How To Become a Successful Writer In 2020 (Answered)

For you to become a successful writer in 2020 there is this one thing you must do; Unmute you.

I’ll explain so you get it.

As we go on you will learn proven writing tips for 2020 to create compelling content for your success.

The need to unmute is here, but you don’t know how. As simple as it sounds many writers find it difficult to move from their comfort zone.

You want to become successful but the burning desire for success isn’t there.

How then are you going to achieve the success you want? Choose to unmute, today. Decide to rise above limitations and become.

Happen to catch our recent article on the writing trends predicted for 2020?

Not surprisingly, Here is an easy-to-follow guide on how to keep blogging even when you feel like quitting.

It is predicted that freelance writers’ demand will be on the rise but many of them (perhaps most, even) will not succeed.

Why? Because they’ll fail to stand out amongst the crowd, drowning in a sea of similar freelance writers.

So what can you do to become a successful writer and attract the attention of people?

First, you’ve got to make sure you create compelling content worth reading. Then you’ll need to stay on top of the trends in the writing industry.

We’ve scoured the web for the top trends to help you succeed in writing, which you’ll find outlined below.

1. Social Media Engagement

Becoming successful as a writer is not a new thing but as with social media, readers will be looking for a more personal, intimate human experience.

Losing your followers can be easy especially when you use automated tools.

Tools that automate your posts may save you time, but they can lose you followers if those followers see you’re posting just to post because you know you have to post (whew!).

Those that follow you want to experience real engagement with you before they reciprocate.

The engagements will your posts will continue to fall, engagement such as shares, likes, and follows will increase.

Lessen your use of automated tools and engage with those who want to connect with you.

Avoid sending auto messages; rather, take the time to respond to those who take their time to engage with you.

This is the starting point to achieve greatness as the new year unwinds.

2. Don’t Care About the Camera

Yesterday, I attended a business meeting hosted by SurfData Africa which held at Lekota Hotels in Nigeria.

Ritchie Felix was a resource person and I noticed that many people are afraid of the camera.

The class was an 8-hour engagement and when it was time to practice what has been taught, see big guys and ladies disappointing.

Guess what? These are people who want to give value to the community.

If they are afraid of speaking to the camera in a closed room, how possible will it be for them to go LIVE on any social media platform to engage the masses?

I believe they will improve, but the funny thing is that these are people who could argue on a point off-camera and finds it difficult to do when the camera is switched on.

In 2020 and beyond, for authors, business persons or entrepreneurs, more books will be sold through the funnel of Webinars and Physical Class Seminars.

Going live is all the rage on social media, and it’ll be the same for authors. Live streaming allows your readers and followers to experience a type of “moment-in-the-life-of” your brand.

It’s more personal and, well, real, as opposed to a recorded or written post, because it’s happening now, giving viewers a vicarious experience.

3. The Use of Images and Videos

One amazing thing about LIVE videos is that you can also share these videos later so followers can see what they missed when you were live, prompting them to watch you next time you’re live.

What kind of content do you want to create with live video? Awesomely, Facebook now allows audio broadcast unlike the presence of going live (live videos) alone.

During your broadcast the photo you use matters a lot.

Sometimes if the photo used as a cover catches the attention of people they can decide to tune in. Make sure your photo aligns with the message you are to share.

A smart way to get more viewers on a live feed is to offer special savings or opportunities by announcing them exclusively on your live stream.

Be sure to take advantage of the apps that let you live stream directly from your blog or on your social media account.

This is something you don’t need to be techy to use. It takes a little time to create live posts, but it’s time well invested.

Video marketing is long past the status of an “up-and-coming” tactic.

It’s here, and it’s an increasingly powerful way to communicate your brand story, explain your value proposition, and build relationships with your customers and prospects.

Videos grab a visitor’s attention like nothing else, so be sure to do much of it – whether on your blog, YouTube or social media accounts.

As I mentioned earlier, you can share recorded live-stream videos for later viewing, but non-live recorded videos still have their place.

For example, if you’re a writer’s teacher, you could record how to get your creative writing juice flowing again, then live-stream the moment you and others dig in.

You’ll probably want to make sure you take it step-by-step so your viewers will understand and grab every moment.

