11+2 Mindset Strategies for Fiction Writers: Transform Your Writing Habits for Success

Updated and corrected: Why didn't you tell me there were so many mistakes in this one, sheesh!

There are a lot of published books out there, even more self-published, and a ton more in production as we speak. What’s going to set your book apart from all the others? What can you do to give your novel a competitive edge in an over-saturated market?

Answer: Work better than 90% of other writers.

How do you do that? By following these mindset strategies for fiction writers, of course! Hand selected to help you get your head on right so you can be the best little writer on the block.

But first, let's address how much people hate the word "mindset." I get it, I was one of them and still kinda am. I hear people say the word and want to start punching daisies in their stupid sunny faces.

That's a joke. I actually really like daisies; they are my favorite flower, so don't come at me.

Mindset might sound like hippie garbage, but it is actually really important. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be repeated by every millionaire on the internet, and in every self-help book since the beginning of time.

Becoming successful in any industry, even creative ones like fiction writing, is hinged on your ability to think. So this post includes specific strategies for thinking about writing better.

Navigate today's possibly overly long post:

• It's All About the "Write" Mindset

• 11 Mindset Strategies for Writing Success

  • Why is this Important?

• Strategy #1: The Top Level Perspective Shift

• Writing Goals and Accountability

  • Strategy #2: Setting Clear Writing Goals

  • Strategy #3: Accountability

  • Staying On Track with Goals and Accountability

  • Tips for Success

• Overcoming Writer's Block

  • Strategy #4: Don't be so Hard on Yourself

• Writing Routine and Discipline

  • Strategy #5: Singular Focus

  • Strategy #6: The Record Keeper

• Staying Motivated and Overcoming Setbacks

  • Strategy #7: Change Your Definition of 'Motivation'

  • Strategy #8: Self-belief

  • Strategy #9: Find Your Writer's Purpose

• Developing a Growth Mindset

  • Strategy #10: Change Your Perspective on Challenges

  • Strategy #11: Opening Yourself up to Feedback

  • Bonus Strategy: Always be Learning

  • Bonus Bonus Strategy: Shut up!

• Final Thoughts

It's All About the "Write" Mindset

Writing fiction is a craft that requires not only creativity and imagination, but a tough-as-nails mindset.

Here's the facts:

Nearly everyone and their dog wants to write. A poll that I saw but can’t be bothered to look up again, stated that something like over 80% of people said that writing a novel was one of their goals. Yet only a very small proportion of that group will actually ever do it.

Writing a book is a hard and long process. It requires being dedicated enough over a long period of time and staying enthusiastic about the project even when you are not seeing results (and may never see results).

A positive and productive mindset can be the difference between giving up on your aspirations or seeing them through.

11 Mindset Strategies for Fiction Writers

This post will outline 11 mindset strategies that can help fiction writers develop a positive and productive headspace. These include goal setting and accountability, overcoming blocks, developing a consistent writing routine, staying motivated, and more.

Why is this Important?

Implementing these strategies can have a profound impact on your success as a writer. By taking control of your own mind, you can cultivate the habits, inspiration, and motivation necessary to achieve your writing goals.

Lots of writers know what they should be doing, but it takes a special kind of writer to actually do it and stick to it.

Success for a fiction writer requires the cultivating same tools as successful people in any industry. Don’t think that because you are a creative, you can’t utilize the habits and techniques of the more analytical types.

This post will cover each of the 11 mindset strategies and provide tips and examples to help you implement them into your own writing practice. By the end, hopefully you will have a comprehensive guide to developing a successful writing mindset.

Strategy #1: The Top Level Perspective Shift

To explain this one, I want to tell you a story about an author I worked with in my freelance editing days:

Her debut fantasy novel had just been released. It was fresh from the printers.

There she sat behind the booth at her first Con (Convntion. Come on, guys). She was surrounded by authors in similar circumstances, most with more than a few books under their belts. She only had one to sell; potential buyers were wary of making the investment. That is, buying a book from an unestablished author.

