“WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW”

What It Takes To Be a Great Writer

 

No one had to tell you that you were a writer. The realization didn’t arrive with confetti or applause—it came quietly, naturally, like a truth you had known all along. Writing isn’t something you choose; it’s something that chooses you. And when you know, you know. But knowing you’re a writer is only the beginning. Becoming a great writer? That takes something more.

 

Owning Your Craft

 

Great writers don’t just write—they study writing. They pay attention to words, rhythm, structure, and emotion. They read widely, revise deeply, and push themselves beyond their comfort zone. Mastery isn’t luck; it’s labor like an expectant mother who toils and endures hours of death-defying pain to bring forth what she’s created and is well worth the wait. When you know your craft, you understand that every sentence carries weight, and every paragraph must earn its place.

 

Confidence in Your Voice

 

There comes a point when your voice clicks—when you stop trying to write like someone else and embrace your unique style. That’s when the magic happens. A great writer doesn’t seek permission to speak—they trust what they have to say. Confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s certainty born from practice and authenticity.

 

Discipline Over Inspiration

 

Inspiration is beautiful, but it’s unreliable. Greatness grows in the routine, in showing up when it’s hard, when the words feel tangled and the story feels stuck. Real writers write on the days they don’t feel like writers. That’s where growth happens—beyond excitement, within commitment.

 

Learning Without Ego

 

To be great, you must be both a student and an artist. You revise. You accept critique. You improve. Ego says, “I’m already good.” Excellence asks, “How can I be better?” Knowing your stuff means knowing there’s always more to learn.

To this point, John Grisham stated that you should know how the story will end before you write the first words. I agree with that. He learned a good lesson from his wife when writing his latest book: not to have a weak ending, which his team agreed with. That, to me, says a lot about checking your ego at the door and listening to others, even when they aren’t writers.

 

Leaving a Mark

 

Great writing doesn’t just tell a story—it leaves a fingerprint. It makes readers feel, think, and remember. When you know, you know: writing is a calling, and storytelling is your gift. But greatness? Greatness comes from what you do with it.

 

So, what does it take to be a great writer?

It takes knowing who you are, perfecting what you do, and never stopping until your words speak louder than doubt.

 

When you know… You don’t just write. You create.

Now go be great!