Swinging for the Big Leagues: Writing as a Full-Time Job
“It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.” – Robert Benchley
Are you ready to dream big and emotionally invest in yourself as a full-time writer? It might sound impossible, but writing really can be a full-time job. I won’t pretend that it’s easy. It takes real time and commitment, but the potential rewards, both emotional and financial are huge, and if you never try to take it to the next level, you’ll always wonder if you have what it takes to go pro and play in the big leagues.
Taking those first wobbly steps towards a real writing career is a reward in itself because your life will have so much more meaning now that you are doing something that you have a real passion for. Self-published authors like Bella Andre, Cheryl Bradshaw, Denise Grover and Marie Force are right there, showing you everything that is possible for you too. They are also perfect examples of what it takes to be successful. There are three common things that self-published authors like them say:
1. I work for my readers.
Their fans are major driving forces for their work and they are continually looking for ways to connect and expand their readership base. Communication is open and readers actually participate to some degree or at least get a front-row seat on the creative process. Creative writing is only one aspect of their success when it comes to self-publishing. After that comes the boots-on-the-ground marketing and networking tasks, which take their own skill-set and dedication. There is a certain learning curve to it. Experiment, then go with what works and expand on it.
2. I provide what they want.
Readers expect choice and innovation in today’s market. Make your work easily accessible to everyone and stand out from the crowd by publishing different book formats.
3. I invest time and money in my writing business.
Writing professionally is serious business. It takes work every day to get results, be it writing your books or marketing them. Working from home is not an excuse to slack off! You need to have a regular routine with set work hours that work for you. Set goals for yourself and write a business plan. Regularly chart and examine your success so you have tangible evidence of how things are going, what works and what doesn’t, both creatively and in the marketplace.
It isn’t helpful to be too tied up with perfection. What you want to focus on is regular, steady progress every day toward your goals, but you probably are going to be better at some things more than others. Don’t hesitate to bring in a ringer and get help when it comes to some things. That might mean investing money for things like editing, formatting or book cover design. Creating a professional product that is marketable is your goal, but professional writers rarely do everything all on their own. Sometimes it takes a bit of money to make money.
