Following through.

And finally, the most important habit to become a successful writer? Follow through.

Spend time really understanding the way you work, what you need to accomplish something, and how much time you will need. As a debut author, it can be so easy to say yes to everything out of fear of jeopardising your book’s success.

You just need to do this one thing: don’t overcommit. It sounds easy, right? Just to do what you say you’ll do when you say you’ll do it. But we all know in practice it never is.

Following through is a practice rooted in a sense of quality, discernment, and gratitude. It is saying a big yes to the things that add value and matter, and a kind ‘no’ to everything else. Once you agree to do the thing, do it to the best of your ability, and meet the deadlines too.

Following through helps you to remain professional, and you’ll wow people too.

(Also, unprofessional behaviour can really undermine and break down the relationships you need to become a successful writer. When things go wrong (because they inevitably will) remember that working with your team, instead of against them, is the best way to fix anything that comes your way.)