In our world today, everyone needs to write, but being a writer is totally different. There is little similarity between writing and being a writer. A writer is someone who lives a lifestyle that is most conducive to writing. Someone who wants to build up their personal identity and decision-making structure around the fact that they prioritize writing. Everyone has to be something, and most people choose quite boring things. Being a writer is a big adventurous step, but choose it anyway.
However, it is proper to mention that there are some drawbacks to being a writer. Oh, not the ones everyone is always telling you about: it's hard work, very few people make it, you can't make a living, etc. - those are just foolish.
The need for writers right now is greater than it has ever been. New content is always being created and posted online, and entrepreneurs are desperate for great writers to make their websites shine. More people are reading, devouring books, with whole new markets opening up regularly. Almost every industry needs technical writers, and copywriters are sought after. Yes, it is going to be hard work, but so is anything worth achieving. And yes, you might need to broaden your mind to less traditional concepts of writing, and you may not write the next great best-selling novel first time around, but that is no excuse to give up.
There is a need to point out considerations that you need to be aware of when you make the decision to become not just someone who writes, but a writer. The drawbacks mentioned above are not the issues you should be focusing on. Moreover, they are not meant to discourage you.
Firstly, people expect you to have been published in a medium familiar to them when you tell them you are a writer. This is quite unfair. Still, this is like how many people tend to think. People will look at you askew when you have nothing to show them yet. Running a blog will help you in this situation. You have something to point them to as evidence of your writing and it will save you from an awkward position in a social gathering. Besides, it is one great way to build an audience.
There is also the problem that writing can be a rather lonely business. It shouldn't be very surprising when you consider you must spend a good portion of the day staring at a screen and another good portion staring off into space. However, as the majority of people appear to do this at desk jobs anyway, and don't have the novels to justify it, so don't let this worry you. Terry Pratchett says, 'writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.' Which is true, if you let it.
Being a writer may seem lonely but it's a matter of choice. At some point, you might become a bit strange, and this is more tough to avoid. If you are spending long hours writing in the mindset of an evil genius, it can hardly be surprising that you might come down to dinner with just a slight facial tic and a tendency towards manic laughter. These things happen because of taking on too much of your characters or bubbling over with strange facts. Embrace it. It makes your writing a lot more interesting, and your life.
Sometimes you realize that you are beginning to view events in terms of descriptions. I have, on occasion, caught myself viewing people on the bus in terms of how I would describe their entrance into one of my books. 'The first thing you noticed about Mrs. Jones was her chin. The second was her next chin, and the third was the chin that rolled into her bust, neatly dispensing with the issue of a neck.' The problem with this situation is when you realize that you have been speaking these lines aloud. Leave the bus at the next stop when this happens.
Giving off the sense that you are sizing everyone up is harder to conceal, because, in fact, you are. Do they come up to scratch? Could they make a reasonable character in your book, or would they just be filler, killed off in the second chapter? These are important questions. Much more important than insipid questions such as 'how do you do?' That won't tell you anything interesting.
There are physical issues to be considered. If writers don't exercise care, they either become on the large side, or lose a lot of weight. Either of the results depends on how you connect your eating habits to your writing.
On a physical note, you will encounter problems from sitting down all day. Exercise should be included in your daily routine. Without this, it is possible to move no further than to the kettle and back for days on end. If you start finding the kettle hard to lift, it might be time to do a series of gym reviews for your blog.
There are writers who are divorced or single. But there are also patient spouses who look after their writing partners. So who says writers do not have time for relationships?
There are issues that may arise within the family. Despite all the protestations about making sure you keep your day job, families often love having one member as a writer, as it means someone at least is always free to do whatever they need whenever they want. There is a certain logic that they miss. Relatives who would never think of asking you to take a day off from your day job to help them move, will decide that since you were sitting around at home doing nothing anyway, surely you can write some other time? Children can also be quite demanding, and partners only have a right to complain if you started writing after you got together. A writer must be able to navigate through these issues by himself.
It can be very helpful if you have a circle of friends who are also writers. Although, it can be very dull when all they want to talk about is their own book while you are also thinking of your own.
