Many beginning legal writers think that established ones must have a formula for success. That’s just not so. The only secrets of success—beyond constant study of quality nonfiction and effective editorials—are dogged research, unstinting discipline, the embrace of individuality, and the spurning of complacency. These qualities lead to a kind of organized freedom.
What makes writing such a lively and exciting endeavor is the omnipresent possibility of failure. You can learn perhaps more from your failures than you can from your successes. Luck has nothing to do with success or failure: skill is what matters, and skill is what you must relentlessly cultivate.
With guidance, legal writers can improve at any phase of their careers. We’ve seen it happen because we’ve often been the guides. Don’t ever assume that you’ve reached your ultimate plateau.