeavor can be well worth their time. It’s all in the intentions and the goals one has set.

For One to Succeed, One Must Value Failure Too

The road toward success may be personally paved by the person traveling it. But this doesn’t mean they can avoid falling and making mistakes. Failure is as attainable as success. It can manifest in spaces where people think they’ll win. It’s in opportunities people yearn so much, it’s heartbreaking losing them. Hence, for writers to become successful, they must also prepare themselves for failure; to welcome it once it shows itself to them.

However, instead of crying over spilled milk, writers must use failures as stepping stones to success. These experiences shouldn’t be perceived as chances to rip pages they marked in one’s life. But rather opportunities to erase and restart as someone stronger and more intelligent than before.

Success Is Found in Practice

Nobody can genuinely win at something they’ve done for the very first time unless this victory is merely attained due to luck. To become a successful writer, writers must practice and master their craft. This means writing wherever and whatever and sharing stories however they can. The most famous authors’ most popular works aren’t typically their first publications. When looking deeper into their backgrounds, many might find older and mainly unknown books under their names, evidence that nobody gets good and succeeds on their first try.

Know the Hierarchy to Gradually Move Up

Similar to the previous post, no famous author jumps right into popularity. It’s not supposed to be a consequential leap from being unknown to becoming a massive name. Instead, it takes little steps and works from smaller publishers to more popular ones.

Impatience will never get anyone somewhere.

If authors wish to become bigger in their field, they will always have to start small. It pays to be aware of smaller publishers to give authors an initial boost in getting their names out for the bigger ones to hear. These opportunities are also crucial in making connections and meeting people that can help writers make their way to bigger chances and achieve more consequential goals.