DeepBlue
(member)
02/07/2008 13:19
Re: Any writers out there?

Forgive me for being so blunt but you can't be a successful writer and a procrastinator. It's a job like any other and a craft that has to be worked at. There is nothing more infuriating to writers than people who say, 'I could write if I could just be bothered'. To succeed in any creative venture you need talent and FOCUS.

I'm a professional writer - mainly life style features for broadsheets but also of management learning and development programmes and every morning after I've put my make up on it's into my study to write whether or not I have any ideas. You must be disciplined. I'm lucky I come from a family of writers (3 generations) so I know what it's about. One of my sisters has had many books published and as she has a deadline has not answered the phone for weeks and won't until it's finished - she's been doing it for 25+ years and is very disciplined. If you wait for the muse she'll be a long time coming!

In addition you have to be able to deal with the inevitable rejections which should spur you on to greater efforts not throw you into despondency.

Incidently do you know that the average experenced writer earns under £8K a year(which is why I write manuals etc. which is well paid but not exciting) and it's getting worse because of price cutting. The JK Rowlings of the literary world are few and far between I'm afraid! Don't however get me wrong it's wonderful to have such a talent aand it's a good life if you want to work for yourself and can cope with the isolation and have a supportive family.

Good luck with your writing and developing discipline. If you've got piles of scribbles around get them into your word processor right now and work on them one by one under they and you are exhausted!


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