You’re Overcomplicating the Process of Building a Writing Career

You’ve probably heard the famous quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s fascinating how often this applies to writers. I’ve seen countless people work tirelessly at their craft for months—even years—without ever questioning their process.

They repeat the same mistakes, convinced that they’ll eventually get different results. Other writers are doing the work, gaining some traction, but unknowingly carrying blind spots that slow their progress.

Here’s the thing: building a full-time writing career is challenging enough. Adding unnecessary complexity only makes it harder. Let’s break down some ways you might be making this process more difficult than it needs to be—and how to simplify things so you can focus on what really matters.

First off, you need a writing ritual. If you’re not writing at a consistent time every day, you’re already behind. Sure, some of you have chaotic schedules that make it impossible to stick to a fixed routine. But for most people, the lack of a schedule is just an excuse.

The solution is simple: wake up an hour earlier and sit down to write. If you can’t write, just sit there and stare at the wall for an hour. Do this for 30 days, and I guarantee writer’s block won’t be an issue anymore.

Stack your environment in your favor—find a clutter-free space, eliminate distractions, leave your phone in another room, and build a ritual that turns writing into a habit, not something you wait to be inspired for.

Another big mistake is writing without a system. Sitting down in front of a blank page with no plan is a nightmare. Instead, you need to approach writing like an assembly line. Do the same steps every time, and you’ll not only avoid blank-page paralysis but also build a consistent writing output.

My process is simple: brainstorm 10 headline ideas every day. Pick one and mind map everything you can think of about the topic. Once you’ve dumped all your ideas onto paper, organize them into a rough outline. From there, write a first draft without stopping to edit.

Three rounds of edits maximum. Format and publish. Done. It’s not glamorous, but it works.

Another thing that holds writers back is their refusal to change what clearly isn’t working. I’ve been writing for almost a decade and my process has been tested, adjusted, and optimized over years of trial and error. Yet when I share it with other writers—some of whom are struggling to make progress—they push back.

“I like to let the ideas flow. Structure ruins my creativity,” they’ll say. I always respond with the same question: Is it working for you?

If your current process isn’t helping you write consistently, avoid writer’s block, build your audience, and make money, then why cling to it? You need to be honest with yourself. If what you’re doing isn’t working, maybe it’s time to try a different approach.

And speaking of honesty, here’s a big one: moving too slow. I’m not the type to say you can’t build a successful writing career using free resources. You absolutely can. But you have to be honest about whether you’re the kind of person who can pull that off.

Even if you are, it’s going to take significantly longer. With free information, you’re constantly hunting for the right answers, testing what works, and figuring out lessons the hard way—lessons someone else has already learned.

Every time I hit a wall in my career, I paid someone who had been through it to teach me what they knew. It wasn’t a shortcut; it was a way to avoid wasting time on unnecessary mistakes.

The final mistake I see over and over again is overthinking. Thinking can be your worst enemy. How many projects have you been thinking about for months but never actually started?

Some of you have been meaning to launch a newsletter for years, but you’re still stuck pondering the right software or the perfect freebie to offer.

Here’s the truth: the thing you’ve been obsessing over for months could probably be done in a couple of hours. You just have to sit down and do it.

Stop thinking about your niche and write something. Your niche will emerge over time. Stop debating which platform is best. Pick one and adjust later if needed.

We’re already deep into 2025. You said you’d get serious about your writing last year. And the year before that. How much longer are you going to wait?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a writer is how valuable it is to simply listen and follow directions. I found people who had the results I wanted, and I copied their process. Even when I didn’t agree with it at first, I gave it a shot. Most of the time, they were right.

I never skipped the hard steps, and I didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. I just did the work.

The information you need to build a full-time writing career is out there. All the answers are available to you. Not being able to succeed in this game is like failing an open-book test.

So ask yourself: are you willing to follow a proven process, or are you going to keep getting in your own way?

If you’re ready to take things seriously, stop waiting for the perfect time. Just start.