Five Tips for Becoming an Expert at Your Craft
Whenever people learn that I’ve written three books, they respond:
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to write a book about ________.” (fill in the blank with the topic you’ve dreamed of writing a book about)
I’ve heard that:
- 81 percent of Americans feel they have a book in them.
- 10 percent of that 81 percent actually write the book.
- 1 percent of that 10 percent work up the courage to pitch their book to literary agents and editors.
- 1 percent of the “pitchers” get offered a book contract.
Why do so few people pursue their dream of writing the next great American novel?
Simple. They’re not willing to practice the craft of writing.
They may think they are willing; they may say they are willing. But then they settle down in front of a computer screen and face that irritating, blinking cursor, they stare at it for a few minutes, then sigh and announce, “I have writer’s block.” Or… “I’m waiting for the muse to strike me.”
I believe this reluctance to practice one’s writing stems from our school days, when we slogged through countless English classes and were forced to write all those boring essays (I can claim this with assurance, because I used to be one of those rotten English teachers who assigned the boring essays). Most people with a high school diploma assume they can write as well as the next guy. Who needs to practice?
Imagine asking an athlete, “Why do you need to practice?”
They’d look at you as if you were crazy!
Of course athletes need to practice; many of them practice their sport several hours per day, seven days a week, year round.
Why should writers be any different? Why should roof builders and software developers and chefs be any different?
No matter what your passion, the only way you’re going to become an expert at it is to practice, practice, practice.
Here are five tips for building a habit of practicing:
- Schedule daily time—whether it be 10 minutes or two hours—for practicing your craft.
- Find a mentor. This person should be more advanced than you at your craft, and should be willing to encourage you, scold you, and hold you accountable.
- Brainstorm fun ways to practice: attend a conference where you’ll meet others who share a mutual passion for your craft; enroll in a class where you can brush up on the latest techniques.
- Set measurable, attainable goals. Instead of saying, “I’m going to write the next great American novel,” say, “I’m going to write 300 words per day for the next five days.” Remember, it takes about six weeks of regular practice to establish a habit.
- Reward yourself for meeting your practice goals. After X hours of deliberate practice, allow yourself a special treat. Make sure that treat is something that highly motivates you to practice!
What craft are you going to commit to becoming an expert at? Make your public commitment right now, right here, and start practicing!
Great advice. So true. I think the difficulty in getting published is one of the reasons why people who love to write and think they can write well, lose the motivation. Also the fact that you pretty much have to hold some other kind of job in order to survive while you try to make it as an author, even after publication.
Great advice. So true. I think the difficulty in getting published is one of the reasons why people who love to write and think they can write well, lose the motivation. Also the fact that you pretty much have to hold some other kind of job in order to survive while you try to make it as an author, even after publication.
Great advice. So true. I think the difficulty in getting published is one of the reasons why people who love to write and think they can write well, lose the motivation. Also the fact that you pretty much have to hold some other kind of job in order to survive while you try to make it as an author, even after publication.
Great advice. So true. I think the difficulty in getting published is one of the reasons why people who love to write and think they can write well, lose the motivation. Also the fact that you pretty much have to hold some other kind of job in order to survive while you try to make it as an author, even after publication.
Amanda,
I agree with you about holding some other kind of job when you’re a writer. I worked in corporate PR for three years in order to support my writing habit and to sock enough away to use as seed money for my freelance writing business. Before I quit my PR job, I made sure I had enough funds to build a professional-looking Website (www.laurachristianson.com), and to help support my family while I wrote a couple of books. Fortunately, my husband has a steady job, so I didn’t have to worry about brining in 100 percent of the family income.
The writing profession requires that one be highly self-motivated, determined to soldier on in the face of rejection, and able to write in a variety of genres, so you can pay the bills while still doing what you love.
Amanda,
I agree with you about holding some other kind of job when you’re a writer. I worked in corporate PR for three years in order to support my writing habit and to sock enough away to use as seed money for my freelance writing business. Before I quit my PR job, I made sure I had enough funds to build a professional-looking Website (www.laurachristianson.com), and to help support my family while I wrote a couple of books. Fortunately, my husband has a steady job, so I didn’t have to worry about brining in 100 percent of the family income.
The writing profession requires that one be highly self-motivated, determined to soldier on in the face of rejection, and able to write in a variety of genres, so you can pay the bills while still doing what you love.
Amanda,
I agree with you about holding some other kind of job when you’re a writer. I worked in corporate PR for three years in order to support my writing habit and to sock enough away to use as seed money for my freelance writing business. Before I quit my PR job, I made sure I had enough funds to build a professional-looking Website (www.laurachristianson.com), and to help support my family while I wrote a couple of books. Fortunately, my husband has a steady job, so I didn’t have to worry about brining in 100 percent of the family income.
The writing profession requires that one be highly self-motivated, determined to soldier on in the face of rejection, and able to write in a variety of genres, so you can pay the bills while still doing what you love.
Amanda,
I agree with you about holding some other kind of job when you’re a writer. I worked in corporate PR for three years in order to support my writing habit and to sock enough away to use as seed money for my freelance writing business. Before I quit my PR job, I made sure I had enough funds to build a professional-looking Website (www.laurachristianson.com), and to help support my family while I wrote a couple of books. Fortunately, my husband has a steady job, so I didn’t have to worry about brining in 100 percent of the family income.
The writing profession requires that one be highly self-motivated, determined to soldier on in the face of rejection, and able to write in a variety of genres, so you can pay the bills while still doing what you love.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. I’m a publisher myself and I always like to read articles like yours.