She was nervously awaiting her first sale. People passed by, asking questions about the book and its premise, her writing experience, and so on. Each time, she described the novel with an air of pride, yet made no sale.

A day had gone by, and she'd only sold one book.

The next morning, she returned to her booth, not looking forward to another day of self-doubt.

She gave her editor and friend a call (guess who). Her voice sounded solemn on the phone as she asked, "What sets my book apart from everyone else's? Nobody wants to take a chance on it, no matter how much I talk it up."

I felt for her, but I honestly wasn't worried either. I knew the book was good, and I told her as much.

"That fact that your book is the best one there sets it apart from the rest." And I full-heartedly believed that.

We finished our conversation, and she patiently waited for the next peruser.

Eventually, that person came and asked her the same questions as con-goers the day prior.

Suddenly she remembered what her editor (again, me) had told her over the phone.

Without hesitation, she looked the potential buyer square in the eye and said, "Well, I really wanted this book to be successful. So, I made it good."

That’s it, no lengthy explanation of what it was about or her experiences as a new author.

The customer laughed, taken aback by the boldness of her statement and bought the book.

She sold out that day and even took some pre-orders for the next printing the day after that.

Yes, that was a long story just to reach a simple point, but I truly believe it is the MOST IMPORTANT point I could make. (Perhaps there is a good marketing lesson in there also?)

I will make it again.

If you want your book to be successful, then write a good book.

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Remember this and remember it good:

If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well!

Sounds too simple? Then why aren’t more new writers doing it?

Stan Lee said something similar (I don’t remember when or where; I don’t even think I’m paraphrasing this right but here goes).

He was asked how he makes so many successful, beloved characters, and replied simply with something along the lines of “I make them good.” (Or close to that. Same idea, though.)

Mindset Strategy #1:

Don’t rush. Get it into your head that it takes time to make it as good as it can be. Focus on that, even if it seems to take forever.

Writing a GOOD book takes a long time, a ton of research , endless revisions, hiring editors — plural (ones who know what they are doing, not your best friend, dad, or wife) — getting proper feedback, outlining, structuring, and thinking until your head hurts.

Check out this post here for more on "Making it Good."

Best Writing Advice: Make it Good

Writing Goals and Accountability

Strategy #2: Setting Clear Writing Goals

Setting clear and achievable writing goals is an essential part of developing a successful writing mindset. Goals provide direction and motivation, and give you something to work towards. When setting goals, it’s important to make them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Achievable

R = Relevant

T = Time-bound

For example, instead of simply setting a goal to “write more,” set a goal to “write 500 words a day for the next month.”

Instead of saying “outline my novel,” say “make an outline of every scene in act 1 by Sunday.”

Etc, etc.

Mindset Strategy #2:

Set SMART goals. Write them down and remind yourself everyday that they matter to you and why they matter to you.

Setting goals is a fine thing, but if you are anything like me, you will still have a hell of a time.

So let's get into the next strategy, keeping yourself accountable.

Strategy #3: Accountability

Holding yourself accountable to your writing goals is just as important as setting them in the first place.

One way to do this is by making your goals public, whether that means sharing them with a writing group or posting them on social media. You can also try keeping a writing journal or using an accountability partner to help you stay on track.

However, there is a caveat here.

You must not make goals public that you have no intention of meeting or wont be able to achieve.

For instance, don’t come out on Facebook and tell everyone that you will write 6 books this year.

If you do not meet that goal you become just another social media slag that talks too much and isn’t trustworthy.

Now, I don’t really care if you lose your audiences trust and respect. I do care if you lose your own. One of the hardest things to overcome is a lack of belief in yourself. If you keep telling yourself that you will do something and breaking that promise, you will soon not even try.

Don’t get in the situation where you feel you owe yourself more than you can ever deliver. Start small. “I will write 5 words today.”

It seems ridiculous, but meeting these teeny tiny goals might be just what you need to start trusting yourself again.

Mindset Strategy #3:

Focus your goals on growing trust in yourself, not doing great things.

Staying On Track with Goals and Accountability

There will be days when you don’t feel like writing, or when life gets in the way. That’s why it’s important to have a system in place for staying accountable and on track.

