1. You don’t have to have your name on a bestselling novel to be considered a successful writer. Success comes in many forms. There is more than one path to your own personal finish line.

2. It’s OK to feel afraid. Fear can act as a writer’s greatest strength, as long as they use it to their advantage.

3. Having an audience isn’t what counts. It’s how you treat your audience and your willingness to help and support them that matters.

4. Your work is not a measure of your worth. You’re still worthy even when you don’t succeed.

5. You are never entitled to any kind of book or publishing deal. These things must be earned, regardless of your experience.

6. Many people will tell you that you’re a good writer. Not all of them will mean it.

7. Other people will tell you that you’re a terrible writer even though you aren’t. You shouldn’t listen to those people.

8. Every writer has their own strengths and weaknesses, styles, and perspectives on the world. There are “not great” writers out there, but just because your writing doesn’t appeal to someone doesn’t automatically mean it’s “bad.”

9. You’re allowed to write whatever story you want to write. Even if it never leaves your hard drive, the experience counts. Just because no one else sees it doesn’t mean it hasn’t changed you for the better.

10. You don’t have to take every piece of criticism personally. Most of it usually isn’t intentionally personal.

11. No one knows your ideas better than you do. Protect them. Give them a voice. Defend their worth at all costs.

12. How much and how often you write doesn’t make you a “better” or “worse” writer than someone else. The fact that you regularly give your ideas a chance to become stories is more than enough of a reason to call yourself a writer.

Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is an editor and writer, and a 12-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and Star Wars.

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