Your writing career encompasses so much more than just writing. Even the best author on the planet must do more than simply write in order to have a successful career. At Writer’s Relief, we know there are many non-writing activities that will help make you a more successful writer. Here are 5 ways to improve your writing career without writing.

5 Ways You Can Improve Your Writing Career Without Writing

Read More. When listing the most important habits for a writer, reading is at the top. As Stephen King said, reading “…is the creative center of a writer’s life.” Read the works of other authors in your genre, and explore some other genres as well. If you need a few suggestions to get started, check out this list of books we’d love to reread again and again.

Keep A Journal. OK, technically journaling is writing—but it’s different than writing a short story, poem, or book manuscript. Journaling is a fantastic tool for writers because it helps you explore ideas and work through details that you can refine or discard without pressure. Whether your journal is filled with ideas that didn’t pan out, doodles of your characters, or freewriting that seems like nonsense, it can serve as a springboard for inspiration when it’s time for you to sit down and start writing your next project.

Try Creativity-Boosting Activities. If you’re running low on ideas and can’t seem to get that creative spark back, it’s time to try a non-writing activity. People-watching, meditation, and a walk in the park are just a few ways you can find inspiration and jump-start your creativity. When you’re inspired, you’re more likely to come up with a great idea for your next writing project.

Join A Writing Group. Connecting with other authors will help your writing in numerous ways. You can bounce ideas off of other writers to refine your works in progress. And you may also learn about new places to submit your work, awards you could apply for, conferences to attend, workshops to sign up for, and more! You can find a writing group near you here.

Send Out Submissions. If you never submit your writing to literary journals or literary agents, you won’t have the opportunity to get your name out there and be published, or to win an award or a contest. Submitting work is one of the most important steps forward in a writer’s career.

Of course, before you send out any submissions, you need to spend a lot of time researching to find the right markets for your work—and eliminating all the wrong markets. And you should make your submissions on a regular schedule: the competition is fierce, and acceptance is a numbers game (an average of one acceptance out of one hundred submissions!).

While it’s good to take a break now and then, you might not want to spend that much time away from writing. That’s where Writer’s Relief can help! Our research experts are writers like you who can pinpoint the best markets for your work and boost your odds of getting an acceptance. Learn more about our services and submit your writing samples to our Review Board today!

As author and artist Scott Adams has said, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” The same can be said of writing. And some of the best ways to power up your creativity and improve your writing career are the non-writing activities you bring to the table.

Question: What ways do you improve your writing that aren’t actually “writing”?