How Assumptions About Your Zodiac Sign Can Help You Become a Better Writer

As writers, we're always looking for ways to improve our craft - skills we can add that will boost our experience level. Here's something you may not have considered...

Have you ever thought about how someone's assumption of your character may color your performance? As a Libra, I've always found it rather annoying to see that one main personality trait in the zodiac claims that all Libras are lazy creatures. Do I take downtime now and then? Sure. Everyone has to at some point, or they'll just get burnt out. But I'd never term myself as 'lazy'. My closest friends and fellow writers would probably tell you that I am far from being lazy in life, or in writing. I always have a long list of tasks to accomplish, and I do my best to get it done. If you're also a Libra, I'd wager you don't agree with that 'assumption' about yourself either.

Even if you don't exactly believe in astrology, that's okay. You can still beat these assumptions and come out a better writer. Let's take a look, shall we? Where does your birthday fall here?

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

Zodiac Signs, Traits, and Evaluation

Aries (March 21st -
​April 19th)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• competitive
• bold
• ambitious
• loves a good challenge
• easily bored
• adventurous
• enthusiastic
• energetic
• honest

It helps to be ambitious when you're a writer. That's a good thing. Bored easily? Probably doesn't work if you want to stick to writing. But your enthusiasm will get you through some tough hurdles. And if you live for a challenge, I promise there's nothing trickier than trying to navigate this industry. So it looks like keeping on point with your writing goals won't be too much of a reach for you.

Taurus (April 20th -
​May 20th)​

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• stubborn
• dependable
• savors luxurious experiences
• loves serenity
• hates big changes
• determined
• loyal
• hard-working​

Your determination will take you far. So, you dislike changes? Then, do your best to prepare yourself for several of them on this journey. However, your hard-working spirit will get you through some big hurdles on the way to being a published writer.

Gemini (May 21st -
​June 20th)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• playful
• spontaneous
• charismatic
• erratic
• curious
• quick-witted
• know-it-all
• uses humor as a crutch
• flexible
• ​versatile
  

You have a big personality. This dynamic approach will help more than hurt your public image in the long run. Your versatility gives you a greater chance of vaulting some of the barriers you'll encounter. The curiosity you have for greater knowledge will save you in the long run, as there are so many new things to learn in this industry. Also, consider using your comedic fallback to your advantage. Why not get into writing humorous fiction?

Cancer (June 21st -
​July 22nd)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• has a strong sense of family values
• sensitive
• moody
• temperamental
• intuitive
• guarded
• sometimes interferes in other people's problems
• has a lot of heart​

Your sensitivity to the human condition will help you delve deeper into character development. Valuing family may give you a greater understanding of family dynamics, thereby providing the background for writing about those scenarios in stories. Don't always believe your 'busybody' ways are a bad thing. Writers are observers by nature. We can't help but spy and overhear things, just to try to understand people better. Use those observations for your own work. Just make sure that if you decide to base a character on someone you know, that you're covering your butt. Change names. Adjust some traits here and there. Alter his/her appearance, but keep the same emotions you drew upon with your first impression.

Leo (July 23rd -
​August 22nd)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• confident
• passionate
• loyal
• generous
• dramatic
• fiery
• enthusiastic
• vivacious
• warm
  
• creative
• wants to stand out
  

Being confident in your writing career cannot hurt your progress at all. This will get you pretty far in life as well. Your passionate, enthusiastic nature can only improve the situation. Actually, I have no doubt that with all the wonderful traits of your personality, you'll be quite successful as an author.

Virgo (August 23rd -
​September 22nd)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• usually stays busy
• logical
• systematic
• problem-solver
• helpful
• practical
• needs to feel useful
• is a bit of a perfectionist
• judgmental at times​
• trustworthy
  
• full of ideas
  

I know a couple of Virgos and they're especially creative. That doesn't harm a writer at all. The problem-solving approach will only improve your awareness of writing styles and marketing methods. Staying busy is good. It may keep you on task. But you might have issues with writer burnout, so make sure you take some off and relax now and then. Your perfectionism will be a detriment only in the sense that you may not know when to walk away from your manuscript. We all have to step back at some point and let other people look at it (editors, critique partners, beta readers, even your readers). Know when to improve your work and when it's the right time to hand it over.

Libra (September 23rd -
​October 22nd)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• loves balance/harmony
• pursues justice
• afraid of loneliness
• prefers symmetry or equality
• avoids conflict
• sees all sides of an issue​
• ​creative
  
• lives in a fantasy world
• poor with decision-making
• charming
• diplomatic

Not all Libras are bad with decisions. The only one I can't make is which restaurant we should eat at. Ha ha. I often have no issues with making big decisions. I just do my homework first. As for avoiding conflict, I'm not sure that's always the case either. I can be combative when it counts. 

In any case, your tendency to see all sides of an issue will come in handy, as you can write from different character perspectives. Plus, your charms are likely to entice readers into following your work. However, becoming a published writer can be a lonely journey, so make sure you surround yourself with writer friends who you can trust and people at home to whom you can vent your frustrations when times get tough.

Scorpio (October 23rd -
​November 21st)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• intense
• cunning
• passionate
• elusive
• mysterious
• complicated
• dynamic
• sometimes a betrayer
• can't take life seriously​
• often has striking eyes
• brooding
• sees life goals as a game to win

Know when to be serious, about yourself and your career. If you really want this dream of being a published writer, you'll know the right time to put in the effort. Being mysterious with your writing persona isn't necessarily a bad thing. It could help draw in readers for your books.

​Also, use that 'complicated' personality of yours to delve deeper into your characters. Make them just as complex and three-dimensional. Want to use an anti-hero for a main character? Go for it. We're not creating stick figures in the pages of our books, but instead real characters that real people can connect with. 

