5 WAYS TO JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING CAREER
March 31st, 2010Seti Matua
Feb. 10, 2009
A high school teacher once asked me the same question my parents asked me repeatedly during my formative years: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
My response was pretty minimal, nothing earth-shattering but certainly pretentious because I didn’t want to be outdone by the rest of the wanna-be-cops in the room.
“I want to be a doctor.”
Unfortunately for me, my parents and my teachers all knew me a little better than I knew myself at sixteen-years going on twenty-six. I knew even as I uttered the word ‘doctor’ that my true love in life was and still is writing. I’ve kept a (corny) journal of my life on, then off, then on again since that teacher’s prying and self-revealing question.
The question that I most often hear, now that I’ve developed my craft a bit and dabbled in the industry for nearly fifteen years is, “How did you become a writer,” or “What can I do to become a writer.”
Sadly, there is no cut-and-dry answer to that question. Google the phrase ‘freelance writer’ and you’ll be inundated with a myriad of writing courses, self-help books and websites telling you that, “you are a fool not to get this” or that “you can become your own work at home boss writing your own book.” Sound like I’ve tried that route? Like its a little too good to be true? You betcha!
Having traveled the road often traveled, I’d like to spare you a few extra steps if you are truly sincere about starting a career in the industry. These steps do not in any way guarantee your instant superstardom in the world of journalism and writing, but you can use them as a starting point to know whether or not you are truly cut out for the cutthroat world that is writing.
1. Know what type of writer you want to be – Saying you’re going to be a writer isn’t good enough. Some people think that once you write a poem, you can write a novel. Or, writing a novel automatically qualifies you to become a grant writer. It’s easy to blur the lines. Even after all these years I don’t know whether I want to be a full-time journalist, blogger, screenwriter or poet and it is maddening and a big waste of time that could be spent perfecting your writing. You may not know right away what type of writer you would like to be, but you will know once you start to get into your craft. For most writers that determination comes naturally once you get that urge to continue writing. I suggest that you visit your local library or buy how-to-books at a bookstore on the subject and decide what type of writer you want to be once you have a good idea of the types of writing that is available to you and you’ve taken the time to do your research on the subject.
2. Be a Sponge – Writing is second nature for some people, but for most of us it takes effort. There is a learning process, practice, more effort and then more practice. That cycle never ends. A degree in Journalism, English or Communication is an absolute must if you are looking to get your foot in the door at a local, regional or national newspaper or magazine. If you think creative writing is where you would like to concentrate your time and efforts, I would even suggest taking an accredited writing class or enroll in a writing course at your local community college to give you a good idea of what writing entails. A word of caution: like any other profession, becoming a writer is not as easy as sitting down and deciding that you are going to do it for a living. Very few successful writers today stumbled upon major success with their very first book or article. For most writers, myself included, it is a long trial and error process and it takes months, more often years, to establish and maintain lasting credibility in the market. But don’t be discouraged. If you truly want to be a writer, the rewards happen along the way to your writing dream job.
3. Get Your Facts Straight – Whether you plan on being a poet, an investigative writer, a newspaper or magazine columnist or a script writer you need to be prepared to spend at least 75% to 80% researching information. A good journalist will tell you that in order to maintain your journalistic integrity you must check and re-check your facts before your piece is actually published. And even after you’ve checked your draft over and over again, your piece is still subject to your editor’s scrutinizing eye before you get the okay to publish. Every newspaper, magazine or website editor will hold you to their company’s code of ethics to protect you as well as the publication. Even creative writers (non-fiction and fiction authors, poets, screenwriters) adhere to some level of fact-checking, especially when they are writing about a certain period or event in time. Science fiction writers may be the exception to that rule but even fantasy started out based on some random form of reality. Writing a piece is actually the fun part but it is your research that gets you to that point.
4. Write ! – It doesn’t matter what you are interested in or if the subject that pops into your head is off the wall and hardly interests you at all. The point is that you are writing and making a conscious effort to prefect your writing. Write something whenever a thought enters your mind. It drives my family crazy when they see me writing random things down on their homework assignments, napkins or anything within my reach. It doesn’t matter when and why, I just write. Inspiration is a fickle thing. But I’ve also found that inspiration has a short shelf life. If you don’t capture the thought right when that flash occurs, you will lose it and it may have been the one thought that could have been a potential paid article or the basis for a manuscript. I must have started a hundred unfinished film treatments in the local Denny’s after a football or a basketball game with my kids. I’ve written love letters, journal entries or poems but each one of those random thoughts have turned (and churned repeatedly in mind until it felt right) into my next article or feature piece.
5. Start a Blog or Website – The technology today has spawned thousands upon thousands of new writers. It is not a stretch to envision that a new writer is born every minute of every day thanks to the availability of tools like blogger.com and social networking sites like Facebook, Bebo and Pac-Biz. These tools and the Web have given people who may have been dissuaded by the overwhelming thought of becoming a writer, can now start their writing career in a matter of seconds. If you’re looking to engage an audience immediately with your own writing, start a blog and rather than writing your thoughts down each day, create a post and invite the world to read and give feedback on your art. This may discourage many from ever writing again but keep in mind that even the best writers, musicians, athletes and yes, even doctors felt discouragement and disappointment along the way.
For more information on how you can start your writing career, visit writing.com, writerswrite.com and other similar sites that will kick-start your desire and career in the writing industry.
An accomplished writer/editor, Seti Matua blogs regularly on Context Sports and Salt Lake Scenery, where he provides a unique perspective on a range of topics with a Polynesian twist. Seti is also experienced in the fields of business management/development working with companies such as Advanced MD Software, WorkingRx, Ingenix and Coventry Health.