Jeff Goins is a bestselling author, a podcaster, blogger, marketer and a speaker.

Most people who say they want to be a writer will sadly, ultimately fail. Ouch, right?

I don’t say this to discourage you. On the contrary, I’m warning you. It’s just the truth. Most writers are doomed to fail, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

I’ll tell you why in just a minute. But first, let me explain what I mean by failure.

True Failure for Writers

Failure has nothing to do with how many books you sell or how much money you make. Like a teddy bear you win at an arcade, those are just reminders of the fun you had playing the game.

For writers, failure is never creating anything meaningful — and as a result, not making a difference with their words.

Why is it that so many people can’t seem to finish their book? Why are the books they do finish usually uninspiring and overlooked? In a word, I think the problem is foundation. More specifically, a lack of  a foundation.

Writing is hard. A clever sentence, a funny joke? Those are easy enough. But to actually finish a book filled with life-changing perspective, a powerful story? Most writers will never do it.

But not you. You’re different, or at least you could be. You’re serious about being a writer, even if you’ve never told another soul. I respect that, and I want to help. So here’s my advice after authoring four books, getting published, even hitting a few bestsellers lists.

To reach the finish line, you’ll need two things — and don’t worry, both of them are totally free.

#1: Connect with your calling.

The first thing you need to do is to connect with your calling. You might think, “Jeff, I know what my calling is. I want to be a writer.”

But writing is not your calling. Sorry, it’s not mine, either.

This sounds surprising, but in fact, I don’t think writing is anybody’s calling. You see, writing is a means to an end. Just like talking. No one ever says their calling is to talk, no matter how chatty they are. Your calling is about whom you’re meant to serve. What you’ll stand against. And more importantly, what you’ll stand for.

Once you understand your calling, your writing will gain power as you write from a place of purpose. You’ll start to resonate with the people who have been waiting for what you have to say. And your writing will begin to change things.

#2: Become a gritty writer.

The second thing you’ll need is grit — perseverance. You need to not quit, which is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of any aspiring pro. Most people just quit too soon.

What separates the winners from the losers? In a word: grit. And this is nothing special reserved for the elite writers of the world. Anyone can have grit, even you.

The good news is grit comes easily to people who write with conviction.

Writer’s block becomes bearable when you know what needs to be said. Self-doubt weakens because the process isn’t about you anymore. It’s about the people you’re called to serve. And the dozens of excuses that keep you from your desk are revealed for what they are — insignificant — when your reason for writing is clear.

I don’t want to mislead you. Writing is hard. But history is brimming with stories of men and women who accomplished incredible things. Why? Because incredible things are worth accomplishing, even though they’re hard. And what gets you through those obstacles is the willingness to keep going.

The difference between success and failure

Discovering your calling is the foundation to great writing. It’s hard, soul-searching work, which is why most writers never do it — and as a result, never succeed. Read more in https://goinswriter.com/writers-doomed/