# Unlocking Your Potential as a Writer: Embrace This Mindset
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Chapter 1: A Conversation with My Past Self
Imagine a scenario where my present self encounters my younger self from seven years ago. After some initial bewilderment, my past self would inquire, "So, how do you make a living these days?" I would respond, "I work as a freelance writer online, assisting clients in crafting the content they need to engage their audience."
His response would be, "What?! How on earth did you manage that? I struggled with my blog on WordPress and assumed writing couldn't pay the bills."
Here's the advice I would share with him—and with you.
Section 1.1: Embrace Resilience
To thrive in writing, resilience is crucial. Let's face it: the journey is laden with challenges. You will encounter dry spells, grapple with writer’s block, and feel the absence of support from those around you. Expect to hear a fair share of "no’s" from potential clients. You may lose clients and even part ways with some of your own. There will be times when your earnings plateau or dip below previous months.
Last year, I faced a downturn in my writing business and nearly gave up. Fortunately, instead of returning to a corporate job, I chose to recommit to my craft. This is the essence of resilience: the ability to push through tough times without succumbing to stress, even when you face consecutive months of challenges.
Resilience ensures you remain engaged and persistent, even when motivation wanes.
Section 1.2: The Power of Consistency
While resilience is vital, it must be paired with consistency. It's not enough to muster resilience occasionally; it requires a daily commitment. Writing isn’t merely about waiting for inspiration to strike. Often, it involves sitting down at your desk, confronting feelings of inadequacy, and resisting the urge to throw your laptop out of frustration.
This struggle is part of the process—the only way to overcome these obstacles is to write through them. Developing a consistent writing habit alleviates the pressure of overthinking. The question shifts from "if" you will write to "when" and "for how long."
Consistency becomes your ally in maintaining a steady output of work.
Section 1.3: Cultivating Conviction
It’s important to recognize that self-belief is integral to your success. Without confidence in your abilities, progress is stunted. Avoid making the mistake of waiting for validation to feel worthy; that mindset will only hold you back.
Instead, adopt the belief that you will improve as a writer, and with that belief, you will indeed grow. Conviction is the driving force behind your development. To bolster your self-belief, lean on resilience and consistency—they serve as your training wheels, allowing you to gain confidence in your writing abilities.
Conviction paves the way to your aspirations.
Chapter 2: The Path to Success as a Writer
To earn a living as a writer, focus on three key elements:
- Maintain resilience.
- Write with consistency.
- Cultivate belief in yourself.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. What insights would you add? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
If you’re interested in further reading:
- The Happiest People In The World Have Realized These 3 Simple Truths
- Here’s What I Learned After Publishing 100k Words On The Internet
- What I Learned From My First Viral Story on Medium