Writers don’t think about what we do in terms of power. We use words like creativity, craft, platform, audience, and entrepreneurship.

But power? It’s a concept that seems a little old-fashioned, if not outright outdated these days.

Power is just influence. When you have power as a writer, you can change people’s minds. You can tell a story that has an impact. You can write books, sermons, articles, or other content and know that it can influence other people.

If power as a writer is a good thing, how do you get it? There are many ways, such as having the right connections or even just getting lucky. But those are external situations that you can’t predict or control.

There is only one surefire way to become powerful as a writer. Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale, said it best: “A word after a word after a word is power.” (By the way, this was the title of a 2019 documentary where she discusses her life and work.)

The meaning of the phrase is pretty obvious: when you put down one word after another, eventually you wind up with something you can share. And when you accumulate those words, and they become books, screenplays, speeches, or other types of shareable content, they can have more power than you can possibly imagine.

Your words have power. So, get out there today and put down not just one word, but a word after a word after a word.

Today’s Challenge: Whenever you write today, remember: words are powerful, and you can use this power for good in the world.

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It’s natural to feel angry and frustrated when there is so much division and our normal sense of life has been disrupted. And why not? That’s what everyone else is doing. It’s also easy to let yourself slip into a cynical attitude about life.

A cynic is a person who assumes the worst about everyone. They believe everyone acts out of self-interest, and any appearance of good behavior or generosity is just a ploy for someone to get what they want.

Lots of entertainment is based on this notion of human behavior. For example, the most popular sitcom of all time, Seinfeld, was based on a pessimistic view of human nature. In fact, the mantra of the show was that no characters would ever grow or learn anything.

That’s fun to watch on TV, but it doesn’t work in real life. You can’t be a positive influence in someone’s life if you only believe the worst about people.

The great author F. Scott Fitzgerald, said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”

It’s true, this is a dark time in history where we have a few more crises than usual. But don’t give in to negative attitudes of everyone around you. This period we’re in right now may seem hopeless. But as writers and creators, we are part of the solution. We must not be part of the problem.

The pessimists and cynics may have their moment. But in the end, cynics don’t change the world. Hope always wins, every time.

Question: Would you describe yourself as a person of hope or as a cynic? Why?

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Writers don’t think about what we do in terms of power. We use words like creativity, craft, platform, audience, and entrepreneurship. But power? It’s a concept that seems a little old-fashioned, if not outright outdated these days.

Power is just influence. When you have power as a writer, you can change people’s minds. You can tell a story that has impact. You can write books, blog posts, articles, or other content to influence other people.

If power as a writer is a good thing, how do you get it? There are many ways, and those ways can include having the right connections or, sometimes. even just getting lucky. But those are external situations that you can’t predict or control.

There is only one surefire way to accumulate power as a writer. Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale, said it best: “A word after a word after a word is power.” (By the way, this was the title of a 2019 documentary where she discusses her life and work.)

The meaning of the phrase is pretty obvious: when you put down one word after another, eventually you wind up with something you can share. And when you accumulate those words, and they become books, screenplays, speeches, or other types of shareable content, they can have more power than you can possibly imagine.

As Tears for Fears sang in their 1985 hit song, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” However, not everybody can write, or even wants to write. That’s too bad because they are missing out on an incredible opportunity to use their writing power to influence other people.

But we know better. We know our words have power. So, let’s get out there today and put down not just one word, but a word after a word after a word.

Question: What do you think about the concept of being powerful because of your words? Does it make you comfortable or uncomfortable?

The post A Word After a Word is Power appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

It’s a beautiful analogy for the power of your words. Your words can cut people down to the bone with sarcasm and criticism. Or they can bring life through wonderful storytelling, personal experiences, or inspiring content. The choice is yours.

Question: As you use your words today, will they bring life or death?

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Nothing could be further from the truth. Every single day is unique. It will never come around again. You only have this one shot, this one opportunity to live these twenty-four hours.

So you must treat today like the gift it truly is.

As a result, we have to treat our audience the same way. We have to show up every day, ready to write, ready to create, ready to serve. They deserve the best you can give.

