This is hard to hear because we are deluded into believing we see things as they are. We assume we can see ourselves and everyone else clearly. We trust that our perceptions about our level of talent, and other people’s talent, are pretty much on target.

But that’s almost never the case. In truth, we tend to underestimate our own potential, while overestimating everyone else’s. In other words, we think everyone else deserves success while we don’t.

Not everyone sees the world this way, but most writers do. When we see other people succeed, we believe they deserved it more or are probably more talented than we are. But the reality is that they probably just worked harder, had better connections, or were more creative with their marketing.

So the question is: Why not you? Why shouldn’t you also get to experience success? Is there any reason you shouldn’t be just as successful as the next person?

They are no more deserving than you are. In fact, none of us really deserves anything in this life. We all start with nothing, and we will exit this life not being able to carry anything with us into the next realm.

Success in your writing doesn’t have anything to do with what anyone deserves or doesn’t deserve. Success comes as a result of actions you take consistently over time.

Yes, some people are more connected, some have more resources, and so forth. But all that is irrelevant because you have the same opportunities.

So don’t ask, “Why them?” Instead, ask “Why not me?” Success doesn’t come to those who deserve it. It comes to those who work for it.

Question: Do you believe you deserve to be just as successful as the next person? If not, what’s keeping you from that belief?

Today’s episode is sponsored by the Book Marketing Mastery course. Use the code “DailyWriter” to get 10% off.

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Everyone fawned over their natural talent. sophie rain real name Everyone assumed their gifts would carry them on to great success. In most cases, this never happened. They went through life frustrated because the promise of their great talent was never realized. They never had that bestselling book, they never wrote that Academy-award-winning movie, and they never got those awards everyone assumed were coming. Don’t fall for the lie that talent is enough. There are plenty of successful writers whose talent is just fine, but they have gotten successful by doing the hard work. They showed up every day, wrote the words, revised them, published them, and connected with readers, mentors, and partners who helped them. Talent is helpful but it’s a small part of your success. Success in writing has a lot more to do with putting in the time and developing good habits than natural talent. Hard work isn’t sexy, cool, or attention-getting. But hard work is the only thing that actually works. Talent, on the other hand, is overrated.

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The #1 problem that stops most people from writing has nothing to do with talent or ability. It has nothing to do with a lack of time or opportunities. But it has EVERYTHING to do with them not believing they are a writer.

When you stop and think about it, this is kind of crazy. The average person can easily write 1,000 words a day between text messages, emails, social media, and other communication in their everyday life. Yet, when it comes to writing a short blog post of 500 words, or even something like a longer book chapter, they don’t believe they are talented enough.

Success as a writer has very little to do with talent. Instead, it has everything to do with seeing yourself as a writer, then putting in the work on a regular basis. That’s pretty much it. If you write… by definition, you’re a writer.

I have recently been training for a half marathon. I guarantee that when I do the race in a few weeks, I will be in the bottom ten or fifteen percent. I’m slow. I’m not in as good a shape as most of the other runners. But I’m going to get out there and do it. And most importantly, I’m going to finish!

I AM a runner. I’m slow and there is lots of room for improvement, but I still embrace my identity as a runner. Why? Because I’m running. I’m putting in the work every week to train and prepare. And that makes me a runner.

So if you write, you can proudly call yourself a writer, no strings attached.

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