However, these are the sacrifices you must make if you decide to be both a writer, and still appear even slightly normal.
However, it is proper to mention that there are some drawbacks to being a writer. Oh, not the ones everyone is always telling you about: it's hard work, very few people make it, you can't make a living, etc. - those are just foolish.
The need for writers right now is greater than it has ever been. New content is always being created and posted online, and entrepreneurs are desperate for great writers to make their websites shine. More people are reading, devouring books, with whole new markets opening up regularly. Almost every industry needs technical writers, and copywriters are sought after. Yes, it is going to be hard work, but so is anything worth achieving. And yes, you might need to broaden your mind to less traditional concepts of writing, and you may not write the next great best-selling novel first time around, but that is no excuse to give up.
There is a need to point out considerations that you need to be aware of when you make the decision to become not just someone who writes, but a writer. The drawbacks mentioned above are not the issues you should be focusing on. Moreover, they are not meant to discourage you.
Firstly, people expect you to have been published in a medium familiar to them when you tell them you are a writer. This is quite unfair. Still, this is like how many people tend to think. People will look at you askew when you have nothing to show them yet. Running a blog will help you in this situation. You have something to point them to as evidence of your writing and it will save you from an awkward position in a social gathering. Besides, it is one great way to build an audience.
There is also the problem that writing can be a rather lonely business. It shouldn't be very surprising when you consider you must spend a good portion of the day staring at a screen and another good portion staring off into space. However, as the majority of people appear to do this at desk jobs anyway, and don't have the novels to justify it, so don't let this worry you. Terry Pratchett says, 'writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.' Which is true, if you let it.
Being a writer may seem lonely but it's a matter of choice. At some point, you might become a bit strange, and this is more tough to avoid. If you are spending long hours writing in the mindset of an evil genius, it can hardly be surprising that you might come down to dinner with just a slight facial tic and a tendency towards manic laughter. These things happen because of taking on too much of your characters or bubbling over with strange facts. Embrace it. It makes your writing a lot more interesting, and your life.
Sometimes you realize that you are beginning to view events in terms of descriptions. I have, on occasion, caught myself viewing people on the bus in terms of how I would describe their entrance into one of my books. 'The first thing you noticed about Mrs. Jones was her chin. The second was her next chin, and the third was the chin that rolled into her bust, neatly dispensing with the issue of a neck.' The problem with this situation is when you realize that you have been speaking these lines aloud. Leave the bus at the next stop when this happens.
Giving off the sense that you are sizing everyone up is harder to conceal, because, in fact, you are. Do they come up to scratch? Could they make a reasonable character in your book, or would they just be filler, killed off in the second chapter? These are important questions. Much more important than insipid questions such as 'how do you do?' That won't tell you anything interesting.
There are physical issues to be considered. If writers don't exercise care, they either become on the large side, or lose a lot of weight. Either of the results depends on how you connect your eating habits to your writing.
On a physical note, you will encounter problems from sitting down all day. Exercise should be included in your daily routine. Without this, it is possible to move no further than to the kettle and back for days on end. If you start finding the kettle hard to lift, it might be time to do a series of gym reviews for your blog.
There are writers who are divorced or single. But there are also patient spouses who look after their writing partners. So who says writers do not have time for relationships?
There are issues that may arise within the family. Despite all the protestations about making sure you keep your day job, families often love having one member as a writer, as it means someone at least is always free to do whatever they need whenever they want. There is a certain logic that they miss. Relatives who would never think of asking you to take a day off from your day job to help them move, will decide that since you were sitting around at home doing nothing anyway, surely you can write some other time? Children can also be quite demanding, and partners only have a right to complain if you started writing after you got together. A writer must be able to navigate through these issues by himself.
It can be very helpful if you have a circle of friends who are also writers. Although, it can be very dull when all they want to talk about is their own book while you are also thinking of your own.
However, these are the sacrifices you must make if you decide to be both a writer, and still appear even slightly normal.
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Learn more from this author. Buffy Greentree has tips on becoming a prolific writer.
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