The legendary singer Tony Bennett said, “If you walk out there like it’s just another night, the audience is going to treat you the same way.” Wise words from a man who has been entertaining and serving audiences for decades.

Question: Are you treating this day as the gift it truly is?

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In one scene, just after George’s mother slams the door in his face because she doesn’t know him, the angel Clarence can see he is distressed. He tells George, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

George Bailey had a chance to see what life would have been like without him. He had no idea that he had changed the lives of every person in Bedford Falls.

What about you? Do you know how many lives you have impacted through your writing and your overall life? It’s far more than you know. The world would be less without your influence, your words, your inspiration, your story.

Don’t doubt it for one second. You’ve really had a wonderful life, and you’ve made others more wonderful because of it.

Daily Question: If given the chance to see what the world would be like without you, would you take it?

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In your life as a writer, there are many things you get to choose: how and when you write, what kind of material you create, the type of platform you want to build, and so much more.

But there is one thing none of us gets to decide: the times in which we live.

Right now is a period of civil unrest, religious conflict, an uncertain economy, political leaders people don’t trust, and a pace of change that is far too fast than most of us are comfortable with. However, you could say the same for any period of history.

Don’t spend your time and emotional energy worrying about things you can’t change. Instead, focus on setting and achieving your goals, being productive, and adding value to the world through your writing. After all, it’s the only thing you really have any control over.

Daily Question: How much time and energy do you spend on things you can control versus things you can’t?

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One of the most critical truths of living in the modern world is that we are all connected. As the poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” (And neither is any woman, of course.) And because you are the type of writer who wants to be generous, the kind of writer who gives more than you take, you will want to discover ways to support the important work of other writers.

After all, the world needs more great writing, and you also want to continue expanding your relationships. Here are five ways to accomplish both things.

1. Write personal messages to authors whose books you enjoy. You can find email addresses, social media accounts, or at the very least, website contact forms for almost any author in the world. Let them know how their book impacted you and why you loved it. It will mean the world to them.
2. Engage with their non-book content. Most authors have email lists and social media accounts. Many also have their own podcasts or video channels. Like, share, comment, subscribe, and support the material they are creating.
3. Buy their books, share them on social media, and give copies away to your friends. You not only support the author’s livelihood, you also become your friends’ favorite person by giving them unexpected gifts.
4. Write book reviews. After you post a review on an online retailer site, take a screenshot and post it on social media. Make sure to tag the author. Reviews are the lifeblood of an author’s business. If you want others to leave book reviews for you, you must do the same for others.
5. Share quotes from their books. You can do this via social media, email, podcasts, or other means. It’s a simple way to spread a book’s message in a short, digestible way.

None of these actions have to be complicated. If you just take five minutes per day to do one or two of these, it will make a huge difference for the authors you support… and will grow your own influence as well.

Daily Question: Who are three authors you could support with these strategies in the next twenty-four hours?

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How do you respond to successful writers? The ones with bestselling books, large platforms, or lots of influence?

When it comes to dealing with them, we commonly have two different responses. Either we dismiss their success as dumb luck, or we ignore them because their success reinforces our own insecurity. If you have ever responded this way, don’t feel bad. Every creative person on the planet has felt this way at times.

Our natural creative pride makes it hard to put ourselves in a learning position. But that is the only way we can grow.

A major key to success is putting yourself in the orbit of other successful writers. This can include people whom you’ll never meet, as well as people you can develop a personal relationship with.

Let’s take two examples. Stephen King and another writer you know personally who is more successful than you. Chances are pretty slim that you will ever be able to convince Stephen King to mentor you personally. However, there are plenty of interviews and articles about his writing habits and approach to storytelling. You can learn from all of these.

But even more powerful is the writer you get to know personally. Invite them out to lunch, have them as a guest on your podcast, subscribe to their newsletter and develop a dialogue with them, or join their course or mastermind. You will be amazed at the openness other successful writers have about sharing their strategies and what they have learned from their failures.

This is the exact reason I continue to pay to be a part of masterminds, courses, retreats, and conferences. I invest in myself because my future success depends on it. So many writers aren’t willing to invest time or money into their creativity or business. But when you do, you’ll immediately set yourself apart and get yourself on the fast track to more success.

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