As they say, there is nothing new under the sun. When you look at the millions of books, blogs, podcasts, and magazine articles that have been created, what could you possibly say that is unique?

The answer is simple. What makes your writing unique is not that you’re writing about something new. It’s the fact that it’s you who is writing it. You are the unique factor in the equation.

Unique means “one of a kind.” And there is only one of you in the world.

Your unique combination of skills, experience, and viewpoint is what makes your writing worth reading. You might be writing about the same things as a hundred other people, but they’re not saying it in the way you say it.

So how does this inform your writing? The novelist Barbara Kingsolver has the answer. She said, “Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”

As it turns out, the only thing you have to offer is also the best thing you have to offer. There will only ever be one of you in the world. There is only one person who can speak with your voice. Don’t waste the opportunity to let us hear it.

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No matter why you write, there is a common element that ties all writers together. We are all on a journey of discovery. We don’t just write to express what we think. We write in order to discover what we think.

For many writers, it goes even deeper than that. It’s an itch they keep on scratching, but it never seems to quite go away. This itch is what we call a life theme. It’s a theme, a statement, or an idea that ties your body of work together.

This isn’t true for all writers. But for most, it is. They write because there is a singular theme that resonates from their soul. It’s a golden thread that ties it all together.

This was true of Maya Angelou. She said, “In all my work what I try to say is that as human beings we are more alike than we are unalike.” That was her golden thread.

Is there a theme or idea that you keep coming back to? Something you’re trying to say, but you never quite feel you get it right? That feeling of not getting it quite right is not an indication that you’re inadequate. It’s a sign that you still have more to say.

Don’t be afraid of your golden thread. In fact, lean into it. The more you do, the more your writing will resonate with people because it represents the truth of who you are and how you see the world.

And if you have been true to your golden thread, someday you’ll be able to look back on your body and work and see how that golden thread has been woven into a stunning tapestry.

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But how do you actually go about doing this? Let me give you an example and then let’s talk about some simple ways to get clear on your message.

Here’s an example that you’re already familiar with because you’re listening to this podcast. The core message of the Daily Writer, which is my “brand” so to speak, is this: a regular writing habit is the foundation of everything else you want as a writer. Nothing else will happen until you write regularly.

Here’s the trick: I don’t think it is a matter of creating your message. It’s a matter of identifying it. You already know what it is. It’s the thing you talk about, write about, and like to research and think about.

You can also identify it this way: What makes you upset? What breaks your heart? What injustice or wrong do you want to correct in the world? This helps identify your passion.

Your core message is where your passion, your knowledge and gifts, and people’s needs come together. If you can figure out a message or core idea that meets all those, then you have a winner.

And when you hit on your core message, it must have an element of transformation built into it. How does it change people? How does it benefit their lives?

If you don’t know what your core message is, then your readers won’t either. Take a little time to put some thought into this, and it will have a radical impact on your writing.

Question: What is the message or topic where your passion, knowledge, and people’s needs

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Second, focusing on one core message gives you momentum. Readers are confused when a writer talks about different things all the time. If you write a book on gardening, then one on how to become an attorney, then a third that is sci-fi fiction, then a fourth that is devotional for teens, people will probably tune out because they don’t know what box to put you in as far as topics go.

The more you talk about a particular topic, the more you will become known as an expert on that topic. Over the last few years, I have mostly only talked about writing as far as my public image goes. I talk about it consistently, to the extent now where that is my public identity as far as what people know me for.

The same is true for you. Focus on one thing and talk about it consistently over time through a blog, books, podcast, and other content, and you will be known as the expert on that topic.

And third, focusing on a core message or topic is going to give you a lot of energy. I absolutely love talking about writing not just because I’m passionate about it and it helps people, but also because now it has become a business that not only gives me income–it also is simply fun to do so. It gives me a lot of emotional energy.

All these are true for you as well. When you focus on one more message, you will have more focus, momentum, and energy as well.

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After all, you have so many things you want to share! So many life experiences! So many things you’re learning now! So much happening in the world around you, and in your life personally!

But there is a disconnect between what you personally experience in the world, and what your reader needs from you. It’s important to pay attention to this, particularly if you want to build a career or have a business as a writer.

Why? Because your audience is going to expect one main message from you, for the most part.

You might have many things you want to say. You have a lot of messages and ideas that are important to you. But people only have space in their brains to associate you with one core thing.

You might be passionate about ten different things, but you can’t build a business around ten different things, at least not in the beginning. So it’s important to choose just one single core message.

If you look at any successful author, 95% of the time they have one basic message, or one basic viewpoint, they are sharing. Stephen King writes about the horror of life. Joanna Penn writes about resources for authors in her nonfiction. Ryan Holiday writes about stoicism. Michael Hyatt writes about productivity and leadership.

The cold, hard truth is that people are going to put you in a box as a writer. They are going to associate you with one core message or truth primarily. So it’s not only a good business practice to stick with that one thing, but it also makes your life as a writer much easier in the long run.

