You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One)

by Jeff Goins

All of us, at some point, wonder if what we’re doing matters. But for some of us, maybe for you, this question sticks. It haunts you. And the answer taunts you. It whispers from afar. Keeps you wondering and waiting.

“I wonder what kind of legacy I’ll leave.”

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO YOU ARE “All is not lost, all is not lost. Become who you are It happens once in a lifetime.” —SWITCHFOOT

I was, in fact, a writer. All I had to do was write.

Believe you already are what you want to be. And then start acting like it.

It’s a choice, writing is. One that belongs to you and me. We get to choose it (or not) every single day. So whether the world hears your message—whether you leave the impact you were born to make—is entirely up to you.

When do you become a writer? “When you say you are,” he said.

Before others will believe what is true about you, you’ll have to believe it yourself.

Multitasking is a myth. You can either create or react. But you can’t do both. Choose wisely.

GOOD WRITING IS IN THE EDITING “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.” —DR. SEUSS

Here are a few things to look for: Do a document search for all uses of “that” and “very”—kill as many of them as possible. These words are rarely needed. Reread the piece. Cut as many adverbs as possible. These are words that typically end in -ly (like “typically”). This is especially important when writing dialogue, he said intently. Look for complex sentences using lots of “ands” and “buts”—try simplifying some of them. Reread them and see if the meaning is more clear. Destroy weak phrases like “I think” or “in my opinion” that corrupt your argument. Say what needs to be said, or don’t say it at all. When you do use such a phrase, make it count.

Steve Jobs once said, “Real artists ship.”

You start resenting what brought you so much attention in the first place. You may even find yourself longing to reinvent your work.

I can’t lie to you. It’s harder than you think. It’s not enough to be good. You have to be great. Nobody cares about you. People care about themselves. It’s more about who you know than what you know.

It’s time to stop waiting to be asked and start creating.

If you are the person who can’t not speak the truth, you might just build a community as a Prophet.

So let’s recap: If you are a naturally inquisitive person, a Journalist platform may be an excellent one for you to build. If you are the person who can’t not speak the truth, you might just build a community as a Prophet. If you can’t help but see beauty in the ordinary, and you are passionate to share it with the people around you, you’re probably an Artist. If you’re great at teaching and you’re an expert at something, then maybe you should be The Professor. If you’re great at getting to know people, at drawing people close, at connecting people and building community, then you could build a Celebrity-type platform.

So what do you do? How do you get noticed in a world full of noise, distractions, and advertisements? What’s the best way to build a platform and earn influence? Easy. Help people.

There are three elements to every brand. When building yours, pay attention to these: Name: Your actual name, a brand name, or a pseudonym. Image: A logo, your face, or some kind of custom headshot. Voice: Your style and tone of communication. It’s how people recognize you.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Describe yourself in a few adjectives. What do you and others come up with? Take note of your interests: favorite books, movies, music, etc. What do they have in common? Imagine your ideal reader. Describe him or her. Write a letter to this person (including a name).

HOW TO ASK PERMISSION “Treating people with respect is the best way to earn their attention.” —SETH GODIN

When he decided to give away free copies of an eBook, Michael Hyatt saw his email list grow from 3,000 subscribers to over 30,000 in a matter of months. He saw a 1,000% trust increase with his audience in less than a year—all because he decided to be helpful. In other words, generosity works. Hyatt earned the trust of his audience and permission to contact them again.

I am a writer. I just need to write.

Start a blog, and start sharing your work. Make a schedule. Practice in public. Sign up for an account on Twitter, and start some conversations. Create a Facebook page for your blog, books, etc. Build an email newsletter list (sign up for one on Aweber.com or Mailchimp.com) and reward people for subscribing. Continue creating great work worth talking about. Show up day after day, making promises and delivering on them consistently over time.

Ultimately, there are three must-have relationships that will extend your reach, and each of them is absolutely necessary: Fans: You need to build meaningful connections with your tribe of followers. Friends: You need to connect with others who are doing what you are. Patrons: You need to earn influence with influencers who will support your work.

Personal salutation (use the editor’s name) Quick introduction of yourself (if this is the first contact) Samples of your work (article links, document attachments, blog posts—whatever is your best work) List of ideas with potential titles (scan the publication to get a feel for how they write headlines) A concise abstract of each article (2-3 sentences) Closing with your contact info, including a link to your website/portfolio