10 Traits of a Seasoned Writer

Guest post by author DiAnn Mills.

A seasoned writer is not one who has been attempting publication for years, but a person who has successfully achieved their dream of publication and is striving to reach more writing goals. I’ve been writing and publishing for nearly thirty years. Changes in the industry, marketing, promotion, social media, and reader preferences kept me on my toes. Still do

Along the way, I discovered the following traits, and I wanted to share them with you.

Discipline

Seasoned writers understand the value of developing writing habits, sometimes daily.
They adhere to a writing schedule that reflects their priorities and how their mind processes information.

“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” —William Faulkner

Strong Writing Voice

Seasoned writers develop their voice by writing and writing some more.
They use word choice, tone, genre, point of view, and syntax woven with the writer’s uniqueness to ensure the writing flows in a distinct style.

“A word after a word after a word is power.” —Margaret Atwood

Adaptability

Seasoned writers view success by staying current with industry trends.
They read daily what is going on in the publishing industry—all of it.

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” —Benjamin Franklin

Attention to Detail

Seasoned writers practice editing, striving for perfection.
They keep a list of editing aids, resources, and tools. Don’t skip the process.

“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.” —Sylvia Plath

Thick Skin

Seasoned writers understand rejections and criticism are part of the writing life.
They determine if the criticism is valid and edit if needed.

“This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘Not at this address.’ Just keep looking for the right address.” —Barbara Kingsolver

Continuous Learning and Curiosity

Seasoned writers explore the world by reading and learning in a never-ending quest for knowledge and improvement.
They stay up to date with the world, its people, and culture, while pursuing a hunger for knowledge that affects all you do–not just writing.

“The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.” —C. S. Lewis

Network with Fellow Writers

Seasoned writers invest time to participate with other writers by giving back to the writing community.
They step into a writing group, either in person or online, that fuels their heart and mind with meaningful relationships. They participate, share, and practice the art of friendship.

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” —Steven Spielberg

Professionalism

Seasoned writers meet deadlines, practice the business side of writing, value organization, and breathe integrity.
They spend time studying the business side of writing, including marketing and promotion, and stay organized.

“I’ve heard some writers say things like, ‘Well, I’m a professional writer. I only start books I know I can finish.’ I look at it maybe the other way: I only want to write books I’m not sure I can write.” —Markus Zusak

Personal Growth

Seasoned writers ensure they grow and change during the writing of each new book.
They measure growth mentally, intellectually, and spiritually.

“If I ever think I’m too big to help a writer, God may think I’m too small for publication.” —DiAnn Mills

The journey of becoming a seasoned writer is worth the ups, downs, publications, and rejections. These characteristics have helped me through the years, and they might help you. Do you have a tip to help build a successful writing career?

DiAnn Mills is a best-selling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels with threads of romance. Connect with DiAnn on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or her website: diannmills.com.