The Personality Traits of a Successful Writer
These personality traits of successful writers prove that you need more than talent and good ideas to succeed as a freelancer! To persevere after constant rejections and keep pitching into the editorial abyss, you need personality traits that go beyond talent and creativity. I’ve rounded up a few qualities of successful writers – and they apply to freelancers, hobbyists, bloggers, or published authors.
First, a quip from Anne Lamott:
“E. L. Doctorow once said that ‘writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. That is right up there with the best advice about writing, or life, I have ever heard.” – from Bird by Bird.
Writers need the ability to take it one step at a time – one page at a time, one paragraph at a time, and even one word at a time. I don’t know what personality trait that is, but it’s a good one! Click on Lamott’s book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing & Life for more info, and read on for the personality traits of a successful writer…
The Personality Traits of a Successful Writer
Self-discipline and an internal motivation to write are qualities that writers need – that goes without saying. Here are a few more suggestions from some of my fellow scribes over at AbsoluteWrite.com:
Stubborness. “I think stubborness and ego are two biggies. I know they have served me well,” says Barb. “An example of the stubborness: my mother was very non-supportive and said I would never sell my writing consistently. Instead of believing that and letting it hurt me, it hardened me and made me even more driven to succeed.” – Barb Nefer
Perseverance. “An unwillingness to give up in the face of constant rejection is a personality trait of a successful writer,” says Monica. “I’d also add patience – we all know how long it can take to get a response to a query letter, if we get a response at all. But we also need to be thorough, taking the time to research our markets before pitching a query letter. We must also be bold, willing to call a magazine to find out who the editor is and how to pitch, and willing to talk to people in order to get those great quotes that will sell our stories!” – Monica Shaw
Consistency. “Too many people are flaky,” says Casey. “A freelance writer can make a successful career of being reliable and delivering on time with quality. Unlike other jobs that allow you to slack off and make up for it, writing has deadlines that need to be met or not only do you lose a customer but you lose your reputation.” Casey Quinn
Ego. “One of my first sales occurred when I read an article on horse training and thought, ‘I can do better than that!’” says Barb. “A writer isn’t going to get very far if she’s crushed by rejection slips or intimidated by everyone else out there who might be a better writer. You have to have a healthy coat of Teflon and faith that you can run with the big dogs, and that you deserve to!” – Barb Nefer
And my two cents:
Faith and hopefulness. I suffered through most of October without a single assignment (but, luckily, was working on two previously assigned articles). Then, when I thought I wouldn’t meet my financial goals for the month, three editors emailed me four assignments within 12 hours! Four business days later, I had six assignments due. So, another personality trait of successful freelance writers is having faith that another article will turn up. Eventually.
Humility and gratitude. I’ve been learning to thank my editors for the changes and suggestions they make to my articles. The editors I’ve worked with only want the best, clearest, and most well-documented sentences to be published…and they’re helping me be a better writer. I’m grateful for their help/comments/suggestions/questions/clarifications/changes/notations/aargh!! – and I think I’ll be an even more successful writer if I keep feeling humble and grateful.
What do you think, fellow scribes? What personality traits do successful writers have?
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I interviewed a writer just...
Maggie Raynor | Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
More personality traits of a successful freelance writer: (1) focus (2) self-discipline, ability to stick to a regular writing schedule (3) ability to set priorities (4) ferocious protection of your writing time in the face of other temptations, ie (5) ability to withstand persuasive, manipulative begging for attention from others during work time, most likely family and friends (6) ability to tolerate criticism around use of time (7) ability to visualize and dream…
As I write I think generally a successful writer must be a bit like a bulldog refusing to relinquish a desired object.
Siobhan | Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
1. A strong desire to actually WANT to be a writer, not just wanting to have a job you can hang out all day in your holey sweats and ratty sports bra. Doin’ it because you LOVE IT!!!! You have something to say!!
2. Belief in yourself.
3. Belief in yourself.
4. Belief in yourself.
Jim Bessey | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply
Laurie, I smiled all the way through this wonderful post. Your round-up of successful writers’ traits hits the nail squarely.
I like Maggie’s #7 and Siobhan’s #’s 2,3,4 very much. Flexibility (mentally) and a sense of humor go a long way, too.
Would we label “voracious reader” as a personality trait? It’s certainly a common denominator among writers who excel.
Congrats on your recent slew of assignments, too!
~Jim
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen | Nov 7, 2008 | Reply
I don’t know if “voracious reader” is a personality trait….but I do agree that good writers definitely need to read alot!
A thick skin is another personality trait of successful writers. You have to take criticism and editing suggestions without taking it personally. I don’t have a problem separating myself from my writing, but I’ve never written fiction – and that could be more personal.
Laverne Daley | Nov 10, 2008 | Reply
Laurie, I think a writer needs all the traits mentioned in your post and in the comments. When it comes to ego, however, while one needs a healthy dose of ego to become a writer in the first place, the ability to put one’s own ego on hold to make the writing (or the person who is the subject of the writing) the star of the show is also needed. Most selling writers are quite skilled at doing that.
Great post!
Rye Pulido | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for your Advices! I’m a writer too. When it comes to personal write ups, I add sweetness and naiveness.
favour swiss | Apr 27, 2009 | Reply
hi i want to write a book but don’t really know how to start about i want to get the tips in my mail
Laurie PK | Apr 29, 2009 | Reply
We already have something in common — I want to write a book, too!
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Lynne Melcombe | Nov 23, 2009 | Reply
I really like “ability to tolerate criticism around use of time.” Boy have I fielded criticism on that score! People with regular employment do not understand what it is to be self-employed.
Laurie PK | Nov 24, 2009 | Reply
I have the same struggles with both friends and family, about being “obsessed” with writing and working all the time. They don’t understand that I have to work when work is available, and that there’s nothing I’d rather be doing! I love blogging especially, and don’t want to sit and watch TV or garden or wash the windows….I want to spend my time doing the things I love.
Thanks for commenting, Lynne — I appreciate it!
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Rachael | Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
I love to read because it takes me places I could never go in real life. I want to write someone elses adventure that they can experience. I have a couple of these traits myself: perseverance because no one thought I would graduate but i’m going to prove them wrong, observation I see things most people don’t take the time to look at, and I believe in myself though most others don’t because i’m so young. And the biggest thing is I want to write.