Important Things You Should Know To Become a Professional Writer

There are many professions that one can adopt as a career.

Career options mostly depend on your academic interest.

It means that if you have graduated in Commerce stream, it is better to choose accounts related career though it is not mandatory.

It is a general assumption that people choose a career based on their education. It is followed as if it is a tradition.

However, there are many people who chose a different path even though the future is unsure and success is nowhere in the sight.

It is their passion that inspires them to decide to do what they enjoy.

A career in writing is altogether a different ball game.

The path is not easy to walk on as from years writing is never considered as a money-earning career but always taken as a supporting career.

Writing career will be chosen by only those who possess a passion for writing because as such writing is not an exciting sector that can lure people.

It needs a creative mind and submission to the subject. Creative writing is a career for only those who are good at writing and have a zeal for writing. It cannot be a common man’s career.

A good writer must have some language skills that can represent his views perfectly.

Types of professions in writing –

Content Writers

Also referred to as ‘Online Writers’ this category work essentially online. They work as Freelance Content Writers and write on various matters around the world.

Since the work is online there are no restrictions on the subject they choose.

Most content writers fulfill the requirements as desired by their clients, which means they write customized content based on the needs of their clients.

Novelists

There are several types under the novel category like drama, comedy, fiction, science, and general.

Some novelists write plays too. A general thought about novels is they are under the entertainment category; however, there are several writers who write knowledge-based books or even personality development-based books.

Article Writers

There is a very thin line of a margin between article writers and content writers.

Both can write under both sections too but article writers basically write on different topics and it might not be necessarily client-based writing.

The general topics they write on are education, sports, entertainment, health, food, business, and more.

Copywriters

Copywriters write around various products explaining their benefits and features.

They are also involved in writing business letters, brochures, advertisements, catalogs, etc.

They specialize in letting the products reach to maximum readers through their writing.

Author/Book Writers

The section is in parallel with novels, the only difference being the coverage of subjects under book writing is wider.

Book writer does not necessarily write novels but on many other subjects showcasing their creativity.

Script Writers

Scriptwriting includes the subject-oriented conversations between the actors in the plays or movies.

Scriptwriting needs a lot of creative thinking and great visualization of a particular real or imagined situation.

The dialogues have to be entertaining and crispy to attract more audiences.

With the growing technology more types are evolving and there are more chances for budding writers to build their careers.

Below we can see where writers can find the opportunities to kick-start their careers.

Here are some exciting fields where writers are in demand and can prove their worth –

• Book Publishing Agencies
• Advertising Agencies
• Websites
• Editors
• Media
• Freelancing
• Newspapers
• Movies/Entertainment
• Software Companies
• Transport Agencies

Below is the list of top agencies that recruit writers as content writers, technical writers, article writers, etc.

• Dell
• Amazon
• Times of India
• Oracle
• Capgemini
• Triumph India Software Services
• Cisco Systems
• Career 360

Though the salary structure is too weak as compared to other fields it is worth it because you will be able to remain active for other earning sources. (@1.5 Lakh/pa for fresher’s to 4.0 Lakh/pa for seniors)

As we have seen, writing is a process and therefore the evolvement of steps is taken into granted.

From a fresher to an established writer, one needs to keep on improving writing skills over language command.

Very few people around this globe are born writers hence don’t be upset with your initial failures.

When it comes to a writing career, one must understand there will be a struggle initially (in almost all fields struggle is imperative nowadays)

A person will be a renowned writer only if he is accepted by the audience, and in huge numbers.

Writers do struggle to find their followers too, but remember, writing consistently is the key if you wish to become a good writer.

Writing is a good profession but it must be taken seriously as a career then only you will find some way through.

Reading and learning whenever you get time will enhance your awareness of what is going on in the world of writers around you.

You can refer to some good books and take a leaf out of each. Here is the list –

The Sense of Style – A thinking person’s guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

Stein on Writing by Sol Stein

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

1001 Ways to Write Great Fiction, Get Published, and Earn Your Advance by Chuck Wending

Write Tight: Say Exactly What You Mean with Precision and Power by William Borough

You are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins.

There are several other books of your choice which you would want to refer to relevant to your field of writing.

Here are three handy tips which you can practice to become a well-known writer –

Invest your time in writing

You can spend the maximum possible time on writing and even get connected with one of the journalism coaching classes or online writing classes.

Read, read, and read

The more you read the more you will become fluent in language effectiveness and expressions.

