What does it take to get good at writing?
I’ve always been surprised by how much practice every skill requires to reach a high level. No matter what I’ve set out to do—whether it was music, writing, speaking, or anything, really—the amount of work it took to improve was always more than I initially expected.
I first experienced this as a child learning to play the piano. I started in kindergarten, and by the time I got to college, I was practicing for seven hours straight on weekends, and still not near the level I wanted to be.
In fourth grade, I picked up the French horn. In college, I played until my lips were too tired to continue. I continue to play to this day and am always working on improving.
In high school, I began teaching music to younger students, and today, after more than 30 years of teaching, I’m a far better instructor than I was when I first started. But I know I can do better.
The same thing happened with writing. It took me over 10 years of practice before I landed my first publishing contract. Then, after becoming a published author, I started leading writing workshops and giving keynote speeches. Now, a decade later, I’m growing my YouTube channel, still honing my presentation skills, and realizing how much there is left to learn.
Looking back, I can see how much I’ve improved. But I also see how far I still have to go. And that’s the point—every skill takes more practice than you think.
The question is: are you approaching your writing with the right mindset? Do you know it all by now—or do you realize you still have so far to go?
Good at Writing: It Requires More Practice Than You Realize
Most writers believe that writing the book is the hard part. But then they discover that editing is a whole other skill. Then comes publishing. Then marketing. Then, audience engagement.
This is the exciting thing about being a writer. It isn’t about learning one skill—it’s about layering multiple skills on top of each other and refining them over time. It can be invigorating, but it can also be discouraging at times. Many aspiring writers feel frustrated when success takes longer than expected.
I used to believe that once I got published, I’d “arrive.” But that wasn’t the case at all. After my first book, I had to keep practicing—improving my writing, marketing my work, and learning how to connect with readers. The learning never stopped.
What Is Practice, Really?
Many people think practice is just about repetition. The more you do something, the better you get at it, right?
Well, sort of. Repetition is good, but it’s only part of the equation. Actual practice is not just doing something over and over—it’s actively analyzing mistakes, learning from them, and making adjustments the next time around.
This idea is known as deliberate practice, a term coined by psychologist Anders Ericsson. The key difference between practice and deliberate practice is intentional focus—examining what went wrong, identifying weak spots, and working strategically to improve them.
Writing works the same way. If you only write but never analyze your weaknesses, progress will be slow. Improvement comes from actively working on the areas that challenge you. That’s harder than simply repeating the stuff you already know, but it’s better for you in the long run.
The Mindset Shift: Practice Is a Lifelong Commitment
Many people view practice as something temporary—something you do until you get good enough. But even the most skilled writers, musicians, and speakers never stop practicing.
Even bestselling authors still work on their craft. They still take writing workshops. They work with editors. The best musicians practice their scales. The most skilled athletes train every day.
People love to focus on talent and natural ability, but mastery comes from years of dedicated work. Writing success isn’t a finish line—it’s a lifelong journey of growth.
Good at Writing: It’s More About Daily Practice Than Big Wins
A lot of writers dream about book deals, bestseller lists, and glowing reviews. But as most of us who have been doing this for any time know, those exciting moments are not what define a writing career.
The real writing life is made up of small, daily efforts—the writing sessions that no one sees, the revisions that take weeks to perfect, and the blog posts and newsletters that build an audience one reader at a time.
If you’re only in it for the big moments, you’ll struggle to sustain a long-term writing career. But if you learn to love the process of practicing—writing, revising, marketing, and improving—you’ll set yourself up for lasting success.
How can you grow to love practicing? It’s like growing to love your daily exercise routine. It becomes a discipline that keeps you grounded, a way of life that brings some control and a stress-relieving routine to your days.
Joshua Medcalf, author of Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall In Love with the Process of Becoming Great, wrote:
“Everyone wants to be great, until it’s time to do what greatness requires.”
Get Good at Writing: Practical Ways to Incorporate Daily Writing Practice
So, what does daily practice look like for a writer? Here are four key areas to focus on:
Writing Practice – Write most every day, even if it’s just 100 words. Experiment with different styles and genres. Challenge yourself to write outside your comfort zone.
Craft Practice – Read books on writing craft, including those on plot, characterization, setting, and descriptive prose. Try to improve these elements with every story and book you write.
Editing Practice – Study what makes strong writing. Analyze your own work critically. Read books on editing and storytelling.
Marketing Practice: Learn how to talk about your work. Experiment with different social media platforms, newsletters, and promotional strategies. Read marketing books, listen to book marketing podcasts, and watch book marketing videos. Learn, try, and revise!
Speaking Practice – If you want to do workshops, interviews, or YouTube videos, practice speaking clearly and confidently. Record yourself and review what needs improvement. Get a coach or mentor to give you honest feedback.
Each of these skills takes time to develop, and the more you practice them, the stronger they become.
Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Looking back, I see how much practice it took to reach the level I’m at today in music, writing, teaching, and speaking. But I also know I’m nowhere near done.
That’s the beauty of practice. It’s not something you do for a while and then stop. It becomes part of who you are.
If you’re feeling discouraged about your writing progress, focus less on the outcomes and more on your learning process. Are you better than you were a year ago? Try to set goals that measure yourself against your past self. Zoom in on your improvement, and find new ways to measure it from book to book.
Many people love the idea of being a writer but don’t love the process of becoming one. They want the book deal, but they don’t want to put in the years of practice it takes to get there.
The best writers aren’t necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones who show up, day after day, practicing and improving.
So, don’t wait for perfection. Don’t expect instant results. Just commit to the practice. Keep showing up. And trust that, step by step, you are getting better.