Essential Traits of Successful Writers: Learn and Improve

To become better at something, you need to put the time in. The old 10,000 hrs theory does apply here. You also need to learn the craft.

One way to improve your writing is to study successful writers and emulate them.

I recommend reading biographies from greats like PD James, Anne Lamott, Stephen King, Agatha Christie and more.

In reading about the lives, struggles and successes of good writers, I realized that they do certain things consistently. They also have many commonalities.

I define a good writer as a writer I love to read. They don’t necessarily have monetary success, but they probably do.

Characteristics of Good writers:

They read. Often.
They love language and word play.
They have passion.
They are patient. Writing can take time.
They write everyday. No excuses. The ten thousand hours theory is proof of this. Write and improve.
They have optimism. You have to believe somewhere in your soul that someone — even one is enough — will read your work.
They are self-disciplined. Writing can be tedious and frankly hard. The weak (aka non-writer) will give up.
The ability to express oneself with clarity.
They notice the details about life.
They have an ability to make the reader change.

These characteristics are not something you are born with, they are developed with discipline and practice. Anyone can develop them.

If your writing is important to you, these are characteristics you can work towards. Strive to cultivate them in your life.