Who doesn't dream of quitting their job and doing what they love all day? I know I do. Some people do it and succeed. However, it can be a long and tough road to get there.
We all want to just write whatever we want for a living. It's not that easy. A lot of times what you want to write is not what wants to sell. Other times you may just find out that your writing is not good enough. Even still you may come to find that you are selling your work, but not making enough money to support yourself. These are all real dilemmas you will most likely face when trying to start writing for a living.
You will have to live like Ebeneezer Scrooge. You will go through times where you cant pay your bills. You will not eat well. These are all necessary sacrifices. Unless you already have some sort of fixed means of income, it can be very dangerous to quit your job and write for a living. Hell, you may even find out that you don't like to write as much as you thought. Then you will be screwed.
I'm sure you want to write. You're sure too. So go ahead, quit your job, freelance, write a book, whatever. But when your liver fails from the alcoholism that comes with being a writer and you cant pay the medical bills, don't say I didn't warn you.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Don't quit your day job, maybe.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
How do I get fresh ideas?
It is hard to decide what to write about. Most often I tell people to write about what they are interested in. You can pretty much make anything interesting if you try hard enough (not really true, but almost). But I am often at a crossroads when trying to answer this question for myself.
Herein lies my dilemma. Reading fiction bores me. That is to say, reading most fiction bores me.
There are a few fiction books that have held my interest. Although I dislike reading the majority of it, I have found myself coming back to fiction writing time and time again. For some reason I am drawn to writing fiction. This is only the half of it.
I also want to make money from my writing. However, the types of fiction that make the most money(usually) are precisely the kind of books that bore me. I don't want to mention specifics, but I can't stand reading something that just feels like a cookie cutter novel. I just feel like I am not really gaining anything by reading these types of books. This makes writing that kind of novel, for me, pretty much out of the question. I don't want to "sell out".
So what do I do?
I revisit my earlier advice; Write about what interests you. The first thing I do is to find a topic that I am passionate about. It is a lot easier to write about something you know and love, and ipso facto your writings on the subject will be a lot better. After I have a topic, I like to find some way to make that topic relate to an issue I feel passionate about. I find that this makes the writing have a lot more purpose and meaning. Rather than just being entertainment, the story now gives something to the reader that they can take away from the story as well as being entertaining. I think this is one major factor that has been slowly nudged out of mainstream books. I also believe that this is why many books these days just dont "do it" for me.
If you want to write fiction, I urge you, write something that matters. Dont just write mindless mainstream garbage just because it sells. Write something that has the power to affect people; to change people even(in a positive way please). Please help to revive a lost art. Please help to save literature.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
How do I Start Writing Professionally?
For many people(myself included), writing is a passion. Though I am a relative newcomer to the scene, writing can be and has been a profitable venture.
Many people often wonder; "How can I get started as a professional writer?" By Using the tips provided below, you will be well on your way to easing into your new job as a professional writer.
Tip One: Identify your style
There are plenty of ways out there to make money writing. The first step to doing it is to identify what you want to write. Some people are excellent journalists, but lousy novelists. Some people love to write poetry, while others would rather write research papers. There are many different types of writing, and if you want to do it for the long haul, try to pick something that you think you can stay interested in. Some of you may already have that figured out and are probably wishing I would just shut the hell up. In that case, go to tip two.
Tip Two: Start Writing!
Write every day, whether you have something to write about or not. This is the oldest and most often heard piece of advice for aspiring writers, and for a reason. You may think you're hot stuff when it comes to writing, and maybe you really are, but there are thousands of people out there that are most likely just as good as you. If you want to be better than them, you have to write... a lot. It only takes a few manuscript rejections and/or marked up drafts to realize that you're not as awesome as you thought. Practice makes perfect. Actually no, that's impossible. Practice does make Very Good though.
Tip Three: Take Notes
Yes cliche, that writer sitting in the park jotting notes in his notebook about amusing passers by. Cliche? Guess what. That guy is a better writer than you! That's right.
As I said before, this stuff is all cliche for a reason. You would not believe how many times I've sat and tried to remember that great idea I had two hours ago, only to end in an epic fail. A notebook on your person at all times is a must for any writer. Whether it be to take notes about a story idea, a character, or to jot down possible interview questions for an upcoming article, the notebook(not the movie) is invaluable. You never know when an idea will strike, so you must always be ready.
Tip Four: Get Schooled
A lot of writers shoot themselves in the feet, or possibly lower calf to ankle region, by assuming that they already know everything there is to know about writing. Again, if you think this, you probably should get a tourniquet, some whiskey, a knife, and a blowtorch, because that bullet is not going to remove itself. The best and fastest way to learn about writing is, in my opinion, to buy a book. Think about it, you are trying to sell your writing, so the best way to learn is from someone that obviously has already done so.
There is a lot of great info in books, but if some of that info clashes with your personal style, then don't use it. The trick is to find a balance. You need to take some of the info in without letting it influence your writing too much.
This was kind of a long post but believe me, there is much more that can be said about this topic. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to writing professionally.
P. S. I am not a medical doctor. If you really shoot yourself, or anyone else, in the foot, or any other part of the body, It is probably best to ignore it and pretend like nothing happened. It will probably just work itself out. Good Luck!