It doesn’t mean you can’t deviate from that one central message, but it does mean that for the most part, you’re going to be associated with that one thing, so choose carefully and use that to your advantage.

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So far, I’ve given you a quick introduction to The Writer’s Path, why it’s important, and I’ve shared a bit of my story of traveling the path myself. Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll learn more detail about each of these seven milestones. I’ll explain what it is and also share the biggest challenge you will face as you try to achieve it. I’ll also give you some examples of people who have built a writing business using this pathway.

Let’s dig into Milestone #1: Clarify a powerful message for a specific audience.

Why it’s important: In order to have a strong business, you need a specific point of view of the world. You need a clear message that is the basis for everything else you do. Every business does this. They have a mission of some kind.

Remember: you are not for everyone. You should have one main thing to say, or one main thing you do, for each business you have. When you have a bunch of conflicting messages, people get confused and they tune out.

Think of Apple products. Now it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Apple products. If you think of their core value, or their core message, what is it? It’s basically this: we build superior products for an audience who appreciates integration and a great design aesthetic. They have consistently followed that over-arching mission for many years.

You need to do the same thing. It’s important for you to have one single clear message that you are sharing in your writing.

For the Daily Writer Club, my message is: The Daily Writer Club is a supportive and engaged membership community that helps you clarify a powerful message, write books and content to serve your readers, grow your network and online platform, earn an income from your writing and services, and develop habits for wellness and success.

It’s also important to choose a specific type of person you’re serving. Again: you’re not for everyone. Don’t try to write for everyone. Choose one type of person with a specific set of needs or interests. For example, my specific audience is writers who want to build a business with their writing but are looking for community and resources to do that.

Here is the big challenge in choosing one overall message and a specific audience: you will be tempted to expand and try to reach everyone. So be disciplined and focused in your message and audience. Do a deep dive into the needs, desires, problems, and frustrations of that audience and create material specifically for them.

Daily Question: What is your core message, and who is your specific audience?

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Having a place to write, and having an audience who expects your work on a regular, consistent basis is a great way to develop a writing habit because it puts the pressure on you to deliver. And that’s what professionals do—they deliver on time.

One of the challenges, however, is that you can produce words that don’t come from a place of passion and meaning. When you’re writing on schedule, it’s easy to become a bit of a robot, cranking out words on demand.

There has to be a balance in there. Passion and regularity. Meaning and discipline. The fire of writing, but also the consistency of lighting that fire.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you’ve got something to say.” So what is it that you want to say?

If you feel consumed by the demands of a writing schedule, take a moment to dig down deep and really think about what you want to say. Don’t let it get lost in the shuffle of schedules and expectations. Don’t quench the fire.

Daily Question: What is the one single message you most want to convey to the world through your writing?

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This is the third entry in our mini-series on dealing with rejection.

The publishing world has changed radically in the last fifteen years or so. In the past, you would have to go through some kind of gatekeeper in order to get your message heard by others. This typically meant finding an agent, who would then pitch your book to publishers until one of them offered you a contract.

But you no longer need to do this. Of course, you still CAN, but there are plenty of other options, such as hybrid publishing or self-publishing. You don’t need anybody’s permission these days to get your writing out to readers.

Rejection doesn’t only happen when it comes to publishing. You can also be rejected by podcasters, social media people, book reviewers, collaborators, and clients, among others. The possibility of rejection lies around every single corner.

And so does the possibility of acceptance. As my friend Vincent Pugliese, host of The Total Life Freedom Podcast says, “Go where you’re celebrated.”

For every person who rejects you, there are a hundred who will love you. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find and gather those people. Then YOU will become the gatekeeper who has the power and credibility to help others.

Daily Question: Are you relying on any gatekeepers for your success? What can you do to move past them and create your own success?

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Here is one of the most interesting paradoxes of successful writers: the more books someone writes, the more obvious their one true message is.

“What is the one true message?” you might ask. The “one true message” is the singular theme that dominates most of a writer’s content.

Here are some examples:

The adventure author Jon Krakauer writes about human drama in life-or-death outdoor situations, such as hiking or mountain climbing.

The novelist J. K. Rowling writes about what it means to be a hero in the context of a fantasy world.

The novelist Stephen King writes about the dark side of humanity in the context of horror stories.

The personal development guru John Maxwell writes about leadership.

The historian David McCullough writes about the humanity behind American historical figures.

In essence, it’s many books, but one message. You might say, “What about the books that aren’t tied to an author’s central message?” The vast majority of the time, those books are somehow tied into their main message, also.

What about you? What’s your one true message? If you can’t articulate it just yet, that’s okay. It takes time and writing a lot of words before you figure it out. Your message gets more clear and more authentic, the more you write.

So, get started on that next project. The pathway will become clearer as you continue to press ahead.

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