If you’re thinking about becoming a writer, you may be weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of the profession. While there are some obvious ones, every writer has a different career experience and there’s no one size fits all approach to building a successful career as a writer. One person might consider a promotional book tour a perk, while another may find this part of their career journey a burden. One person might thrive under deadline pressures, while another might find a looming deadline stressful.
Ultimately, individual perspective will play a key role in how much joy you get from becoming a writer.
Flexible working arrangements
Being a writer is an opportunity to start work every day in your pyjamas. As long as you have access to the Internet for your research and an idea in your head, you can start earning money before you’ve even showered. Being a writer offers huge flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere at any time.
A career you love
If you truly enjoy writing and research you’ll be embarking on a career of the heart. A career as a writer allows you to do something you love every day, whilst making money.
Reward and gratification
There is power in storytelling and how words can inspire, entertain, move and educate readers. As a writer, you can experience a sense of reward with every piece you pen.
Good earning opportunities
There’s no set wage when it comes to writing but there is boundless earning opportunity. A novel that sells well can give you a lucrative income while a large readership can provide you with a steady stream of money. With writing, there are a ton of ways to make money.
Lifelong career opportunities
Writing is a practice you can continue for the duration of your life, unlike other jobs that may require more dexterity, physical stamina, strength and social interaction.
Some considerations to be aware of:
Competition
The writing market can be crowded and this may mean you’ll need to clamour for attention.
Criticism
No matter how many fans you have, you’ll always have people who dislike your work, want to make changes or choose to say no. You can’t please everyone with your words.
Sporadic income
While there are boundless earning opportunities as a writer, you might find money coming in sporadically rather than steadily.
Isolation
As a writer, you’ll spend a great deal of time on your own with your thoughts. This means less social interaction, which can lead to feelings of loneliness.
Becoming a writer doesn’t require any formal qualification. Skills are usually developed over time, through practice and experience. That said, undertaking some associated formal training can be beneficial.
There are several writing courses out there to choose from when starting your journey as a writer, and you can also take a more honed approach to become a writer. If you want to learn how to market yourself and your writing in a unique way, a diploma in marketing can be a very useful tool for your belt. Depending on the line of writing you want to take, you may also benefit from a diploma in journalism.
The path you choose when becoming a writer is really up to you. Writers can create original works in the form of poetry, short stories, novels, biographies, blogs, articles and scripts. They can specialise in fiction, non-fiction, journalism, children’s books, educational textbooks, technical writing, documentation preparation, freelance editorial services or copywriting. Work can be found in the multimedia distribution, corporate publication, marketing agencies and more.
No matter which path you take in your career as a writer, there are certain skills and traits you should possess and hone. These include:
Adaptability
Writers should have the ability to adapt their writing style to anything that their readers demand. Listen to your audience, hear what they have to say, and adapt and be open to change and criticism.
Time management
To meet writing deadlines you need to plan and prioritise your work. Even if you don’t have a deadline, writing requires you to schedule a time to write. For many, writing means juggling a passion with a part-time job so you’ll need to manage your time well.
Uniqueness
In a competitive market, your originality, paired with some dedication, is what will drive your success. Being unique allows you to stand out in the crowd among other well-established writers.
Research skills
Being a writer is not just about putting words on a screen or piece of paper. Quite often, writing is just as much about research – finding the right content to deliver the best work. Good writing requires a lot of pre-work and study.
New-age technical skills
In this age of technology, there’s a new marketplace for your writing. Knowing search engine optimisation (SEO), word processing programs, content management systems and social media trends can open up a whole world of opportunity.
Most writers work freelance and are self-employed, but new media is opening endless doors to writers who are getting started. There are plenty of avenues to diversify your writing and to write in different forms. The more you write in different styles, the more experience and practice you’ll get. This can also help you to find the style of writing you love the most. Enrol in International Career Institute’s Journalism course and learn how to improve your writing skills, write within different industries and what steps you have to take to start your career in Journalism.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
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