5 Levels of Writers
Level 1: We all start here. Writing in our journal. Hammering away a novel on Microsoft Word. Starts of short stories, outlines, character bios, poems (a stanza long) that lay hanging for years…This is when we call our writing a “hobby” to our friends and the obsession begins.
Level 2: Now you’ve had the confidence to send your work out and it gets you somewhere (example: publication, winning an award or acceptance into a competitive writing course).
Level 3: The money rolls in – in drips and drabs your byline appears in newspapers, magazines, online publications, literary journals, books, etc. The cheques might not cover the mortgage and you’re likely working another job, but you continue to write, send it out, get some acceptances and rejections.
Level 4: The big break: This is when the agent and traditional publishing house sign you, and the distribution deal gets your name in multiple countries. You are a commercial writer, with a fanbase in your genre. You may even be a self-published author doing the big numbers and giving traditional publishing the finger.
Level 5: Household name: Stephen King, JK Rowling, etc. Most authors never reach this level, but they all started at Level 1.
Level 2: Now you’ve had the confidence to send your work out and it gets you somewhere (example: publication, winning an award or acceptance into a competitive writing course).
Level 3: The money rolls in – in drips and drabs your byline appears in newspapers, magazines, online publications, literary journals, books, etc. The cheques might not cover the mortgage and you’re likely working another job, but you continue to write, send it out, get some acceptances and rejections.
Level 4: The big break: This is when the agent and traditional publishing house sign you, and the distribution deal gets your name in multiple countries. You are a commercial writer, with a fanbase in your genre. You may even be a self-published author doing the big numbers and giving traditional publishing the finger.
Level 5: Household name: Stephen King, JK Rowling, etc. Most authors never reach this level, but they all started at Level 1.
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