Ep 110: You Want to Be a Writer Whos Read? Learn Something New Every Day.
The publishing world is evolving, and no one knows quite when it will end and what it will look like. As a writer, you've probably been spotting new trends, new entry points, new expectations, new leaders, and new technology, wondering how you can possibly keep up with all that change.\n\nWell, you\u2019re not alone. Everyone\u2019s seeing all that new\u2014all that change\u2014and wondering how they can possibly keep up with it all.\n\nThere\u2019s only one way to have a chance at keeping up\u2014and it\u2019s the same way any of us has a chance at gaining an advantage and keeping an edge, and that\u2019s...\n\nTo learn something new every day.\n\nI know it\u2019s frustrating to hear that when all you want to do is write.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t want to be figuring out fancy software and spending all that time on social media,\u201d you\u2019re thinking. "I don\u2019t want to maintain a website and read about the industry all the time. Why can\u2019t I just be a writer who, you know, writes?\u201d\n\nAnd it\u2019s true that a legal pad and a Bic pen should be more than enough to keep a writer churning out words, hitting daily word count goals, avoiding distraction. And I absolutely agree that a writer must write first and foremost.\n\nBut if you want to try to get in the game\u2014if you want to try to submit to literary journals or see your byline in a magazine or run a freelance writing business or pitch agents\u2014you\u2019ll have to learn some new things. I daresay it\u2019s best to learn a little something new every day\u2026at least on average.\nThe Growth Mindset Helps Learning\nIf you have a growth mindset, like we talked about last time, you know that nothing's fixed and forever. You and I can learn new skills and grow if we set our minds to it and implement or integrate what we learn. So that shouldn\u2019t a concern\u2014you can teach an old dog new tricks.\nThe Curious Lifelong Learner Loves to Learn\nIt helps to be a lifelong learner who's curious and creative, because with those traits, you\u2019ll follow the spark of curiosity to dig for the information and training you want or need and follow up when you unearth another layer of skills you can develop or knowledge you can gain.\n\nYou\u2019ll poke around to figure out who to ask. You\u2019ll research which is the best free or paid course to sign up for. You\u2019ll subscribe to podcasts with the best information and watch YouTube videos with easy-to-follow tutorials.\n\nYou\u2019ll get books to read in line at the post office and audiobooks to listen to on a long drive or while exercising. You\u2019ll save up to attend a premier conference or an intimate writing workshop. You'll apply for a grant or fellowship.\n\nIn doing this, you\u2019ll learn a lot of different things.\n\nIf you read and learn about the industry, you\u2019ll discover ways to respond to those changes as a writer. You won\u2019t waste time on old methods\u2014you can quickly \u201cpivot,\u201d as they say, and adjust your plan to suit what editors, agents, and ultimately readers are looking for.\n\nThis doesn\u2019t mean you abandon your vision and write for the market, but it\u2019s good to be aware and thoughtful about what you see around you.\nLearn Something New About Content\nLearn in the area of content and you\u2019ll collect ideas for your nonfiction projects. If you write on a nonfiction topic, you\u2019ll have a chance at becoming an expert in your field.\n\nIf you write fiction, there\u2019s no end to what you could learn because characters need jobs and hobbies; they need to visit interesting places and struggle with illnesses. You can learn about almost anything and pull it into your work.\nLearn Something New About Craft\nYou\u2019ll write better when you learn more or different techniques and implement them each time you put a pen to paper. When you\u2019re making lists of things you want to learn, add craft to your list and develop your own personal writing course based on skills you want to gain.\nLearn Something New About Technology\nTechnology scares a lot of writers. If you pick the thing you feel will make the biggest difference in your life as a writer, though,