There’s something you learn pretty quickly when you commit to being a writer—especially a good one: you can’t fake depth on the page without first digging deep into yourself.

Writing, at its core, is an act of emotional excavation. To create characters who feel real, to design plots that move readers, to craft endings that leave someone sobbing or smiling—you have to go inward. You have to ask the uncomfortable questions. What do I really want? What am I afraid of? Why do I keep repeating this pattern? What does success mean to me?

And that’s why I believe personal development isn’t just helpful for writers and creatives—it’s essential.

Self-help. Personal growth. Self-improvement. Call it what you want. At its heart, personal development is the ongoing act of assessing your life goals and values and building your skills and qualities to reach your potential. It can lead to more maturity, satisfaction, and success in every area of life—including your creative work.

Why Writers Need Personal Growth

Many of us pursue personal growth throughout our lives via education, mentorship, spirituality, or even therapy. And when you're in a creative field like writing, all of that inner work shows up in your art.

Writing forces you to explore your vulnerabilities, unpack old wounds, and get honest about your desires. If you shy away from personal development, your writing risks staying surface-level. But when you embrace it—magic happens.

My Journey with Self-Help (and How It Changed My Life)

Over the years, I’ve been introduced to a lot of personal development books. My father, a highly successful businessman and fellow introvert, understood the power behind always striving to improve. One of the first books he handed me—quietly, as only a fellow introvert would—was How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say it changed my life.

I grew up in a small rural area of New Zealand, attending tiny schools where I mostly kept to myself. Meeting new people wasn’t my strength. But I had this wild dream of moving to the USA and spending my senior year in an American high school—yes, I was totally inspired by Beverly Hills 90210!

I did everything to make that dream happen—got the grades, convinced my parents, got accepted. And then the fear hit: what if I can’t connect with anyone?

That’s when Dad handed me Carnegie’s book. And the rest is history.

I used those skills to confidently introduce myself to strangers, build friendships with people from all walks of life, and create a life-changing experience that set the stage for everything that came after—including launching my own publishing company and helping other writers chase their dreams.

Returning to the Self-Help Shelf

In 2019, after ending a 12-year marriage, I found myself reaching for personal development books again. The Law of Attraction intrigued me, but as I grew my business, explored new habits, and redefined my identity, other books deeply impacted me too.

Here are a few of my favorites that I come back to often:

• Let Them Theory - Mel Robbins

• Write to Riches - Renee Rose

• Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert

• Atomic Habits – James Clear

• Chillpreneur – Denise Duffield-Thomas

• The One Thing – Gary Keller

• Everything is Figureoutable – Marie Forleo

• Super Attractor – Gabrielle Bernstein

• How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie

• Start with Why – Simon Sinek

Each of these books offers different tools and perspectives—but they all share one thing in common: they’ve helped me grow as a writer, business owner, and human being.

Will they all resonate with you the same way? Maybe not. But if you’re ready to grow, I encourage you to explore them in whatever format works for you. (Personally, I adore Elizabeth Gilbert and Mel Robbins on Audible. And my paperback copy of Super Attractor is full of highlights and scribbles in the margins.)

Writing As Transformation

Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, creating characters or crafting copy—your stories reflect you. The deeper you go into your own journey of growth, the richer your creative work becomes.

So, writers: don’t underestimate the power of personal development. Your emotional evolution is your superpower.

And if you’ve read any of the books I mentioned—or have a must-read recommendation for me—please reach out! I’d love to hear your favorites.

Sarah 🩷