We can easily see how this applies to people in sales, marketing, or other business-related positions. But how does this apply to writers?

Here’s a simple principle to remember: Writing is not about the words. It’s about the people who are affected by your words.

This means we not only try to write well, but we keep in mind whom we’re writing for. We’re writing for human beings who are pretty much just trying to get through life on a daily basis.

We’re writing for that single mother who is struggling. For that teenager who is trying to fit in. For that new father who feels a new weight of responsibility. For that man in his 50s who just found out he has advanced prostate cancer.

More than anything, people want to have hope. Hope comes in many forms. It can look like self-help books, podcasts, novels, short stories, blog posts, business books, or many other things.

We writers are called to be brokers of hope. Our currency is the words we use. Whatever you’re working on today, think about the faces of the people who will read those words. Remember that your words can bring them hope by making them laugh, cry, reflect, or take action toward their dreams.

Could there be any better calling than this?

The post Writers are Brokers of Hope appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

The creators are the ones who make things. They make buildings, cars, computers, books, plays, speeches, movies, rockets, and so much more.

The creators are the ones who move society forward. They invent. They design. They use their creative powers to stick their necks out, add value to others, and risk being criticized by those who don’t like what they do.

Critics, on the other hand, play a limited role in society. They are the ones who stay safely in the distance. They spend most of their energy pointing out the flaws in other people’s creative work.

There have always been critics, of course. And they do have a certain value in culture. We need people who can offer intelligent reflection and commentary on culture. But make no mistake, this is not where the real action is. The real action lies in creating something.

Which would you rather be, the creator who makes things for critics to comment on… or the critic who just rides the creator’s coattails?

The French novelist Gustave Flaubert said, “A man is a critic when he cannot be an artist, in the same way that a man becomes an informer when he cannot be a soldier.”

It’s easier to be a critic. And why not? You get to sit back and relax while other people do the work. Then you get to offer your opinion and commentary… all while never taking one ounce of risk.

Choose to be a creator. Choose to be the one who puts in the work and adds value to society. Choose to create with your words and through other means.

Don’t fall into the trap of just being a critic.

Question: What kinds of things are you creating now?

The post Are You a Creator or a Critic? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Tim is also the host of the Build a Winning Team podcast, where he offers listeners actionable advice as he interviews some of the top leaders in business. Tim lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Katie, and their two kids.

Make sure to grab the first two chapters of The Secret Society of Success for free at SecretSocietyFree.com.

The post Redefining Success as a Writer with Tim Schurrer appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

As it turns out, the best way to help yourself is to be more generous with others. The key is that jealousy is rooted in taking. Generosity is rooted in giving.

You can be generous in a million different ways. The point is to find another person who you can help in some way. It doesn’t need to involve a big plan, or even cost you anything. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and you’ll be surprised at the simple ways you can help others.

Since you’re a writer, I would recommend that the very best place to start is by buying someone’s book and sharing it on social media. That’s a simple, yet very effective way to support a writer. And in the process of thinking more about how to help others rather than fixating on what other people are doing and feeling bad about yourself, you will begin to transform your emotions.

Daily Question: Who is one writer in your circle whose book you can purchase and share?

The post How Can You Help? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.