How to be Successful as a Writer

two smiling women sitting on wooden bench, Successful as a Writer — Photo by ELEVATE on Pexels.com

“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want”
Zig Ziglar

It’s easy to get lonely when you’re writing. Some authors give up before realizing their full ability or achieving their goals. They stop because they feel alone, don’t perceive much change, and don’t believe things improve. Yet, to be successful as a writer, you can’t go it alone.

I was pretty lonely when I first began writing. My blog had very little traffic when I started it. On a good day, it appeared that my family was reading my posts. Because of these lessons, I thought I would share a few ways to help you network with other writers to help you and them.

How to Connect with Other Writers

As a writer, networking doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s easy to understand. You write, reach out to others, and connect with people who share your interests. However, getting to the point of connection might be challenging at times. So, here are five ways for a writer to network.

Look for authors who inspire you. Make an effort to engage with people that have similar fan bases to you rather than huge names. They may write about themes you enjoy, or they may appear to be doing something new. Examine their work, follow them on social media, and decide how you’ll contact them.
Make genuine contact. Use a blank page instead of a template! I’ve had writers contact me via LinkedIn chat or email, and it was a template they used. Contact other writers by discussing a tale that you enjoyed and asking a question about it.
Request to talk over the phone. Some of the best discussions I’ve had have started with a chat through messenger and then progressed to a phone call. Several of the writers I communicate with regularly probably speak on the phone once or twice a month.
Look for methods to assist others. Join their launch team if they’re launching a book. Suppose they’re looking for someone to help them with something, volunteer to do it, or refer them to someone who can. When you can assist in forming connections, ask for and provide feedback on posts.
If you support other writers, they will help you. I’ve learned how important it is to have each other’s backs in writing. These things assist all the time, whether sharing posts, encouraging them, or simply giving shout-outs.

That’s all there is to it. It might be a lot of work, especially if you already have a busy calendar. Time zones might also be a hindrance. However, if you attempt to make it work, people will remember that.

Final Thoughts on being Successful as a Writer

It’s okay if something doesn’t work out. I’ve found it challenging to keep up with some authors. Schedules or unexpected life circumstances are sometimes to blame.

A good rule of thumb is to connect with someone at least once a week. Whether by chat or phone, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible Don’t put too much on your plate. And if they don’t want to connect, be gracious.

Remember, connecting with other writers will help you improve as a writer, but it must begin with assisting them.

What methods have you used to connect with other writers? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith and helping writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Ko-fi!