A Career Guide to Becoming a Writer
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of writers will grow by nine percent from 2020 to 2030. That’s a pretty positive job outlook for any budding writer out there!
Just like an artist, there is no one pathway that people take when becoming a writer. However, to give yourself a solid chance of developing a career as a master wordsmith, there are some fundamentals we can look at.
In this short guide, let’s look at a few things to consider if you wish to become a writer. Use these tips as a basic platform for you to explore further into this career trajectory.
Learn About Types of Writers
In general, you’ll either want to write for pleasure or professionally. Of course, these two avenues often overlap. Then you have to consider if you want to write fiction, non-fiction, or both.
Non-fiction writers that wish to make money from their writing should look at:
- Copywriting
- Content writing
- Technical writing
- Non-fiction book writing
- Journalism
If you’re more interested in writing non-fiction in a professional capacity, you should look at becoming an author or possibly even a screenwriter. Bear in mind, that many writers find their own unique balance and style to write in a professional capacity. So, don’t just limit yourself to the styles we have mentioned when considering writing jobs.
Set Yourself Realistic Goals
Once you’ve explored different writing styles and feel comfortable with a pathway, it’s time to set some realistic goals with your writing.
Most writing careers will take some time to develop, so be patient! However, if you stay committed and set small time-orientated step-by-step goals, most writing occupations will deliver rewards.
For instance, if you wish to become a copywriter, you may want to start out on a freelancing website where people hire writers. Initially, you shouldn’t be looking to make much money at all, but instead, gain experience. As time goes on, and if you prove yourself, you should be able to command higher fees.
If you’re an aspiring author, you’re going to need a lot of patience, discipline, and self-motivation. It may take you a year or longer to get your first draft finished, and in all that time you’ve had no payment! So, be realistic and don’t quit your day job if you’re going down the author route unless you have some significant savings to dip into.
Read More
For any writer at any level, reading more should always help in some way to improve your writing abilities. At a minimum, you’ll keep your mind fresh with some new prose. But, reading other writers’ work can have a profound influence on how well you write over time.
Also, try to read writing that’s relevant to your chosen writing style. For example, if you want to be a sci-fi author, make sure to indulge in as much sci-fi reading as possible. If you want to be a journalist, be on the lookout for feature story ideas as much as possible.
Becoming a Writer Takes Dedication
Becoming a writer doesn’t just happen overnight. You have to learn your trade and keep improving. There are always new things to learn, so enjoy the journey!
The more you put in, the more you should get out of the whole experience.
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