Learning all about mindset tips for authors can help you overcome writer’s block and various pitfalls that would stump other writers.
In fact, an author’s mindset is so crucial to success that I incorporate mindset tips for authors into the writing conference workshops I teach.
While I see many people focus on the technical side of how to write a novel (what software you should use, when you should write, what tools help, how to format your book), few focus on the power of mindset.
What I’ve learned is that regardless of the tools you bring to your writing process, it’s difficult to make it as a writer if you don’t have the proper mindset.
We’ve taught over 8,000 authors how to write, publish, and market their books over the last 10 years and helped them develop the mindset to get there. Let’s get straight into it.
Mindset tips for authors: what you learn
What is the mindset of an author?
The mindset of an author starts with the foundational growth mindset. Carol Dweck, professor at Stanford University, is largely attributed with developing discourse around this topic. Of all the mindset tips for authors, this is the foundation and one I return to again and again.
1. The foundation: growth mindset
For authors, and for our students, mindset tips for authors starts with a growth mindset. If you want to learn how to write a thriller but you’ve only studied how to write a children’s book, a growth mindset is essential.
A growth mindset is the foundation that takes you from point A of, “I want to be an author” to point B of, “I am a publishing success story.” Once you have a growth mindset, you can build the next mindset tips for authors on this strong foundation.
2. Avoid the comparison mindset
One of the big traps authors can fall into is comparing their publishing journey to other authors. It’s easy to do, and I’ve certainly done so as well!
But look at the difference between Stephen King and George R. R. Martin. Both are wildly successful authors, but both publish at completely different rates, have different page counts, and a plethora of other differentiators.
Comparison can plague authors with doubt about their own career and even slow their growth because they grow discouraged. Every single path is different. The sooner you can accept this, the more freedom you will find in your own journey.
3. Seek advice from professionals
Mindset tips for authors must include a willingness to learn from professionals, such as book coaches. Recently, I connected with a bestselling author to ask for feedback on my manuscript.
He was incredibly helpful because he pointed out where my story was communicating as it needed too as well as areas where I could improve my plot structure. We all need people who can provide real feedback: constructive criticism and authentic praise.
Think carefully about who the advice is coming from. Finding authors who write in your book genre is a great place to start.
Accept the advice that can actually help you grow your career, and do not let subjective feedback get to you. Take the advice that helps, and move on.
4. Separate yourself from your work
Books are often referred to as an author’s baby. But the fourth of these mindset tips for authors is crucial: you are not your work. If people don’t like your work, it does not mean they dislike you.
Creative work feels like such an extension of yourself, so take care to remember that feedback is not personal.
It can be easy to feel defensive over rejection (and most authors experience a LOT of rejection), but what makes a true professional is someone who can hear it, learn from it, apply it, and keep writing no matter what.
Remember this especially when you hire an editor: you are not your work and they are there to make your work better.
5. Choose to turn pro
This idea comes from Steven Pressfield, and all of his books are amazing for artists, but it centers around the idea of taking your creative work seriously instead of messing around.
You take your routines seriously, your writing seriously, and you don’t let anything (even yourself) get in the way.
“The thesis of this book is that what ails you and me has nothing to do with being sick or being wrong. What ails us is that we are living our lives as amateurs. The solution, this book suggests, is that we turn pro. Turning pro is free, but it’s not easy. You don’t need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind. Turning pro is free, but it’s not without cost.”
Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro
Turning pro means you will do whatever it takes to write your book and get it published. You will not put it off until one day. You choose to take a step forward today.
6. Treat your routines as sacred
There is not a single successful author out there who only writes when motivation sparks. They all have a routine they treat as seriously as a regular 9 to 5 job. You cannot expect to only write when inspiration hits and expect to have any kind of serious career.
Even if you have not made a cent from writing yet, honor your routine. My writing mentor says to treat you writing deadline as sacred, and to do so, you must treat your routine as sacred as well.
For a great book and interview on the power of mindsets and the science behind them, check out Michael Hyatt’s interview below.
7. Accept writing as a business
Whether you choose self-publishing or traditional publishing, you need to learn some of the basics of marketing. When I teach workshops at writing conferences, I often speak on how to build your brand as an author by posting on social media or starting a blog or newsletter.
Your strength is writing after all, so keep writing in your marketing efforts. This practice will also give you inspiration to write new books as you interact with your audience and discover their pain points and what they want more of.
Needless to say, learning how to market will make it much easier to sell your books down the line. Mindset tips for authors must include the fact that publishing is a business as well as a creative endeavor.
8. Embrace a mindset of resolve
The road to becoming a professional author will likely test your resolve. You may suffer from writer’s block for prolonged periods. Choose to keep showing up to the keyboard.
You may get rejected for a book deal. Choose to get right back up the next morning and keep pitching your book. My writing mentor kindly reminds authors that every known author started out as an unknown, unnamed, aspiring author.
Your resolve to choose to push through those hard moments of rejection will be the reason you do or do not make it as an author. This is a vital part of these mindset tips for authors.
You might need to take a few days off just to let the disappointment wear off, but to become an author, you must get back to it.
9. Be willing to pivot
As an editor who has worked with authors at all stages of the editing process, those willing to pivot their story to best fit their audience’s needs are the ones that have potential to go the furthest. Of all the mindset tips for authors, willingness to pivot cannot be overstated.
How to get into a writer’s mindset?
Get into a writer’s mindset by choosing to focus on one of the above mindset tips for authors. For example, I had to choose to be willing to pivot with my own manuscript.
Years ago, my agent was shopping my dystopian…but during a global pandemic! No one wanted to read about dystopia because people felt they were living in one.
My book simply wasn’t landing, and understandably so. As the world shifts and trends come and go, it’s crucial to stay up to date with what’s selling and most importantly, why.
Choosing to adhere to these mindset tips for authors can help increase your chances of success in publishing. Who knows? When you choose to embrace constructive criticism and pivot accordingly, you could become the next bestselling author!
Mindset tips for authors: take your next step
Now that you have an understanding of these nine mindset tips for authors, it’s time to take the next step in your author journey. Use our free resource below and get started today!
This blog was rewritten from the original version published by Jackie Pearce.
