Look for Extreme Bets

Emulate the writing you enjoy reading. There are two reasons for this:

• First, it’s next-to-impossible to write well in a style you don’t enjoy. A good piece to write is something you would choose to read.
• Second, imitation can be a starting point for creative success.

Success as a writer means navigating the ever-changing sea of systems, social media networks, and outlets people use to find success. 

While marketing alone won’t make you successful as a writer, it’s also true that an absence of this knowledge can be fatal.

Two factors influence this insecurity. 

• The first is that your taste inevitably outstrips your ability. You can always appreciate writing that is better, smarter, more thorough and incisive than your own. You get better as a writer—but improve even more as a reader. Th...

Many writers obsess over their style when they haven’t produced enough to have one yet.

One hundred essays is probably a good benchmark to hit before worrying about whether what you’re writing is good or not. Writing this much will also get you over your inhibitions...

It is rare to achieve success solely from writing.

However, writing can be a good tool for leveraging other opportunities. Sometimes that means landing a more prestigious job, getting on a cool start-up, or just meeting cool people. Being an engineer, accountant, or manager who also writes ...