The final installment of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Writers. Habit 7: Sharpening the Saw is self-renewal, and it’s the one that keeps all the others going.

Synergy starts by asking, “Help me see what you see.” Habit 6 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Writers brings out the strengths of the other public habits, unifying and unleashing your creative powers in ways that are only possible through collaboration with other creators and artists.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood asks a lot of you as an author, but when practiced well, this habit can help you parse which critique is helpful and what can be put aside.

Win-win might feel business-y, but this mindset is a philosophy as much as it is a practical technique that can be applied to most aspects of life—including writing.

Habit 3: Put First Things First. Effective writers need the discipline of saying no and organizing themselves around the priorities that will make the greatest impact in the long run.

The most effective writers understand that a plan is the best way to make sure you get to where you want to go. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind works on two levels, making it extremely versatile for writers.

An effective writer is one who knows why they do what they do and understands how their process will get them there. With a nod to Stephen Covey’s seminal work, this article tackles Habit 1 of seven foundational habits for authors who want to make a difference.