Self-employed as a Writer
Writing for a living means that you are self-employed.
Writing for a living means that you are self-employed; and like all self-employed persons, whether you are selling a product, giving lectures or contracting your services, a disciplined routine is essential for success. Every writer is different, so there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all plan for writing success. However, here are some thoughts for staying on-track as a writer:
1. Write. Great ideas go nowhere locked up inside your head. Get a manual, learn correct grammar and spelling. Colloquialism has a limited sales value.
2. Set measurable, achievable goals. A good example would be to resolve to write three pages of text every day or to send off three manuscripts every month, or to post two articles and a poem on Triond daily.
3. Do not set goals that include decisions made by others, such as “I will publish my book by July 2010.” You can control finishing a manuscript and submitting it for publication, but you cannot make a publisher accept it.
4. Read the trade magazines. Know what the trends are for topics, format, length and so on.
5. Keep a schedule. If you don’t have a lot of spare time, plan to spend an afternoon off just writing.
6. Carry a small notebook with you. Write while you are waiting for the car in the shop or laundry to wash.
7. Read, read, read! Read novels, non-fiction, technical manuals, backs of cereal boxes. Note how the words are arranged, how they are spelled.
8. Send stuff to publishers. It doesn’t go anywhere sitting in a drawer.
9. Keep track of where you sent things. It is horrible to miss out on a publishing opportunity just because you lost the address! I use a system of folders in My Documents on my computer, and track web publishers using a website I built on Google Sites.
10. Have some fun, do some work, get out and get some sun on your face so you will have something more to write about.
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March 6th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
You’re mistaken. Colloquolism sells like crazy. Trade magazines are for the pros. Avoid them like the plague. Sending stuff to publishers is a waste of time. They have rooms full of unread manuscripts…any of which could be a best seller. There will be no new writing hereos coming from Triond. Sorry.
March 6th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Thank you very much for reminding me. Great read.
March 6th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Great article, Daisy. You are a great cheerleader: write, write, write! Read, read, read! And one thing that I have recently discovered, keep the TV on a news channel. A writer needs to be a student of life.
Ken, do you know Triond writer Nutuba, aka Joel Schnoor? He’s my Triond hero.
March 6th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
The notebook is a good idea, I always have ideas and forget them.. good thing is I soon have other ideas
March 6th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I keep a notebook with a list of ideas to write about. The way I work and with our ballroom dancing I can’t write everyday so my goal is to publish at least four to six articles or stories a month. My goal for Feb was to submit two fictional short stories to a contest, which I did. I love to read you, my friend.
March 6th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
thanks for this very good article.
March 6th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Ken, it is a LONG step from Triond to “author”, and it is not possible to make it in one giant leap. I’ve still not reached the “I can live on it” point, but I have reached the level of income where it is making a serious difference in my budget. No, I don’t earn that money here. I am listening with both ears because I believe you are one of our few “professionals” who do post things on Triond. Triond has a sort of spot in the publishing ladder. Whether that spot is beginning or end is sort of a matter of opinion. It certainly isn’t the road to riches, if this is the only place you publish. Perhaps I should have mentioned in this list: Diversify your publishers.
March 6th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Reading and writing is what I like best of all my hobbies. I don’t know how long it will last. Right now I am thinking about the quilt I want to make next. I went to the library sale today and came home with a box of books so that will keep me busy for awhile.
March 6th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
It’s always good to be reminded to keep writing and keep reading.
March 7th, 2010 at 2:35 am
It would be nice to think I could earn enough by writing to go self employed but I fear only the top writers can do this.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:00 am
I got noticed by a magazine. How did I get noticed? They came across an article I had written on Triond. I was then published in an expat lifestyle magazine in Cyprus.
Never giving up, carrying a note pad and camera and believing in myself is my mantra.
You are right with your advice Daisy, interesting article.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Triond is what you make it. You cannot let what others do here effect your writing. Couple years ago I used my sports articles here to get a job writing sports articles for gambling websites. It paid far better than Triond ever will but then Congress banned offshore gambling and most of the sites disappeared and so did the jobs. Not sure anyone would consider writing for gambling websites a real writing job but the money was certainly real.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Well written article that I personally needed to “hear” right now. Been a “closet writer” for my entire life, now I am ready to “share” and hopefully make a dime or two at the same time. Thank you
March 8th, 2010 at 9:26 am
If this means that I am self-employed, then I seriously need to find another line of work. Great and well written piece.
March 8th, 2010 at 10:27 am
your recent articles were terrific now imwaiting for the self-help in writing book that you should put out LOL
March 8th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
I find goal-setting really helps me to stay focused. I continually assess where I am and where I want to be and that spurs me forward.
Your point about keeping track of submissions is sound. I keep a large submissions booklet and I catalog everything: when something is sent out, when I hear back, status, etc.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Nice tips. Being self-employed, one needs to be more disciplined.