Fulfill Your Writing Dream: 7 Insightful Steps to Make it Big!
Do you ever gaze at the moon, metaphorically speaking, and wonder why some authors are out there, basking in its glow, turning their writing dreams into six-figure deals, while others are barely scraping by, picking at the breadcrumbs of their labor? Let’s be honest, the key to unlocking this mystery isn’t hidden in a secret vault on that moon or known only to the literary elite. It lies in turning your passion into persistence, and your labor into love, sprinkled with a dash of laughter and a pinch of perseverance.
Do you make so little money selling your books that you are reluctant to admit it to your friends? Don’t “real writers” make good money at writing? Well, a good writer, one who writes for the long haul as a career can make excellent money. But it takes work, perseverance, training, networking, and focus. This is what makes for a good writer who, in time, makes a living or at least a decent income at the profession.
The difference between good writers and bad writers has little to do with skill. It has to do with perseverance. Bad writers quit. Good writers keep going. That’s all there is to it. – The Difference Between Good Writers & Bad Writers
I have been a good writer most of my adult life, although I only began getting serious at it in the last few years. Before that, I had a full-time, extremely demanding and stressful job which required most of my attention, as well as a family life to maintain. I had this idea that I could work full time and still write – and hoped to eventually fulfill my dream – but by the time I got home from work I was too exhausted to get much done. In other words, all my creativity went into my job and there was little to nothing left for writing (or anything else for that matter).
The Secret to Writing Success: Persistence
You may have heard the saying, “The difference between good writers and bad writers has little to do with skill. It has to do with perseverance.” This age-old gem is as true today as it was when the first scribe dipped a quill into an ink pot. Writing isn’t about being a rabbit in a short sprint. Nope. It’s more like being a tortoise, steadfast and slow, running a marathon that stretches over hilly plots and characters’ arcs.
The key to fulfilling your dream to become a writer is to do the work.
Think about it. “Good writers keep going” is not just a catchy phrase. It’s an anthem, a chant, a mantra! Good writers could find themselves stuck in a plot hole so deep they can see the earth’s core, but they keep going, shoveling words until they hit the surface. It’s about the stamina to keep at it, even when your manuscript looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than the next bestseller, and your brain feels like a cheese that’s lost a wrestling match with a grater.
The Balancing Act: Job and Writing
Juggling a job and writing can feel like trying to catch shooting stars – awe-inspiring, yet virtually impossible. Pouring all your creativity into a demanding 9 to 5 job can leave your writing dreams parched, like a desert cactus yearning for rain.
In this scenario, the “writing dream vs full-time job” battle often leaves your mind as a battlefield, strewn with ideas sacrificed to deadlines and drafts abandoned in favor of duties. But don’t despair! Like the moon controls the tides, you too can find a balance and keep your writing dreams from being swept away. It’s about time management, prioritization, and occasionally, some very strong coffee, or tea, if that’s your poison.
Taking the Leap: Full-Time Writing
Deciding to live “the tenacity to chase your writing dream” can be as exhilarating as it is terrifying. It’s like skydiving without a parachute or a map, just you are free-falling into a world woven with words and punctuation.
Taking that leap of faith to become a professional writer, a “persistence meets writing” combo, can seem daunting. But then again, so does climbing Mount Everest, and yet people do it! Remember, nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
The Professional Writer’s Commitment
To be a professional writer, or any artist for that matter, requires more than just a dash of commitment or a dollop of time. It’s about immersing your essence, your creativity, and your “all” into your craft. A bit like making a gourmet meal, wouldn’t you agree? You can’t just slap it together and hope it tastes good. No, you need to carefully select each ingredient, tenderly cook it, and lovingly present it.
And let’s not forget the “write a LOT and write fast” motto. Speed isn’t everything, but when you have stories buzzing around in your head like bees in a field of flowers, you have to get those words down quick, before they buzz off to someone else’s writing dream.
Facing Reality: Professional Writing is Hard Work
Professional writing is like playing a violin – it looks easy until you try it. Not all books will be chart-toppers, not every article will go viral, and not all stories will become legends. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth writing. Sometimes, you need to kiss a few frogs to find your prince, or in this case, write a few duds before you hit the jackpot.
What if you face writer’s block? That mythical beast that lurks in the shadows of every writer’s mind, waiting to pounce just as you’re about to write a masterpiece. Well, in the words of every fantasy hero ever, “You slay that beast!” Ignoring writer’s block and shedding distractions from your life is as crucial to writing as breathing is to a marathon runner.
Creating Captivating Content
Creating captivating content isn’t just an add-on to the writing dream, it’s the heart of it. It’s like spinning a tale so enticing that it pulls the readers into a vortex, holding them captive till the last word. This doesn’t come by accident. It’s a methodical, intentional process, a craft to be honed over time.
When the writing dream nudges you towards creating captivating content, it doesn’t imply churning out a masterpiece each time your fingers dance on the keyboard. It’s about constantly learning, experimenting, and evolving as a writer. Each piece you write becomes a stepping stone in your journey, a testament to your growth.
Ultimately, creating captivating content is a dance between the writer and the reader. It’s about learning the rhythm of the reader’s pulse, understanding what makes their heart race, and then tuning your words to match that beat. It’s a dance that can take a while to master, but the writing dream is all about perseverance, remember?
Building a Writing Routine
Building a writing routine is like laying the bricks of the house where your writing dream will reside. It’s about creating a rhythm, a pattern that your mind, heart, and fingers instinctively follow. It’s not about rigid rules and ironclad schedules; it’s about finding a flow that works for you.
The writing dream thrives on routine. It’s not a one-off sprint; it’s a marathon that demands consistency. Like a tender plant that needs regular watering, the writing dream requires nurturing through a steady writing routine. It might be a few stolen minutes in the morning, a dedicated hour at night, or a whole day each week; find your rhythm, and stick to it.
Building a writing routine is a commitment to your writing dream. It’s a silent pact between you and your craft, a promise to show up, come what may. It’s this routine that nudges the writing dream from the realm of fantasies into the landscape of reality. This routine is the compass that guides the writer in you towards your writing dream, one word at a time.
Fulfilling the Writing Dream
If you treat writing your book as a hobby, a little like knitting or collecting stamps, don’t be surprised if it pays like a hobby too. Now, if you act like a professional – walking the talk and writing the walk – you can, over time, build up a steady passive income from your own self-published books.
Writing for a living offers a ton of advantages – you get to choose when and where you work, and with whom. The Five Most Realistic Ways to Make a Living as a Writer, Glen Long
So, put on your favorite author’s hat, roll up your sleeves, and dive into that sea of words. After all, the only thing standing between you and living the writing dream is, well, writing. Happy crafting!
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