This can include setting reminders, breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks, and rewarding yourself when you reach your goals.

Tips for Success

Here are a few additional tips for success when it comes to writing goals and accountability:

• Be realistic with your goals and give yourself room for growth.

• Celebrate your successes, no matter how small (help build that trust!)

• Don’t beat yourself up over missed goals — instead, reframe them as opportunities for growth. There is no growth without failure.

• Change your perspective on what “failure” means.

• Continuously reassess and adjust your goals as needed.

By setting clear writing goals and holding yourself accountable, you’ll be well on your way to developing a successful writing mindset.

In the next section, we’ll explore how to overcome writer’s block and keep the words flowing.

Overcoming Writer's Block

Strategy #4: Don't be so Hard on Yourself

Writer’s block is a common struggle for many fiction writers, especially in the last few years it seems.

It’s a feeling of frustration or stagnation that can prevent you from putting words on the page. Writer’s block can be caused by a variety of factors, including fear, burnout, or lack of inspiration.

Overcoming writer’s block is crucial to developing a good writing mindset. When you’re blocked, it can be difficult to maintain momentum and make progress on your writing goals.

It becomes a horrible cycle of not being able to write, punishing yourself for not being able to write, and belief that you won’t be able to write that leads to not being able to write.

Breaking through writer’s block can help you get back on track and regain your creative flow. But the first thing you are going to have to do is change your perspective on blocks. We are often far too hard on ourselves when it occurs.

Writer's try to break free by forcing themselves to sit and write anyway, berate themselves for not being good enough, or get discouraged and walk away from writing for extended periods of time.

They take it personally as if it happened because they are not good enough.

But, like I tell my kids when they get frustrated with school, your brain is a computer. It can only process one input at a time. Sometimes it does this so quickly that it seems like it can give many outputs all at once. But sometimes we try to input too many commands at the same time and the computer begins to lag.

Or the little rainbow circle begins to spin and spin.

Now, on a computer we all know that if you try to input more commands when this happens, you'll just make it go even slower. the best thing to do is wait it out or walk away and come back later. It'll get there.

Our brains are the same way. And asking your brain to do something creative and unique takes up a lot of RAM! It'll get there, but by trying to force it you are just slowing it down even more.

Here are some strategies for breaking through writer’s block:

• Try free-writing or brainstorming. Dump every thought in your head out onto paper. it's like clearing the cache (by far the best method for computers and brains.)

• Take a break and do something completely different.

• Read or watch something in a similar genre.

• Work on a different project or write in a different style.

If you are determined to write through the block, don’t worry about quality —you can always go back and clean up bad writing, but you can't clean up nothing at all.

Mindset Strategy #4

Don’t be too hard on yourself — everyone experiences writer’s block. Clear the cache of your brain by brainstorming or doing something else.

Writing Routine and Discipline

Developing a consistent writing routine is an important part of a success. When you have a routine in place, you’ll be able to make steady progress on your writing goals and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the industry.

Strategy #5: Singular Focus

Building a writing routine can take some trial and error, but the key is to find what works best for you. Some writers prefer to write first thing in the morning, while others do their best work late at night. Consider your natural schedule and energy levels when building your routine. It’s also important to set aside dedicated time for writing each day, even if it’s only for a short period of time.

For some of us it can be difficult to keep a schedule. Life is nuts. Maybe you have a litter of kids, maybe you work a day job that requires you work at all different hours every day.

Sometimes it is better to not think it terms of schedules at all. For me this was definitely the case.

I'm a work-from-home single mom who also homeschools my two kids. Sometimes my house is total chaos. And I have never been one of these people who is able to stick to firm schedules and routines. I'm a creative. I'm all the over the place.

That is why I don't recommend schedules for writers. You never know when inspiration will hit you or if it will at all. Instead, I follow the rule of finding your singularity—the one thing that you can focus on that will make the biggest impact in your writing.

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For some that might be getting words on paper, maybe that is finding mistakes and filling plot hole. Then set a number of those that you will do each day.

