Hands up all those who'd like to have a successful writing career.
(What's that you say? What do I mean by 'successful'?)
All right, I know all writers are individuals. To some, 'successful' might mean just getting one article published. Others want a string of best-selling novels, recognition in the supermarket and megabucks in the bank account. So, for the purposes of this article, we'll define 'successful' as "achieving regular or ongoing publication credits in tandem with a growing income". That income should increase as you become more recognized and popular as a writer.
Now for the crunch. How do you achieve success? How do you win a growing readership? And the biggie: how do you make sure you get paid for your efforts?
There's a simple answer. You need to INVEST in your career. Think of your writing as a fledgling business. Wise investment will help it to grow - and help you to get the results you want.
Every craftsperson needs to have good tools to get the best results. A writer is no different.
2. You Need to Prioritise Your Spending
There are three main things you need to think about when you're prioritising your spending on your writing career.
Here are a few ideas:
(a) What will help me improve my skills?
Books on writing for your professional library - a writing course - a writing workshop or program - a writers' seminar or conference - membership of a writers' centre - writing software - a critique service
(b) What will help me do my job more effectively?
An up to date computer - a good-quality desk and chair - an internet connection - a directory of writers' markets - a separate room for writing - a reduction in working hours in my outside job - a fax and/or good printer - a better word processing program
(c) What will help me to get known and to market my work?
Attendance at writing talks/seminars/workshops/groups - local functions and social groups - internet discussion lists - my own website - submission of articles to industry magazines/ezines - run my own seminars and workshops - business cards - regular column for local paper - radio chat show appearances
These are just a few ideas. Brainstorm a list of your own, then rank the items on each list in order of importance to you. What is the wisest use of your money at this point in your career?
3. You Need To Invest Time As Well As Money
You have probably already noticed that many of the career-boosting strategies that involve investment of cash also require an investment of your time. The importance of giving time to your career cannot be overestimated.
It's far easier to find excuses for not doing something than to get out there and do it. With every excuse, your writing career stalls again. Sure, we all have times when everything that could go wrong does go wrong - but we need to be careful that this enforced 'time out' doesn't stretch from weeks to months, or from months to years.
4. You Need To Invest Energy
An energetic approach to achieving success in your writing career is just as important as spending time and money. You can spend thousands of dollars and you can sit down at the computer for four hours a day seven days a week - but if you don't invest energy then you are diluting the effects of both. Example #1: You can go to a seminar and sit by yourself the whole time (or nod off because you're bored/tired)... or you can make an effort to talk to other writers; ask questions of the panel; introduce yourself to an agent.
Example #2: You can skim through the posts on an internet discussion list... or you can join in and toss around a few ideas (and get to know the others on the list).
Example #3: You can sit at your desk for 2 hours and write a page, play 10 games of Solitaire, answer your email and chat on the phone to a friend for twenty minutes... or you can write a scene, print it out, read it out loud for pacing, analyse the dialogue, then rewrite it - in short: be proactive about using your writing time. 5. You Need To Surround Yourself With Wise Advisers and Positive People
It has often been said that writing is a lonely occupation. It certainly can be, if all you do is sit in front of the computer for hours on end, lost in your writing world. It's even lonelier if you seem to be the only one who believes that you've got a chance of making something of 'this writing caper'.
Am I saying that it's a bad thing to become really involved in your writing? Not at all - but you do need balance. You also need to surround yourself with the right kind of people to help you move forward - (1) the right advisers and (2) positive people.
Who are the 'right advisers'? People who know something of the world of writing. Usually, these will be other writers or professionals connected with writing: agents, editors, writing centre personnel, and experienced members of writing groups (online and offline).
What about 'positive people'? This is easy. Getting published is hard enough without the doomsayers undermining your confidence. If your family is not supportive, look for others who are. Talk about writing with people who care. Beware of published writers who launch savage attacks on the publishing industry without offering any constructive advice (sometimes they have a hidden agenda).
You love to write. You want to make a living at it. You want to know how to make this a reality - not be told how awful and impossible it all is.
Naturally, you shouldn't close your ears to sage advice. If there's an editor everyone hates dealing with, you want to know about it. If there's a publisher who takes ten months to respond to a manuscript, doesn't take calls and is slow paying contracted authors - you want to know about that too. But overall, mix with positive people. Your enthusiasm and effectiveness will soar.
6. You Need To Plan, Review, and Plan Again
A well-run business reviews its performance regularly. As you invest time, money and energy in your career, stop periodically to review the effectiveness of your strategies.
By employing these 6 high-yield strategies to investing in your career, you'll notice a definite change in your attitude and your results.
Does this approach work?
Well, for over a decade now I've had a career based solely on writing and writing-related activities. It pays well in both satisfaction and dollars. I've always invested time, money and energy in my career. I've tried to surround myself with good advisers and positive people. And yes, I do plan, review then plan again! I'm constantly updating my knowledge, tools and contacts.
These 6 high-yield strategies have worked for countless other writers. They're based on (1) common sense and (2) good business sense.
Give them a try, and watch them work wonders for you.
(c) copyright Marg McAlister
Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/
non-toxic cleaning company Winnetka ..Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
No matter what you are writing, the first priority is... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Your theme has to be something you... Read More
Freelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
If you think proofreading equals editing, then you're wrong! Editing... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
Have you ever wondered why some people can make millions... Read More
Or do you?Writers write. You shouldn't wait around for inspiration... Read More
Dream that your book can be a number one best... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
Do you love someone very deeply? A spouse, son, daughter,... Read More
Okay. So I'm not David Letterman. But I doubt if... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel and bookpleasures is honored... Read More
Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how... Read More
Welcome to the zany ideas of a productive writer. My... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
Quite a few years ago, I enrolled in a Degree... Read More
Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
With the advent of email communications in the workplace, it's... Read More
Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
It's clich?, but true-a picture does paint a thousand words.... Read More
ELICIT, ILLICITElicit means to extract or draw out; illicit means... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Glencoe ..What possibly could I have to write about? I never... Read More
Written communication is often the first impression you make on... Read More
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Right off the bat, I want to say that there... Read More
[When I was a nineteen-year-old high school student and budding... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
Back in the mid to late 1980s I was a... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
During my 25-year career in a variety of professional positions... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
Once you've plotted out your book, developed the characters and... Read More
Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
Have you ever wondered why certain writers are able to... Read More
EditingExpect, allow, and accept that every first draft will represent... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
When I was young, I used to talk to myself.... Read More
* Scanning and Skimming Practices *Whether you're writing e-mail messages... Read More
Punctuation, when used creatively, is powerful. Note, however, that when... Read More
Being a great writer is no longer enough if you... Read More
Writing |