7 Truths About A Writing Career

There are a lot of misconceptions about writers and what they do for a living.

If you’ve ever thought it would be easy to have a writing career, this post is for you.

If you’ve ever envied what seems to be the easy success of other authors, this post is for you.

I write from the standpoint of 35 years as a published author which doesn’t count the years before that when I was a freelance writer.

Trust me, being a professional writer is not easy in any shape, form,000 or fashion.

7 Truths About A Writing Career

1. You won’t get rich unless you are that one in a million, and no one can predict that so don’t expect it. Do expect to work hard and be willing to learn.

2. It takes a bit of good luck to sell a book to an agent, a publisher, and readers and then to keep on selling.

3. Good luck seems to increase with hard work and a positive attitude.

4. Sometimes deals and plans fall apart for no apparent reason so have a Plan B ready to go. Then a Plan C, Plan D, etc. Always know what you’re going to do when your great deal falls apart.

5. Sometimes what you think is a curse may turn out to be a blessing so be ready to roll with it.

6. Sometimes what you think is a blessing may turn out to be a curse so have that Plan B ready.

7. Always remember why you started writing in the first place—because you love putting words together. Always dwell on the pleasure of doing that. When you lose that joy, you might as well find another career.

8. Never publicly disrespect another author. If you are an author, then you know how hard an author works to bring a book to completion. Respect that by not denigrating the author in public.

(I’ve been shocked in the past at group book signings by authors who loudly express their disdain for another author. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing.)

Takeaway Truth

Writing isn’t just a career for those who love storytelling. The desire to write is inside the author—maybe in their soul, their subconscious, somewhere deep inside them—creating the desire to string words together.