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/
shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOur Freelance Writing Needs DefinedWe must make freelance niche types... Read More
All Writers need the press, especially new writers. As a... Read More
My article this issue is an excerpt from a book... Read More
Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing.... Read More
First impressions count in writing too! So it is always... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
Rudolf Flesch, a specialist in writing skills, ran classes... Read More
For many years, I've been a tutor for students undertaking... Read More
Have you given up on getting your book out of... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Rudolph Flesch, a pioneering advocate of readability, put great stock... Read More
Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
He ran up the steps and knocked on the door.... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation,... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
Lately I've been noticing an odd trend amongst the freelance... Read More
In this article you will find tips on: How to... Read More
Be careful when you write.Words you use, sentences you phrase... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website yet?... Read More
One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?When an idea comes to us for... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More
Everyone has a unique story to tell. From explaining business... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
Many of us have always wanted to write. We have... Read More
When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More
Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
You can make a lot of money by writing and... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
To help build your profile and reputation within a large... Read More
Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a... Read More
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More
Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Just about everyone is familiar with this beginning: "In the... Read More
Rejection. This scary word plagues virtually every writer this side... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
If you're getting rejections from your submissions, please don't quit... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
By far, I have found that the lack of discipline... Read More
Writing |