What does it really take to succeed as a writer?

 I'm reading marketing guru Dan S. Kennedy's book, "No B.S. Business Success in the New Economy." He sets out some preconditions for success as an entrepreneur and they all make sense for the writer/artist as well (after all, generally writers and artists ARE entrepreneurs). Here are a few key points:

"Every successful achievement begins with decision. Most unsuccessful lives are conspicuously absent of decision."

"The New Economy mandates a much more willing and creative approach to constant change and evolution and recurring reinvention..."

"You have to reject the entire idea of limited choices. Limitations, rules, industry norms—these are for other people, but not for you. Reject any idea that removes any option from your table."

"To succeed as an entrepreneur requires decision and determination—total, unwavering commitment…you have to develop and embrace attitudes, habits, and behaviours that are markedly different from those of most of the people you’ve known." 

"To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must set aside your neediness for acceptance from others. Immunity to criticism is a “secret” shared by all the highly successful entrepreneurs that I know."

"You have to set aside your “book of excuses” once and for all." 

"THE characteristic that tends to distinguish the winners from the losers is the relentless conversion of problems to opportunities, negatives to positives."

If those resonate, you'll find the rest of the book useful, too. It's published by Entrepreneur Press.

(Another book I think you'll find useful is "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," published by Pearson and written by...me. You can find out more about it at www.focusquick.com). And if immunity from harsh SELF-criticism is an issue, you will find my "Taming Your Inner Critic" program essential--find out more here.)