If you’ve ever looked into how to be a successful author or how to get published, you’ve most likely come across the common writing advice that says ‘persistence pays off’. But I want to offer a slightly different perspective. Persistence is important, but it isn’t the key to building a successful writing career, especially now that the book and publishing markets are completely oversaturated.

Do you have an unrealistic view of your writing ability? It’s completely normal for writers, but it’s important to be aware of because it can cause a lot of pain and blockage along your writing journey. Nurturing a healthy mindset is crucial for a successful writing life. Our beliefs dictate what we do and how we act, so we need to get them aligned with reality.

At some point, every writer deals with feelings of discouragement and burnout. You may even get to a point where you say I don’t want to write anymore. If you’ve lost your writing mojo, don’t panic! I’m going to give you some ideas on how to make writing fun again. Whatever you do, try to rediscover the joy in writing. Because, guess what? Writing is supposed to be fun! It should fill up and replenish your soul. If you feel depleted and drained, you may be doing it wrong. If you’re wondering how to get excited about writing again, here are four things you can try.

Asking questions like, should I keep writing my novel? or should I shelve my manuscript? is something almost every writer faces during their writing journey. But whether you should quit or continue, depends on a few different factors. Blanket advice, like don’t give up, doesn’t always apply. Sometimes we actually need to quit writing a book or at least take an extended break from it. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you feel like giving up on your manuscript:

Tying your sense of self to your productivity may be affecting your mindset and holding you back from a happy and thriving writing life. Many writers have learned that the more they do or accomplish, the more valuable they are. It could even be what drew them to writing a book in the first place. Writing a novel, after all, is a huge accomplishment.