You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)

Stop waiting for permission and prepare to do the work. There are no big breaks. Only tiny drips of effort that lead to waves of momentum.

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.

A channel of your own is essential to building a platform and extending your reach beyond your immediate networks. Without it, you are either borrowing attention or stealing it. The only way to earn it is by sharing a meaningful message through a channel you own.

“This business of… being a writer is ultimately about asking yourself, ‘How alive am I willing to be?’” —ANNE LAMOTT

Bad writers don’t understand this, which is precisely what makes them bad writers. They presume their writing has achieved a certain level of excellence, so they are closed off to the concept of editing or rewriting.

This may take months or years. But if you keep showing up, keep practicing and doing the work of a professional, you’ll find it.

And how do you earn their trust? You need to do something for them to show you’re worthy of letting down their guard.

Every chance I could get, I was writing. I didn’t care about anything else. I was euphoric. I was in love. Maybe you’ve experienced this. Maybe you hope to. Either way, I want to make something clear. You are a writer. You just need to write. It’s time to kill the excuses and start writing. Time to become a writer again. Not a marketer or an entrep

But here’s the thing: You have to choose your priorities, or they will choose you.