As long as you do that every single day, it doesn't matter when or where you do it. It just has to happen. Reach that same boring goal everyday and the next thing you know your book is finished.

For example, you have determined that your singular focus is writing your first draft. You decide you'll write 1000 words a day. After 60 days you will have a 60,000 word book. Maybe you aren't at that stage, instead you make outlining dialogue your singularity. you focus only on writing lines of dialogue everyday until you are finished.

You might say: I draft 100 lines of dialogue every single day.

the key is to not veer from your focus until the task is 100% complete. Only then will you begin worrying about some other task.

Mindset Strategy #5:

Become a single-minded simpleton. Pick a task that must be done every day that will get you toward your goal and do it no matter what — work that into your day however necessary and never veer of course until it is completed.

Strategy #6: The Record Keeper

In order to maintain your writing routine and make steady progress, discipline is key. This means making a commitment to writing each day, even when you don’t feel like it. It also means avoiding distractions and staying focused during your designated writing time.

One of the best things I added to my writing was journalling. I write down everything I am thinking, everything I did, and everything I want to do at the end of the day before I go to bed.

I used to force myself to do it for only a few minutes, but now I find myself turning off all devices and sitting down to write in my journal for hours before bedtime.

It helps me to stay motivated, get ideas out of my head, keep myself accountable and more. Plus is gets me off devices and ready for sleep. By the time I’m done, I fall right off. You must become a record keeper of your own life.

Another reason to keep a record of your day and the thoughts in your head, is you become more aware of your surroundings over time. Pay attention to the things around you and write them down to keep as fodder for your novels.

Be an Inspiration Hoarder

Mindset Strategy #6:

Adopt the mindset that everything going on around you at all times is important and worth paying attention to. Keep a record of what you are doing and organize your thoughts on paper regularly.

Staying Motivated and Overcoming Setbacks

Strategy #7: Change Your Definition of 'Motivation'

Staying motivated is a crucial part of a successful writing. When you’re motivated, you’ll be able to overcome challenges and make progress on your writing goals.

But before I get into how to stay motivated and why we lose it in the first place, I want to try and change your perspective on what motivation is.

I used to struggle with depression and did for most of my life, there are many reasons for this that I don’t need to get into, but one thing that always seemed the hardest was getting motivated to do any task that I knew I had to do, or wanted to do.

Long story short, I discovered something later in life that I wish I knew early on:

You don’t get to be motivated if you haven’t started yet.

Motivation is not a prerequisite to movement. It is the result of movement. It is the reward for doing something. Motivation can only come after you have started.

Say you do not want to write. Or you do want to write but you just can’t bring yourself to do it. It is hard and you are tired. You just can’t.

You are unmotivated.

However, if you force yourself to even just sit at your desk, maybe tell yourself that you are going to write only one sentence today (everyone can write a single sentence) your reward for that small suffering will be an equal amount of motivation to write a second sentence.

Suffer through writing 2 pages, your reward is the motivation to write 2 more pages, maybe more.

Maybe this isn’t going to work for everyone, we are all different. But this shift in perspective about motivation changed my life.

Mindset Strategy #7:

Stop putting weight on “motivation” and learn to love suffering. Know that suffering through is the only way to earn the motivation you seek.

Strategy #8: Self-belief

If you do not believe in your own ability to succeed, why even try? Unfortunately, a lack of self-belief is what stops most people from trying to fulfill their dream of writing. Remember at the very beginning I shared a possibly misremembered statistic that 80% of people said they wanted to write a novel?

This is why 80% of people actually haven't written a novel.

But I'm going to surprise you by starting this conversation about self-belief by talking about your friends. The all-time best way to increase your self belief is to surround yourself with supportive people. People who want you to succeed.

People who actually believe in you.

It took me a long time to realize that most of the people in my life didn’t care if I succeeded or not and were just providing lip service to my hopes and dreams. Even worse, some of the people in my life were actively trying to bring me down or wanted to see me fail for some reason or another.

