Six Steps To A Great Writing Career
Posted on 03 April 2008 by Sharon
I was inspired by Skellie to write this post. I started thinking about the advice I’d give to a budding writer, if I knew I only had this post to get that writer started on a career. Sis, this one’s for you.
1. It’s My Paper And I’ll Write If I Want To
(with apologies to whoever sang the song). If you want to be a writer, write. Don’t procrastinate, don’t hide, don’t delay - just write. Write every day if you can for as much time as you can set aside. It may not seem like much, but you have taken the first steps in launching a writing career. You just can’t do it unless you’ve got some writing to show off.
2. Get Out There
Find somewhere to publish your writing. It could be your blog, someone else’s blog, a newspaper, magazine or website. Submit your work to as many places as you can. Something will stick sometime, giving you your first publishing credits. Keep doing that to build up a varied range of clips.
3. Tell The World
Start your own blog or website so you can tell people what you have done and what you can do. Include links to all your published clips and examples of unpublished work that you think is good. Make it clear that people can publish this work for a fee.
4. Talk To Others
Enjoy the company of strangers, but make sure they are writers. Online or offline, writing group or IM chat, it doesn’t matter as long as you can share tips and techniques, rejections and successes with those who are doing the same as you. They will understand you better than people in your own family, trust me.
5. Believe In Yourself
You have something to say and it is worth hearing. Keep doing all these things and others will start to believe in you too. Writing is a skill and an art. Whichever way you want to approach it you can find success. Almost every successful writer has known rejection and privation, but they have kept on going and have triumphed in the end. You can too.
6. Keep Learning
No one knows it all. Learn as much as you can about the craft of writing, the art of writing and the background knowledge for your specialist areas. It won’t be wasted. One day you will be an expert and everyone will be knocking on your door.
It’s true that I could expand on each of these points - and probably will or have - but I wanted to keep it concise. Have you got any tips to add?
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April 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Wonderful advice. #4 is something that has helped (and continues to help me) me the very most!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Excellent post. The internet has become a great tool for writers to try out their talents on an audience. The amount of information and advice available is also a huge benefit.
I do come across many writers convinced of their destiny for greatness who fail to follow most if not all these principles and who constantly wonder why the world hasn’t noticed them yet.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Excellent suggestions. I think #1 and #6 have been the most important for me, but #4 is becoming ever more important - thank goodness for other writing blogs!
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
@ Dana: Yes, you’ve been a lifeline for me many times.
@ Kimota: You’re right, the internet is a great writing playground, but it’s also a serious market for writers and a way of getting noticed quickly.
@ Catherine: Making the leap is always difficult. Once you do, I think it’s important not to be complacent.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Great post Sharon and heartfelt advice. I think that 4 has been the most use to me, that and publishing my first blog on a site where I found bucket loads of support and advice.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Good stuff, as always, Sharon.
I think that, as much as I loathe lectures on self-esteem, a turning point in my Internet writing career was the day I realized that I was a good writer, that I was talented enough to support my family writing, and that it didn’t matter how many times my print writing submissions were rejected, I knew my own value.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:07 am
One more thing I’d add Sharon is a piggyback to #5, while not being a slap in the face to #4 — find your own voice. Too many new writers try to be like, sound like, write like others.
DON’T!
The creator made each of us unique for a reason (hey, no reason to go questioning THAT judgement). So, tap into the uniqueness that is you — for the world doesn’t need another Alice Walker, Toni Morrison or Stephen King. They’ve told their stories.
But, it does need to know about Mary Jane Everybody, or John Doe Public — we’re waiting with more bated breathe than you know for your story. Why?
Because YOU’RE the only one that can tell it.
Inspiring post Sharon. Now I’m off to bed!
Yuwanda
April 5th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
@ Sue: There’s nothing like getting advice from those who share the same enterprise.
@ Bob: I think that’s a big step for all writers. Earning enough to be self supporting is a major milestone.
@ Yuwanda: Good point. It takes time to find that voice, but it can be done.
April 9th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Excellent advice! In the last couple weeks I had trouble keeping up with my blog but I did guest blog for a couple sites. This was a new adventure for me, and quite fun!
April 10th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Good advice and a very inspirational message.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I love guest blogging, Grandy, as it gives me the chance to try new things for a new audience/
@Joe: Thanks
April 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I’m so glad I found your blog! This post is very encouraging. You break down an intimidating task (become an online writer) into very doable steps. Thanks, I’m going to use this list!