In addition to videos, any image—photos, charts, graphics—will still catch someone’s eye better than a big block of text.

To keep it short and catchy, your posts will be more attractive if you use compelling images to capture the essence of a post or broadcast.

4. Write Everyday, at a Time

Writing every day does not mean writing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of every week.

No.

What I mean by every day is to write as you planned, follow your list.

For instance, if on your writing plan you wrote that you would write for five hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday of every week.

Make sure you don’t allow the days to pass without accomplishing the writing task.

The journey to perfection begins with consistent practice.

For people to get glued to your content you need to have practiced over, over and over again.

The more you practice the better you become.

We can’t overemphasize this one because it’s ultimately what will keep your readers reading your blog post, magazine article or any writing at all, and returning for more.

Whether it is a long or short write, fifteen posts with low standard won’t get read, but one well researched and an engaging post will, and it’ll get shared.

And your brand will receive more exposure and hopefully get you more clients.

Doing This Can Help You Never Lack Content Ideas

a. Get a Journal: Having a journal is not difficult. While making searches you can Google other blogs and forums in your niche and see what their most popular posts are.

Can you write something similar, or improve on what’s there? If yes, pen it down. Keep a journal throughout your day, and write down ideas as they pop up before you forget them.

b. Smart Market Research Strategy: This is a type of strategy that allows you to write to your audience, not for yourself. All you need to do is reach out to your followers and those in your network.

Ask them what they want to read and see or what their problems are. From their response, you can write using that direction. Then follow their advice and create that type of content.

c. Email Question Strategy: Everyone has opt-ins for newsletters and updates, so yours needs to be unique and appealing.

However, if you don’t have one, you need to. Remember, freebies are good, but you need to offer even more incentives because everyone else is offering freebies.

You can’t succeed in the writing industry by not asking questions. What use is your writing if it is not solving a problem?

For you to get content writing ideas that solve people’s problems: Ask yourself—and your followers.

From the response they give to the question you asked through an email, create a freebie they want that only you can deliver.

First impression matters, so don’t give them fluff when the value is needed.

If the freebie is good, people will buy when you have a product to sell. Offer special gifts, discounts, products, or courses to those who are not only signed up for your newsletters but who actually open and read them.

Create a newsletter that is exciting and the mail title should attract people to click to read.

d. Browse through Quora: Check out forums like Quora, Yahoo Answers or even Reddit to see what people are talking about in your niche.

Find a very popular post you disagree with, and write a counterpoint. And, be sure to reach out to the original poster to spark a friendly discussion.

e. Organize a Targeted Writing Schedule

Between an early morning workout at the gym, work, that daily commute, pre-dinner workout, some time spent with family, and that one last workout before bed, it’s a wonder that any of us have time to spare for writing.

Whatever your schedule, finding some time to squirrel yourself away with a computer solely to write can be really, really, really hard.

But, as a writer, it’s your solemn duty to supply your readership with new content. No, I’m not saying that writing shouldn’t feel like a chore or an obligation. You’re supposed to enjoy it, after all – and you don’t want to kill the passion.

Goals are easily achieved when written down. Don’t schedule in your mind, do that with a pen or on a virtual reliable platform.

The simplest way is to make writing part of your weekly schedule, and protect that time by saying no to other activities.

Don’t treat your writing career as an extracurricular activity, but dedicate a small chunk of time to sitting in front of your computer screen and connecting with your readers.

Read, read, read, read, and read. Write, write, write, write and write. Engage, engage, engage, engage, and engage.

Dream big money, start with small money. See you on radio platforms speaking about your book, start with facebook live videos.

Start small: aim to write 3-4 times a week (depending on the nature of your job if you have one).

Setting real schedules help you keep you on task. That is because you know that this time is writing time.

You don’t need to feel guilty about not getting other important work done.

It helps your readers know what to expect. What do I mean by that?

Ideally, whenever you’re scheduled to write, you’ll see a surge of new people asking to see if you’ve put your new stuff for their consumption.

Don’t over-schedule and don’t sacrifice your writing time for other things. Instead, plan around it if you have to.

The most important thing is to commit to treating your writing time as non-negotiable. In time, writing will become a discipline.