You won’t experience hurdles of words while writing down your views. Your word power will grow exponentially.

Begin with short and sweet

Never attempt to write a book straight away.

You need to practice and publish more short content in terms of keeping in pace with the world. There is a lot to learn before leaping high.

Why do people fail to make an impact as a writer?

A lot of people get attracted to writing because they realize or are supported by others that they are good at writing.

However, there is a big gap between being good at writing and being successful.

To bridge that gap a person needs to apply himself with complete dedication and passion to grow.

Keeping the learning process on all the time and urge to progress is equally important.

This is where a lot of people back off because they surrender to the failure and uncertainty of a writing career.

Not all are able to stick to their decision because they are not confident about their capabilities.

Also, they judge their work for an insufficient period, not giving enough time to get proven.

They don’t understand that patience also matters much to establish as a writer, a successful one.

With little effort, many writers stamp them as unsuccessful and quit the writing profession.

What are the gateways to utilize writing as a good profession?

Writing is hard but becoming a successful writer is even harder.

If one is determined to establish himself as a professional writer he can follow the below steps.

These should be attempted by only determined persons –

Don’t wait for recognition

If you are writing, there is no need to wait that readers will recognize you.

You have to decide that you are a writer; don’t wait for someone to call you by that.

Even if you are unknown and unpublished, you are a writer.

Do not quit

Quitting anything is a crime and you are stamping yourself as a failure.

There must not be any reasons for you to give up if you are determined.

Be focused, avoid critics, show little aggression, be self-critics, and try to grow. Writing something every day is a good practice.

Write passionately

If you identify your passion in something try to write at least short content about that.

That will give you exposure at an early age and you can become a passionate to professional writer.

Writing about your passion involves a lot of feelings and it comes from the bottom of your heart which will touch other like-minded people.

Practice writing every day

Do not let a single day dropped from your writing passion as it will give you continuity and enhance your writing skills.

Go digital

Adapt the technology to reach as many people as possible. Designing your website will help others know about your existence.

Digital publicity grows faster than anything. Catch hold of someone if you can’t do it on your own.

Create opportunities

Enter the social world by joining the writers club or online groups.

The biggest advantage of doing this is you will get exposure to other’s work that might help you to improve upon.

Adapt some untouched opportunities to make you stand apart.

Stick around like-minded people

You will find more negative people around you once you adapt the non-regular option.

They will guide you without having experience and let you down with no chance of proving your worth.

Keep yourself engage with similar people who are in the same field as you so that you can share and exchange ideas to grow.

Build a good network

Without a proper network, your growth will be restricted. Try to connect to more people personally or digitally who can understand you.

Build relationships with the people within your community and take part in activities.

Your opportunities will increase when you connect with more people.

Focus on good professionalism

Explore whatever possibilities are there to establish you as a writer.

There are multiple opportunities around you that you might not have even thought of apart from conventional writing.

It could be anything from novelist to greeting card writer.

A lot of businesses require different kinds of writers.

Show respect to the profession

You have to respect your profession because that will guide you the proper way with the help of other respected writers.

If you can apply yourself to achieve a small goal at a time you can smell success a bit earlier.

Fear of failure should not stop you and you must not overpower it. Instead, accept it and grow along with it to taste success.

Benefits of writing –

Writing is a good profession because it gives you freedom.

There are no rules and regulations, no restrictions, no boundaries of subjects, and no limitations.

The sky is the only limit if you embrace writing as a profession. At times it may be an uphill task but it equally gives ultimate satisfaction of creation.

When you create something of your own, it gives you immense pleasure and satisfaction.

When you reach more readers and they start following you, it will be a proud moment for you.

Who will not like success, we all do but only those will get who deserve it.

Let us see what are the pros and cons in short –

PROS –

One can be assured of a good salary package if creative skills are at their peak.

The nature of work is flexible giving you opportunities to reach beyond typecast work.

Fame and wealth will follow if you apply yourself professionally.

CONS –

• The struggling period is longer as compared to other fields.

• In some jobs, there might be stress and pressure to perform as per other’s expectations.

A writer can build his own career in the way he desires. There are no comparative restrictions about what you write.

Social elements may get attached in some particular instances so one has to be choosy while writing about such matters.

The free hand and flexibility give you the added advantage of expressing yourself in the way you are.

It is likely that some people will favor you while some will not but having prepared for this situation will make you stronger.

However, there are many sections of writing where there is less chance of people intervening in your work.