Show notes
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Learning how to Learn
So, today I want to talk about a superpower for writers. As I continue to interview and study more and more successful authors, I'm also making notes of the common practices and characteristics of these amazing people.
One thing that has stuck out to me, and something I've experienced first hand in my life, is the superpower of learning how to learn. All of the super successful people I've interacted with in my life share this trait. They have an uncanny ability to self-reflect on the things they need to learn to accomplish their goals, and then they have the ability to go out and source that information or resource.
The reason this is so important for writers is because writing is a solo-sport. Outside of writing for specific mediums, generally, if you write fiction, you're going to be doing a lot of it alone. Knowing the gaps in your writing practice—and this can be anything from plot to discipline—and then going out and filling in those gaps is one of the big traits that separates good writers from the best writers.
To go one step deeper, implicit in this process of learning how to learn is a belief that you can grow through learning, hard work, and self-development. It is a belief that people are not static. Like, we are malleable and able to create ourselves from the inside out. Yes, there is a thing called natural talent and a thing call privilege, but I believe the human need to thrive can be activated to overcome any obstacle. And even though we all have different starting points in life, as Bukowski says, "your life is your life." You are still the only one who write your book. There is no one coming to write it for you. No one.
Let's some specific steps you can take to learn how to learn.
The first step is to take a hard look at your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Where do you shine and where are you maybe not so strong. I believe everyone has an innate sense of this. But, get crystal-clear with it by writing it down on a piece of paper. If you are struggling with the categories here, this is how I start would break it up in my life:
- Writing skill
- Character
- Pacing
- Plot
- Dialogue
- Prose
- Tension & momentum
- Writing craft
- Discipline
- Routine
- Motivation
- Heart
- Energy
- Honesty
Again, take some of these ideas and add to them. Those are just a handful of thought starters and not a complete list.
Next, take a moment and ask, based on the places where you are strong and weak, if you have the tools you need to accomplish your goals. If you want to publish a novel, do you have what you need to get there? Do you have the plotting skills to knock out a series? Do you have the discipline to get a book of poetry written?
Now, one you have a map of where you need to develop, go out and source that information. Find instructors, writing groups, courses, books, friends... anything!
In some ways, I have this kind of loop always running through my head. With enough time, you'll be constantly evaluating your needs and wants versus your resources, and then finding ways to improve. Sometimes I need to dive deep into a topic, but other times I can quickly grab the info I need and move on.
Outside of the obvious benefit of more or less knowing you can learn anything at all, learning how to learn is an enormous confidence booster. If I don't know how to do something, I have all the tools I need to go learn about it. And given a long-enough time frame, I believe I can learn anything at all. I mean maybe not anything because I am like super music dumb even though I love it. The point here is that I have the confidence to dive into anything I want, because I know I can teach myself how to do it.
That is an incredible skill for writers.
Thank you so much for lis
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