Most people start writing projects by deciding what they want to say or who they want to say it to, and that’s great when you are ready to write.
But are you ready to write yet? Do you know how to write great sentences that pull readers in? Do you understand how important strong nouns and verbs are in making an impression? Have you learned the most basic skills of writing and storytelling?
Why Writers Fail
Most writers fail not because of their story ideas, but because they lack the skills to write them in a way that engages the reader. They skip out on the basic skills required to make writing work.
Some falsely believe they know how to write because they wrote papers in school and reports at work. But that kind of writing is not the same as writing narrative works. It uses a different set of skills. That would be like saying because you can make a grilled cheese sandwich you have the skills to be a professional chef.
What Stories Demand
Story-based writing demands visual language, sentences that show action, verbs the convey meaning, and active voice. It benefits from deep point of view, rhythm, cadence, and flow. And it needs a spark to connect with readers.
Stories should make people feel, and emotion comes from being immersed in the details and emotions of the characters.
Can you do that?
If not, you may be spinning your wheels with no forward movement.
I’ve known writers who have spent decades writing with no completed stories to their name and no publishing credits. It doesn’t have to be that way. But I understand how it happens.
Part of the Problem
Part of why people fail comes from the advice to write every day until you have a finished story. That’s like telling someone to rebuild a car engine without tools or the ability to differentiate a carburetor from a spark plug. It wouldn’t matter how long you worked, you would fail without the basic knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.
Mechanics study how engines work and the various parts that can fail and how they might fail and why. But they also work on engines with teachers or mentors. Maybe it was your father working beside you in the family garage, teaching you along the way. Or maybe it was a trade school that combined knowledge with practical applications and hands-on work.
It takes both knowledge and skill to succeed.
Even if you had watched every episode of The Pitt, ER, and Grey’s Anatomy, you would not be qualified to work on a patient. You could even be a medical student who had studied anatomy and physiology, but hadn’t yet done any clinical rotations, and you’d still likely fail because knowledge is not enough. That’s why they pair students with qualified doctors during their training.
But when it comes to writing, so many try to do it on their own. And then they fail. Often for years. Decades even. It’s disheartening when all that’s standing between success and failure is qualified feedback and building the necessary skills.
Qualified Feedback Matters
Now, did you notice I said “qualified feedback”? That’s because asking a beta reader or friend (or worse, a family member) often does more harm than good. Unless that friend happens to be a professional writer who has both skills and knowledge.
The feedback you receive is only as good as the source of that advice. If you ask someone who has never studied or practiced the skills they are teaching and can explain to you why a part of your story is or is not working, then the help they give will have little effect.
It makes me sad so many people struggle for years, clinging to their writing books as proof of their dedication. Yes, the craft books can help (I wouldn’t keep writing this blog if I didn’t believe that information about craft matters). But unless you practice what you read and get qualified feedback on whether you are doing it correctly, you stay stuck in learning mode, not building skills mode. You stay a student instead of becoming a writer.
That’s why I started offering coaching to my clients and blog audience. Because I know you need skills to write. Knowledge will only get you so far. And practice without feedback can lead to stagnation.
Building Muscle MemoryThe Solution
If you are serious about writing, find a course or coach. Join a cohort that offers direct feedback and clear advice.
This is what I offer in my coaching and cohorts. I start with the skills needed to tell great stories without over-complicating it. I share my experiences from my three decades as a professional writer. Then I offer resources and exercises to help reinforce the lessons, and offer feedback to judge how well you are doing at each stage, helping you adjust as needed.
It’s a progressive process. Each step building to the next until you are tackling your entire screenplay, novel, or creative nonfiction book.
It’s the dedication and work that makes the difference.
An Opportunity
I’m launching a live story cohort late summer 2026. It will be limited to 15 students to ensure maximum attention. If you join the waitlist before I formally open the cohort in a few weeks, you will earn a bonus one-hour 1:1 session with me. There is no obligation to join the cohort from the waitlist, but it is the only way to snag that bonus.
The Important Bit
Don’t keep struggling alone. Even if you don’t join my cohort, find a class taught by a professional or join a writer’s group led by a professional. Get out of student mode and become the writer you want to be. You don’t need to go it alone.