How many people dream about a professional writer?  Professional Writing is any writing that you are being paid for.  It can include fiction writing, a bestselling book, articles in a magazine, articles in a newspaper, blogs for companies, newsletters and so on. However, many people will write for sheer pleasure.

Many people have a passion for writing and a dream to earn their living from writing; but in reality, many professional writers struggle to achieve their dream. Even some famous authors actually had to self-publish initially. For example –
Beatrix Potter – The Adventures of Peter Rabbit
James Joyce – Ulysses
John Grisham – A Time To Kill

Other authors who have self published include Mark Twain, George Bernard Shaw,  Anais Nin,  Rudyard Kipling and Edgar Allan Poe.

Finding a publisher can be hard. Alex Haley received 200 rejections for “Roots” before it was finally published.  We will talk more about successful self publishers, particularly in the area of eBooks publishing due to the boom in technology.

Getting published is a question of talent AND perseverance.

It is common for people to assume that the way to become a professional writer is that if you do a course, develop the skill and offer yourself to employers, the work will become available. This scenario is more the exception than the rule.

Pathways to Writing

When you consider the people who are making a living from writing in today’s world; most have come to their current position inadvertently. They didn’t start out in their careers planning to be a writer; but as their careers progressed, their career paths evolved; and a need to write became evident.
 
There are many different ways that you can get from where you are now, to being a professional writer. Some people may follow a set pattern of study and career to become a writer, whilst others may become writers almost by “accident” as part of their job roles and other experiences.  For example -

• Some study a course in media, writing or journalism; and upon graduating, get a job with a publisher.
• Some people establish themselves as an expert. For example, they may become an expert in sport, gardening, cooking and so on, then move into writing as they are an expert writing about what they know
• Some develop skills and a reputation as an illustrator – such as photography, drawing, IT graphics, which leads to illustrating publications, and in turn leads to writing to go along with their illustrations
• Some study or work in marketing or advertising, developing their ability to communicate through writing; which may lead to writing media released, promotional materials, and eventually other things. The novelist Bryce Courtney worked in marketing for a long time, before moving into writing.
• Some people start as an educator, and move from teaching into writing text books or course materials.
• Some start as a scientist or technician; and move from working in their industry to technical writing. Such as writing reports, technical manuals, texts, etc.
• Some people experience things in their life that makes for interesting reading; and their experiences create the opportunity to break into professional writing. Consider a politician, sportsman, celebrity, or someone who has come through an exceptional experience such as travelling around the world.
• Some people may not just work as writers. They may write as part of their job. For example, they may write textbooks or technical documents as part of their job. They may write blogs, press releases, newsletter or magazine articles as a smaller aspect of their job.
• For some, writing may be a hobby. Writing for their own pleasure, for their family to read. Perhaps writing articles for their local Church newsletter, school magazine and so on.

Read our ebook on Professional Writing here.

John Mason Principal ACS Distance Education   http://www.thecareersguide.com/product_listings.aspx?catid=Journalism