How can you possibly learn to believe in yourself if you are constantly surrounded by people who don't believe in you? It's a horrible cycle of you either trying to prove yourself to them or feeling belittled by them or both.

Your circle DOES matter. It's matters a whole lot. If everyone around you in a leeching, leching bum, than you need to get rid of them immediately. Even if that means you get to be alone for a for while.

(But, is alone time really a bad thing for writers? You don't retreat to a secluded writer's cabin in the woods to get always from all the silence...)

This is by far one of the hardest lessons I ever learned. I needed to purge friends and many family members from my life before I got the pace to breathe. Enough space that I was able to see how little I needed their validation.

Now, I understand that finding a good circle of supportive people can be hard. But there is someone that is often least supportive of all who we just can’t seem to get rid of.

You guessed it. That person is you.

Mindset Strategy #8:

Learn to become your own support system. If you do not believe in yourself, don’t expect others to do it for you.

Strategy #9: Find Your Writer's Purpose

Setbacks are a normal part of the writing process.

But I believe you will have an incredibly hard time overcoming them unless you have a set of values worked into your writing.

What does this mean?

This means that you must have a reason for writing that goes beyond the finished project. You find meaning in the process and not the result.

When your purpose for writing in tightly tied to your values and the meaning of your life, you aren't going to be phased by setbacks. You find meaning in the act of writing, and don't place all the value of writing on the end result.

A mistake in any business.

Mindset Strategy #9:

Discover your “destiny.” Figure out the life’s purpose behind why you write. Learn to love the process because the act of writing itself provides meaning.

I wrote a post specifically about this titled, "Why Write? Finding Meaning Through Your Fiction"

Developing a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset refers to a belief in the ability to develop and grow through effort and learning. First of all, there are far too many people out there who belief that way they are now is the way they have to be forever. And thank the gods that is not true!

Who I am now is lightyears from who I was 15 years ago, and I bet the same is true for you. Especially if right now you are younger than 15!

But we can change. We can become the people we need to be to create the success in our lives that we want to have. The first step is believing that it is even possible to do.

Think:

How great would it be if you were no longer constrained by your habits, the things that happened to you in the past, your negative thoughts, or anything else that is holding you back?

Well you can. You first need to accept that you can, and then as for your bad habit, in the words of the late Bob Newhart, "just stop it!"

(best advice you'll ever get)

There are a few key areas I want to focus on for developing a growth mindset because these things are what helped me grow as a writer and a person.

Strategy #10: Change Your Perspective on Challenges

As a writer, embracing challenges and viewing them as opportunities for growth is an important step in the creative journey.

Challenges allow you to push the boundaries of your comfort zone, experiment with new styles, and hone your skills. The fear of the unknown can often be a hindrance to creativity, but facing that fear head-on and accepting challenges can lead to unexpected and exciting outcomes.

I think a lot of writer's blocks stem for not practicing stepping out of your comfort zone enough. As soon as you get to that point in your writer, the brain just shuts down. Like when my kids don't want to go somewhere and they turn into limp noodles in my arms.

By embracing challenges, you open yourself up to new perspectives and ways of thinking, which in turn can spark new ideas and inspiration.

Overcoming challenges can boost your confidence over time, helping you to tackle even bigger challenges in the future. Challenges are a necessary part of growth for any writer and should be embraced, not feared.

Even if those challenges come with failure. Failure is often the best lesson of all.

Mindset Strategy #10:

Embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for growth.

Strategy #11: Opening Yourself up to Feedback

Self-reflection and seeking feedback from outside sources are important practices for writers looking to improve their craft.

Regularly taking the time to reflect on your writing, analyze what works and what doesn’t, and identify areas for improvement can help you grow as a writer but also a person.

Learning to actively look for someone to tell me I looked fat in me jeans (figuratively of course) was one of the hardest things I ever did. It made me realize just how insecure about my writing I really was. Which is crazy because, I'm really good! :P

Furthermore, seeking feedback from others, such as beta readers, writing groups, or writing coaches, can provide valuable insights into how your writing is being received and perceived by others. This outside perspective can highlight weaknesses that you may have missed in your own self-reflection, as well as offer new ideas and suggestions for improvement.