Sagittarius (November 22nd -
​December 21st)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• spontaneous
• optimistic
• academic
• ambitious
• known to be a traveler
• opinionated
• friendly, outgoing
• finds it difficult to focus on one thing at a time
• obsessed with self-improvement

Your passion for knowledge and exploring new places will help you achieve success in many ways. Research is key when it comes to writing. We need to know more about the different aspects of our characters and the settings in which they live. Use that natural curiosity to your advantage, to fill out some of the gaps in your writing. Try to implement the five senses on the page.

Additionally, your friendly, outgoing personality will further round your public image as an author. However, that difficulty you have with focusing might make you feel a bit scattered at times, unable to stick with certain projects. Just do your best to keep yourself on point by creating smaller, more manageable tasks for yourself each day. Some writers find it easier to have word count goals, some don't. Do what works well for you.

Capricorn (December 22nd -
​January 19th)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• patient
• disciplined
• dedicated
• known to persevere despite the odds
• mature, responsible, duty-driven
• has a good sense of humor
• guarded
• honest

Most of these are wonderful traits to have, especially for a writer who wants to be good at what they do. Your discipline and perseverance will get you through some tough times along the way. However, that greater sense of responsibility that you carry everywhere may defeat you in the long run. You might get discouraged by the usual obstacles that writers encounter on the journey. Rejections from publishers and literary agents happen. The problem is that this is a highly subjective business. People think they know just what they're looking for and they're not open-minded to another approach. Keep pushing forward, take some of the advice with a grain of salt, and try again with another individual or company. Someone is bound to take the bait, right? 

Also, being a guarded type of person could work against you when it comes to developing a story. No one wants to be hurt, not in their personal life and not in their career. But it happens. We learn the lesson and move on. But some of us have built up walls around our hearts because of it, and tend to guard our emotions as well. The downside is that if you don't find a way to tap into it, at least on the page, you'll end up with characters that readers will feel they can't relate to. Or the character will appear less human. It's not a good thing. If someone identifies with your characters, they'll keep reading. They will end up tossing the book otherwise, and you don't want that. Just do your best to tap into some deeper emotions. Do the work of learning about your MC. Find out the character's motivation, what drives them to keep going or trying to get what they want. You'll thank me later, once the reviews come in.

Aquarius (January 20th - February 18th)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• highly intellectual
• contemplative
• innovative, inventive
• progressive
• eccentric
• not very emotional
• often an outcast
• savors individuality
• a bit close-minded
• usually humanitarian in their efforts

Your thirst for knowledge and creativity can only help you in your writing career. Even if you aren't an emotional type, being a humanitarian by nature will help you with character development? Why? On some level, you have empathy for others. Own it. Use it to get into your character's head.

All creative types are proud of their individuality, what makes them unique compared to other people. But if you're taking as far as being too stubborn to change, or at least to try adjust your approach to writing or marketing efforts, it will only hurt you in the long run. Of course, you should always be yourself in life. Yet, if you intend to make it anywhere in this business, do your research on how all of this works. Some people who have been there before do have good advice.

Pisces (February 19th - March 20th)

Pikisuperstar on Freepik.

• imaginative
• intuitive
• sensitive
• known for empathy
• romantic
• creative
• is often a social person
• lives in a fantasy world
• has no boundaries
• everything is a sign to them
• eager to recreate themselves

Many of these are great traits to have if you're a creative person. However, if you're especially sensitive, that leads me to believe you may not take criticism well. Who does, right? But constructive criticism is necessary in this business, at least when it comes to editing your manuscript. Make sure to carefully evaluate feedback from critique partners, beta readers, and professional editors. There may be some really great advice that could further improve your writing project.

Summary

Mind you, none of these are blanket statements. The aforementioned personality traits often occur within these zodiac signs, but not necessarily every time. And look, I'm not out to say astrology is all wrong here. People can believe in whatever they want. You're a whole person, complete with strengths and weakness. That's normal. But if you want to improve your craft, consider this. 

​As a writer, it might behoove you to shift your way of thinking now and then, to make room for better methods. Beat the system that's been laid out for you. How many times has someone told you that you couldn't follow your dreams because it was too hard, or that they didn't think you were capable of being successful at it? Who cares what they think? Your writing journey is your own. You should do it your way, but also take the advice of published writers into account. Well, unless he/she is being a complete jerk about it (ha!). But I am suggesting that as writers, we can use the zodiac chart to create something new.

So, the next time you come across your horoscope in the newspaper or somewhere online, take a moment before dismissing it as nonsense or even superstition. Use it to your advantage in your writing career. Prove those words or assumptions about your personality are wrong. Or, perhaps meet the same goals if the prediction turns out to be a positive sentiment. At least it's one way of looking at the zodiac in a different manner.

We can beat the odds. It's possible to take what you think you know about your sign and prove you're more than that. You're a writer. Beyond that, you're a person worthy of getting exactly what you want in life. Perhaps that's the takeaway here. Use your zodiac sign loosely. Fight those assumptions. Or meet them if you want. Prove it to yourself first that you have accomplished what you've set out to do. 

Being a writer isn't about fame or money. It shouldn't be, anyway. It should be about your love for the craft - enjoying the creation of a story, poem, or essay. But that doesn't mean we can't have aspirations of being published, getting an award, or gaining some kind of recognition. Set small goals for yourself and you'll get there. Dividing your huge dreams off into smaller, more attainable tasks is just a better way to keep organized. As you reach each goal, you'll quickly realize that it was worth the harrowing journey, after all.

As always, happy reading! ♥

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.