by Ruth Belena

Created on: February 03, 2010

Discipline can make a big contribution to your writing success. If you want to be a good writer you should practice self control, or you could waste a lot of valuable writing time. A strict writing routine can prevent distractions, dreams or deliberations getting in the way of good writing, and that is the main reason why discipline is important for writing success

Deliberating and worrying can damage self confidence. Serious concern over what to write and fears about meeting deadlines could possibly result in writer's block and negative thinking could prevent you from being a good writer. It will take some self discipline to focus more on what you can achieve, but it is worth developing a positive attitude.

You can aspire to be a best selling author but there is much more to writing than having creative talent. It is necessary to discipline yourself when you want to advance as a writer. You can be a good writer by concentrating on ways to improve writing skills and increase writing ability. If you are not busy writing you are not developing as a writer

You also need discipline for research and fact-checking. It is easy sometimes to become too involved in the search for background information, and you might end up doing a lot of extra reading and note-taking rather than compiling lists of facts, sources and cross references. While it is necessary to be thorough in your research, and important to write authentically, you should take care not allow practical tasks to take up too much time.

Communication and regular networking are essential activities when you need to find freelance writing jobs, or have to promote your own writing. Without discipline it can be easy to waste time networking when you should be writing. When you restrict the amount of time spent on social sites, exchanging messages and posting in forums, you can be a good writer and catch up with messages during scheduled breaks from writing.

Have pride in your writing and always remember who it is you are writing for. It takes discipline to follow publishing guidelines and to submit writing on time. An editor or a publisher can request you to make changes, even to rewrite a short piece or an entire section of a book.  You should value all constructive criticism and take any good advice you are given. It is also important to discipline yourself not to be discouraged by rejection and continue to take pleasure in being a writer.
 
You can achieve great writing success but first you need the discipline to stick to a writing routine, and to practice what it takes to be a good writer.    

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