What’s Your Writing Career Plan?
Four and half years ago, I began writing this blog for the Loft, the initial inspiration was to provide regular insight on the business side of writing. Professional creatives often have a gap in knowledge when it comes to managing their careers, especially in the beginning. Being broke is by no means a requirement of being an artist. Even if you have received payment only once for your work, that makes you a creativeprenuer. And if the goal is to keep making money by writing in some capacity, this will necessitate paying very close attention to the small business you have intentionally (or unintentionally) started.
A wise first step which you likely repeat in the weeks, months or years ahead is to spend time seriously reflecting on four questions:
- What are qualified to write? (*based on your education, work and/or lived work experience)
- What do you want to write? (a book; poetry; blog; articles etc)
- Who do you want to write for? (yourself, paid clients, magazines etc)
- Do you have the information and connections needed to finish your work-in-progress or accomplish your current goals?
There are no or wrong answers to the above questions. And you may have multiple answers. This is also not a problem. But what can be challenging, to the point of disastrous, is trying to pursue too many opportunities at once. Build a solo, solid pathway at the outset so that later on, it will feel more like branching out rather than starting over from scratch.
Plus if your answer to the last question in the above list is ‘NO,’ do not let that be the reason you do not move forward. You can sell a novel or earn regular income as a freelance writer. However, be willing to put in the time to do research, as well as cultivate connections with other authors, editors and content creators in order to learn more about craft and potential revenue streams. Taking classes and attending events like lit fests and author readings can be great
Consider these previous blogs as a DIY crash course on how sustainable writing careers blossom:
- How to Write a Thrilling Thriller, Pt. I: Young adult thriller authors Jennifer Pearson, Rachel Peterson, and Dinesh Thiru explain how they each developed original tales that were suspense-filled enough to land traditional book deals.
- How To Craft a Cookbook: Two culinary pros talk about how their culinary niches became fodder for books.
- How to Bring a Nonfiction Series to Life: If you dream of publishing a fiction or kidlit book series, check out this interview with Hanna Kim.
- How to Become a Professional Editor: Do you enjoy editing skills just as much as penning prose or verse? Then think about increasing your cash flow by being a part-time editor
- How To Be An Author For Hire: With IP projects, publishers provide the initial concept for a book or story project you get paid to write.
- How to Woo An Agent: The road to finding an agent is rarely straightforward. Use this advice from two to plan your next querying plan.
Your journey to success will likely be different from several of the stories shared in those posts. Yet it is equally full of endless possibilities. I promise the most vital action you can take today is to keep writing. Then figure out the best channels for it to flow out through into the world.
Check out Rachel’s upcoming “Publishing for Newbies” online class starting July 22!