The Writing Mindset

Learn Nishka Rathi’s roadmap for crafting a thriving, long-term writing career through intentional growth, continuous learning, and community support.

Hi,

One of the best parts of running The Author Stack is connecting with writers who are actually in it building careers, not just chasing dreams. Writers who are doing the unglamorous, everyday work of showing up, creating, tracking, evolving, and finding their own version of success.

Nishka Rathi is one of those people. She left a stable job in banking to pursue a life in writing, expecting clarity, fulfillment, maybe even some peace. What she found instead (as most of us do) was chaos, reinvention, and the sharp learning curve of turning art into a career.

In this piece, Nishka breaks down what it really takes to build a sustainable writing life not in theory, but in practice. From client work to mindset shifts, spreadsheets to soul-searching, this is the stuff most people won’t tell you, but that every writer needs to hear.

Whether you’re freelancing, building your own audience, or somewhere in between, this is the work. To find out more about Nishka’ work, read her blog here.

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In 2008, after spending a few years as a banker, I got completely worn out and wanted to find my way back to the things that once made me happy, namely reading and writing. Hoping to do something around the ideas that brought me joy, I started my writing career thinking I'd find:

• Consistent and well-paid work (because I was finally doing what I loved)

• A safe zone where I would just write (what else was there to do?)

• A creative life

Looking back, I realize my writing journey would have been much smoother if I had spent some time understanding what all goes into building a sustainable writing career.

Building a Sustainable Writing Career

Unlike a traditional job, a writing career requires a completely different mindset. As a writer, you navigate unpredictable income streams and forge your own career path while juggling multiple client relationships.

While corporate employees specialize within established systems, successful writers must balance creative work with business development, marketing, project management, and financial planning.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that have shaped my writing career:

Grow with Intent: It's easy to get caught in the daily grind— writing, pitching, managing client work, never realizing you’re creating without purpose. A writing career isn’t just about the work, it’s about building sustainability and planning for growth.

A few years ago, I started tracking more than just my work. I documented and tracked my outreach efforts, new clients, learning, along with income and expenses. It was a game changer and helped me view my progress through a wider lens by revealing patterns— what’s working, what’s not, and how my efforts build over time. I have also used the documented details as proof to demand higher rates due to scope creep.

Tip: I use an Excel spreadsheet with monthly tabs to track outreach efforts, learnings, completed work, and invoices. Updating it daily keeps everything organized. I also include an extra tab for yearly goals, giving me a clear, big-picture view of my progress in one place.

Learn rather than compare: Writing can be lonely so there is no point in making it harder on yourself with the added pressure of comparison. Focus instead on continuous learning. Over the years, I’ve taken short story courses, joined B2B writing groups, and explored creative processes to refine my skills.

Tip: Avoid the trap of chasing every new course. Set a yearly theme— like building your personal brand— and commit to mastering one skill at a time. After the course/program, set aside a few months applying what you have learned through real projects and practice before you jump onto a new idea.

Position yourself as a problem solver: A veteran publisher once told me, "Have conversations with potential clients. You know your value and rates, but having genuine conversations with potential clients reveals what they truly need while demonstrating your experience and expertise."

It was a lightbulb moment for me and it changed the way I approached potential clients.

Instead of jumping straight to pricing, I started asking thoughtful questions about their goals, challenges, and expectations. It helped me tailor my approach, share relevant work examples, and position my rates as an investment in solving their communication challenges rather than just a content expense.

Tip: Long projects can test your patience in multiple ways. Thus, during initial conversations, I also check if I can connect with the client through a shared joke or a mutual perspective. Finding small connections and common ground not only creates rapport, but it also shows that you will be able to find ways to navigate challenges with ease in the future.

Lean into your strengths: Most writers lean closer to introvert than extrovert and find it difficult to confidently voice views in verbal discussions with new clients. I learned this the hard way. In my early days, I fumbled through pricing discussions and scope negotiations.

To overcome this stumbling block, I started prepping for client calls by writing down the key points, including my value, pricing, and polite ways to say "no" or "this costs extra." Seeing the arguments in writing and practicing saying the words out loud made a huge difference.

Tip: I have created a cheat sheet on my Google Drive where I write responses to common client questions about pricing, scope, requirements etc. I usually go through them once before a meeting. It helps me get over the ‘how should I say this’ and actually navigate those conversation stoppers like ‘that’s not in our budget’ or ‘we will let you know soon.’

Find your community: For years, I believed I was the only one facing rejection and ghosting. Everyone else seemed to have their career figured out. This dismal thought chipped away at my confidence. Later, as I started stepping out of my comfort zone to meet fellow writers and joined writing groups, I had a very different experience. In those safe places, I heard stories that never made it to social media posts or blog articles.

That's when it hit me that I was not the only one. Every writer faces unanswered emails, projects that vanish, and clients who disappear after promising a deal.

Tip: Join a writing group or community— online or offline. Engaging with fellow writers will remind you that rejection and ghosting are normal, help you share experiences, and even open doors to new opportunities through referrals and collaborations.

Every writer walks their own path, yet there's a common thread that connects us all. We all face similar inner battles and demons. There are different goals that drive people, but if your view of a fulfilling life includes hours spent writing and immersing yourself in words and ideas, then spend time and effort in building a strong writing mindset. Try new ideas, learn from everyone, and slowly nudge yourself out of your comfort zones to thrive in ways that are uniquely yours.

To learn more about Nishka’s work, read her blog by clicking here.

What do you think?

• How can tracking specific metrics—like outreach efforts, new skills, and invoices—transform your approach to building a sustainable writing career?

• What are some practical ways to cultivate a supportive writer community, and how might such connections help you handle rejection and ghosting?

Let us know in the comments.

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Photo by Oli Dale on Unsplash