Part of our "Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career" Video series
( Read the transcript )
INTRODUCTION
Being a writer is a fantastic job for the right person. Some people know that they want to be writers early in childhood when they become the go-to storyteller for all the other kids on the block. Other people realize that they enjoy writing only after they take a mandatory composition class in high school or college. For others, it can be any number of things that spurns an interest in writing that prompts them to pursue a career in writing. Make no mistake about it; being a writer can be a great career. It isn't for everyone though, and most writers have to spend quite some time paying their dues before making any substantial money. So don't quit your day job just yet, but get ready to roll up your sleeves and figure out if you have the gumption needed to soon become a professional writer.
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE
It doesn’t matter if you are a recent college graduate or a grandmother of three, by joining the ranks of people who want to make writing a career you are gaining membership to a diverse crowd. Writers are as varied as the things they write about; business finance writers and erotica writers compose works on two completely different topics, but they are all deemed writers nonetheless. You should figure out why you want to write before you jump into figuring out how you are going to write…make sure you have the passion and drive needed to become a professional – and possibly successful – writer.
WHY?
Do you have a passion for writing? Some writers have such a joy and passion for writing that they thirst for time to write. Ideas are constantly flowing through their minds. Some writers are notorious for pointing out flaws in other people's writing, especially flaws which are a result of a paid writer (such as advertisement copy and things like that). Are you happiest when you are writing? Do you feel as though your writing is a result of an innate talent you have been blessed with? You will be a happier professional writer if you actually enjoy what you are doing. You'll be an elated writer if you love what you are doing. Sitting down to compose a writing project should not feel like a daunting task to you. Of course there are times for most writers when they need to tackle a project which they are not particularly thrilled about, such as when composing a series of articles regarding a subject for which the writer does not have much interest at all. The act of writing, however, should not be something which feels like a constant drain. If you hope to spend the rest of your life cultivating a writing career and being a successful writer, you might want to second guess your decision if the act of writing leaves you exhausted and frustrated. Remember that a writing career is more than a way to make money…it should also be a creative outlet for the writer.
Do you have delusions of fat paychecks? Yes, some successful writers make big bucks. You should not allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking that you will instantly be met with great success and the checks will roll in like mad. The truth is that some writers – many of them quite talented – never make enough money from their writing to pay the mortgage or put groceries on the table. Money should not be your main motivation for wanting to become a writer because if it is, you are not only setting yourself up for disappointment but you are in it for the wrong reasons. There are better ways to become a millionaire than writing. Go play the lotto.
Do you want to be Carrie Bradshaw? The show Sex in the City made a writer's life seem glamorous and impossibly chic. Although it is true that some well-known writers live an enviable life, not every writer is able to achieve this type of lifestyle. If you are chasing after a certain lifestyle instead of following your heart's desire to put your thoughts to paper, you're in it for the wrong reasons. Don't forget, too, that Carrie Bradshaw was usually broke.
Being a writer is a fantastic job for the right person. Some people know that they want to be writers early in childhood when they become the go-to storyteller for all the other kids on the block. Other people realize that they enjoy writing only after they take a mandatory composition class in high school or college. For others, it can be any number of things that spurns an interest in writing that prompts them to pursue a career in writing. Make no mistake about it; being a writer can be a great career. It isn't for everyone though, and most writers have to spend quite some time paying their dues before making any substantial money. So don't quit your day job just yet, but get ready to roll up your sleeves and figure out if you have the gumption needed to soon become a professional writer.
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE
It doesn’t matter if you are a recent college graduate or a grandmother of three, by joining the ranks of people who want to make writing a career you are gaining membership to a diverse crowd. Writers are as varied as the things they write about; business finance writers and erotica writers compose works on two completely different topics, but they are all deemed writers nonetheless. You should figure out why you want to write before you jump into figuring out how you are going to write…make sure you have the passion and drive needed to become a professional – and possibly successful – writer.
WHY?
Do you have a passion for writing? Some writers have such a joy and passion for writing that they thirst for time to write. Ideas are constantly flowing through their minds. Some writers are notorious for pointing out flaws in other people's writing, especially flaws which are a result of a paid writer (such as advertisement copy and things like that). Are you happiest when you are writing? Do you feel as though your writing is a result of an innate talent you have been blessed with? You will be a happier professional writer if you actually enjoy what you are doing. You'll be an elated writer if you love what you are doing. Sitting down to compose a writing project should not feel like a daunting task to you. Of course there are times for most writers when they need to tackle a project which they are not particularly thrilled about, such as when composing a series of articles regarding a subject for which the writer does not have much interest at all. The act of writing, however, should not be something which feels like a constant drain. If you hope to spend the rest of your life cultivating a writing career and being a successful writer, you might want to second guess your decision if the act of writing leaves you exhausted and frustrated. Remember that a writing career is more than a way to make money…it should also be a creative outlet for the writer.
Do you have delusions of fat paychecks? Yes, some successful writers make big bucks. You should not allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking that you will instantly be met with great success and the checks will roll in like mad. The truth is that some writers – many of them quite talented – never make enough money from their writing to pay the mortgage or put groceries on the table. Money should not be your main motivation for wanting to become a writer because if it is, you are not only setting yourself up for disappointment but you are in it for the wrong reasons. There are better ways to become a millionaire than writing. Go play the lotto.
Do you want to be Carrie Bradshaw? The show Sex in the City made a writer's life seem glamorous and impossibly chic. Although it is true that some well-known writers live an enviable life, not every writer is able to achieve this type of lifestyle. If you are chasing after a certain lifestyle instead of following your heart's desire to put your thoughts to paper, you're in it for the wrong reasons. Don't forget, too, that Carrie Bradshaw was usually broke.
