What’s Your Writing Stage?

At hope*writers, we’ve found that one of the main reasons writers struggle to make progress in their writing is not that they lack ideas, but that they’re doing all the right things in the wrong order. It can be difficult for writers to figure out their next steps when they’re lost in random advice found on the internet. 

In our work supporting writers, we’ve found that there is a six-stage path to making progress in your writing life. The good news is, you’re already on it!  

The purpose of the six-stage hope*writer path is to help you pause, take inventory of where you are, and give yourself permission to ignore all the other stuff for now. Do you recognize yourself in one of the following stages?

Stage 1: Writer

In this stage, you’ve begun to call yourself a writer. You’re focused on establishing a daily writing routine so you can write with confidence. In Stage 1, your goal is to practice your craft.

Stage 2: Hostess

Once you’ve begun a regular routine of writing, your goal in Stage 2 is to identify your writing voice through practice. You’re also here to create community among your readership and to serve your reader by meeting their needs through your writing.

Stage 3: Entrepreneur

Now that you’re regularly serving your reader, it’s time to grow an email list, craft an offering for your readers, and finally make your first dollar! 

Stage 4: Author

This stage is called the Author, but that doesn’t mean you have to write a book to be a “real” writer. This stage is for refining your writing process, collaborating with others, and publishing your work in whatever form that takes.

Stage 5: Marketer

You’ve written something compelling, so now, in Stage 5, you’re learning to share your work with authenticity. You’re also learning to network with industry experts as you continue to grow in your craft and marketing skills.

Stage 6: Essentialist

In this stage, you’re learning to narrow your focus in your work. Stage 6 is for learning to delegate so that you can take risks and play more in your writing.

The hope*writer path is not a recipe. It's fluid, not static. You may move through stages quickly, only to realize you need to go back and get something you missed. Your season of life often determines what you can practice and work on at any given time. Hope*writers is here to support your growth as a writer as you move in and out of each stage.

Want to know where you are on the hope*writer path? Click here to take our 30-second quiz! We’re here to help you take your next step towards balancing the art of writing with the business of publishing, whatever stage you’re in today.