It also prepares you for the inevitable rough treatment from some readers or editors, agents, publishers, etc.

Just make sure that you are not letting emotions get in the way. Sometimes our egos can get bruised and we become blind to help criticism, or the opposite where we begin to doubt ourselves so much that we fail to use our own judgment and fail to notice bad advice.

Mindset Strategy #11:

Practice self-reflection and be open to feedback, but be a critical-thinker to keep your hand firmly on the wheel of your own journey.

Bonus Strategy: Always be Learning

As a writer, it is important to always be in a state of learning and growth.

The writing process should never become stagnant, and writers should always be open to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of thinking. Rather than accepting things as “settled” or “known,” writers should question everything they feel and know, constantly seeking new ways to challenge themselves and push the boundaries of their creativity.

By staying curious, we can deepen our understanding of the world around us and find new sources of inspiration for our writing.

In essence, writers should view the act of learning and questioning as a lifelong pursuit, one that will ultimately lead to growth and mastery of the craft. don't accept all advice as good advice. For god sakes use your own head!

Bonus Strategy:

Don’t get stuck on knowledge as “settled.” Question everything you hold as hard truth.

Bonus Bonus Strategy: Shut up!

I'm not content with just one bonus. It is related to the last in that you can’t continue to learn without it.

It was also the hardest lesson I have ever learned and one of the hardest things I have ever attempted. Though, I continue to have to work on it everyday.

That is:

Bonus Bonus Strategy:

Stop talking and listen. You can’t learn if you’re lips are always flapping!

Listen to everyone, even if you hate every damn thing about them. They still have lived a whole life of experiences you haven’t lived. Assume they have something to teach you.

If anything, you can get a deep understanding of them to write them into your next story as a villain or cannon-fodder character.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a successful fiction writer requires a combination of skills, techniques, but most importantly, the right mindset for the job.

By developing a consistent writing routine and discipline, staying motivated, overcoming setbacks, and ensuring you're always learning, you'll be well on your way to becoming the successful fiction writer you've always dreamed of.

With these strategies, hopefully you'll be able to approach the writing process with confidence and make steady progress towards your writing goals.

Here are the 11+2 strategies in case you cheated and scrolled to the bottom.

(Shame on you! I put a lot of wisdom and hard word into these posts. All this work for you, and you treat me like this? What are you, my ex-husband...? I'm sorry. No, you're right. It was my fault, I should have made this beast a series. It's too long....what was I thinking? Stupid, stupid, stupid girl)

List of strategies we discussed just for you, lazy bones:

1. Don’t rush. Get it into your head that it takes time to make it as good as it can be. Focus on that, even if it seems to take forever.

2. Set SMART goals. Write them down and remind yourself everyday that they matter to you and why they matter to you.

3. Focus your goals on growing trust in yourself, not doing great things.

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself — everyone experiences writer’s block. Clear the cache of your brain by brainstorming or doingsomething else.

5. Become a single-minded simpleton. Pick a task that must be done every day that will get you toward your goal and do it no matter what — work that into your day however necessary and never veer of course until it is completed.

6. Adopt the mindset that everything going on around you at all times is important and worth paying attention to. Keep a record of what you are doing and organize your thoughts on paper regularly.

7. Stop putting weight on “motivation” and learn to love suffering. Know that suffering through is the only way to earn the motivation you seek.

8. Learn to become your own support system. If you do not believe in yourself, don’t expect others to do it for you.

9. Discover your “destiny.” Figure out the life’s purpose behind why you write. Learn to love the process because the act of writing itself provides meaning.

10. Embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for growth.

11. Practice self-reflection and be open to feedback, but be a critical-thinker to keep your hand firmly on the wheel of your own journey.

12. Don’t get stuck on knowledge as “settled.” Question everything you hold as hard truth.

13. Stop talking and listen. You can’t learn if your lips are always flapping!

This was a long one, huh? If you made it all the way through, write "Success!" in the comments.

And then keep on writing your novel!

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