For many of us, writing is more than a hobby or a profession—it’s a way of life.
All areas of life require investment of some form. We invest in our homes; we invest in our and our children’s educations. We invest in our health, and we invest in the more obvious way in our finances.
Just like any other area of our lives, our writing requires investment, too. Not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and physically.
To truly thrive as a writer, you need to cultivate practices that nurture your creativity, sharpen your skills, and sustain your passion. Sometimes this investment is a more literal financial investment, other times it’s an investment of time and energy.
Here are some of the best ways to invest in your author life, ensuring you grow both as a writer and an individual.
Spend Time Reading
Reading is a cornerstone of being a writer. So allow yourself the time to immerse yourself in the genres and styles you love, as well as investing time to expand your horizons and explore new forms.
Reading widely improves your writing skills by demonstrating the kinds of (subjectively) good writing that really hit in your creative ideals, and the kinds of (subjectively) bad writing that turns you off.
Reading is also a wellspring of new ideas. Whether it’s print, ebooks, online serials, audiobooks, or whatever other form you enjoy, make reading a regular habit, and consider it an essential part of your writing process.
Spend Time Exploring Creative Passions (Besides Writing)
Engaging in creative activities outside of writing can enrich your work. This practice, sometimes known as combinatory play or what I like to call Kaleidoscopic Creativity, involves blending different creative expression into your life.
Paint, play music, dance, cook, or engage in any other creative practice that stimulates your feel good modes. When I’m in a flow state at my art desk, drawing or painting, new ideas for my writing flood my brain and I come away from the activity not only rested but also creatively invigorated. For me, there are certainly few better feelings in the world!
Invest in Formal Writing Courses
Taking writing courses can significantly enhance your craft. Workshops, classes, seminars, self-guided courses, whatever form they take, all provide valuable knowledge and sometimes feedback from an experienced writer. You are unlikely to apply everything you learn in these courses, but they are typically good for exposing you to new practices, new concepts, new processes that you can absorb into your own unique ways of getting the work done.
Be mindful, though, not to fall into the trap of procrasti-learning—constantly taking courses without applying what you’ve learned. Balance learning and writing. Apply new techniques to your work as you acquire them, ensuring continuous progress.
Invest In Quality Writing Tools
Every craftsperson needs the right tools to get the job done, and the better those tools are, the better they can serve your work.
I’m not saying that you have to rush off and spend thousands on the latest MacBook and fill it with top of the range apps and utilities, but we all need quality tools that we can rely on. For most of us, that starts with a word processor of some kind that runs efficiently and saves reliably. Get pens that feel good in your hand, use paper that suits the pens.
The right tools can make a significant difference in your writing process, reducing distractions and physical discomfort, allowing you to focus on your creativity. Also, nice things are nice!
Spend Time With Your Writing Community
Find ways to connect that feel right for you, whether it’s joining a local writer’s group, participating in online forums, or attending literary events. Building relationships with fellow writers provides encouragement, feedback, and maybe even opportunities for collaboration. Being part of a community helps you stay motivated and reminds you that you are not alone in this sometimes isolating practice.
Invest in Your Health
Taking care of your body and mind is crucial for sustaining your writing life. Engage in regular physical movement, maintain a nourishing diet, and prioritize mental health. Activities like meditation and mindfulness practices can not only reduce stress, but can also improve your creative focus.
Good health comes in many manifestations. We’re all working with different bodies with various capacities and limitations, so find a lifestyle that suits you and lets your body do its best. You get to decide what “best” means for you, and remember this varies from day to day for all of us.
Spend Time in Quality Rest
Rest is an essential component of all life, not just for us creative folk.
Unfortunately, this modern world would rather treat us like machines, keep us running for 24/7, always focused on doing and producing more and more. Even the idea of rest itself has been commodified, delegated as just another thing to tick off a to do list in a prescribed way, rather than being a natural process that should ebb and flow as our energies require.
However you can, allow yourself time to recharge by getting adequate sleep (easier said than done for a lot of us!) and taking regular breaks. Rest doesn’t need to always be slothing on the couch in front of a screen (though that’s fun too), but can be active rest like playing a game, taking a walk, anything that slows your body and takes your mind offline for a time.
There’s a frequent message in a lot of the “rest promotion” that rest is a way of actually making us more productive. Yes, when at rest, our creative minds continue to work on ideas, often leading to breakthroughs and fresh perspectives when we get back to the page. While all of this benefit of rest is true, using rest as just another productivity tool belies the essential nature of what it is to rest. Rest because you’re a living organism, and as such, you need to do it. Rest because it feels good, not as a means to a capitalist end.
Reward Yourself for Achievements
Celebrating your successes, no matter how small, is vital for maintaining motivation and basically feeling good. Reward yourself when you achieve anything, no matter how small. The reward can be anything that feels good, whether it’s a special treat, a day out on an adventure, or something you’ve been wanting to buy. Rewards are not just incentives to work more; they are affirmations of skills, progress, and our dedication to our craft.
Investing in your author life is more than a series of actions or expenses; it’s a profound commitment to honoring your creative spirit and your vocation. As you pour your energy into your writing, remember that you’re also cultivating your authentic nature, allowing yourself to flourish and resonate with the world. In this continuous process, we are not just writing stories, we are writing our lives. What could be more worthy of investment?
