Any writers here? Help?!

[Nyx]

I want to make writing my career so badly. I have always had a natural apptitude for it as well. There were two instances where I was accused of plagarizing/ having my mom right for me. The first time was in middle school when we had to write a short story (They called my mom in to school to question her!) The second time was in high school and was an essay that was apparently too erudite (pssh please) for my grade level according to my teacher.

Right now, I'm applying to college (I took a year off)... and I've been thinking about majoring in Religious studies/English/Anthropology... but I don't even know ...I just want to have some sort of degree to back me up even though I really feel like skipping it (I do really want to college experience though...otherwise I will become way too much of a hermit and have zero friends...I guess I should have at least one so I don't go completely loony)

If there are any people here making a living from writing or have any general advice it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bubbles]

What kind of writing?

For publishing, The Writer's Market is your Bible. Look it up as a reference book in any library, skim it, it lists publishers and magazines and what they require and look for in submissions.

Writer's Digest is a majorly helpful magazine you can subscribe to. I save all my copies because they all have such helpful advice on so many aspects of writing.

Write daily. Hone your skills. Hell, join a writing group. Major progress can come from that.

Visit Writer's Conferences. There's bound to be some in your area, and they're goldmines.

Research what it is you want to do. Look at how tons of other people just like you made their way. Read enough stories you'll find a pattern.

(Writing/Psychology Major on her way to being a novelist, at your service. )

 

[Timmy]

I interviewed for my dream job in January. With my background and experience, reading the job description was like they wrote it with me in mind. Word is I am the only candidate.

But...so far...delayed. Not a "no", but some acquisitions have caused some...rearranging, so TPTB have put the position on hold.

Ruined, no, destroyed my best pair of wingtips in the process (leather shoes that have spent their life in Arizona don't do well in a Minnesota winter...). I really liked those shoes...as far as dress shows go.

 

[Snuggletron]

observe people, observe things, warp things, make things weird. edit edit edit.

above all, keep things interesting, keep your own interest.

 

[Happyman]

If there are any people here making a living from writing or have any general advice it would be greatly appreciated!

Hey, I'm a writer. I do it for a living. I'll drop some advice, hopefully useful.

I want to make writing my career so badly.

I have always had a natural apptitude for it as well. There were two instances where I was accused of plagarizing/ having my mom right for me. The first time was in middle school when we had to write a short story (They called my mom in to school to question her!) The second time was in high school and was an essay that was apparently too erudite (pssh please) for my grade level according to my teacher.

I think the WANTING, the DESIRE to be a writer is the most important. I mean, probably 2-5% people have enough linguistic-talent to become writers, but it takes crazy drive and discipline to actually do this. The risk, the opportunity cost are great, writing takes shitload of time. I think it's so easy to just do anything else, find a job etc (check first post in my blog, my way to writing was LONG) you really need crazy internal drive to do this. You feel like you MUST become a writer - you need to find or express yourself, you need fame.. I don't know. It really has to be something strong - because it's a crazy choice in these days (go to Paris Review page and see interview with J.P. Donleavy - that's some serious drive! H.Miller will do also).

Also you need - if you don't want to just write genre - some serious sensitivity, something to write about - you have to be passionate about something.

Right now, I'm applying to college (I took a year off)... and I've been thinking about majoring in Religious studies/English/Anthropology... but I don't even know ...I just want to have some sort of degree to back me up even though I really feel like skipping it (I do really want to college experience though...otherwise I will become way too much of a hermit and have zero friends...I guess I should have at least one so I don't go completely loony)

I don't know what to tell you. I went to college, because I didn't think I can make living out of writing. On the plus side: I had amazing amount of time to read and I read something like 60-80 novels a year. On the minus side: I wrote very little or nothing. But you probably could do this. I think college is a good idea. Just don't loose the main goal. Keep it in front of your eyes ALL THE TIME.

Oh, and that's a very good book about writing novels:
Novel Writing - Bob Mayer - Fiction Writers Toolkit
This book is mainly practical advice, something I needed very much.

The only advice: Write A LOT.
And... Good luck!!

 

[Ivy]

A lot depends on what kind of writing you want to do. I've fallen into freelance writing and it's making me fairly good money, when I can find work. It's not glamorous or extremely fulfilling, though it's fun at times. I figure if nothing else I'm getting practice at producing writing consistently, which is something I have trouble doing for my own self-directed writing.

If you decide to go the freelance route to begin with (or end with! there's no shame in it), a degree will really help you get your foot in the door. I don't think most companies would look twice at my resume if it didn't have a degree on it. And, I'll be honest, I learned a lot about effective writing from my professors.

Good luck!

 

[brainheart]

I've been working on the same novel for the last couple of years. I had a useless major in college (film studies); I viewed college as a learning experience vs a place to get practical skills. Not sure that that's the best plan these days. There is no way I could get a job that would fulfill my intellectual desires unless I were to go back to grad school, but even then the possibility is... dim. Thank God I have a sugar daddy!

My advice would be to major in something that you can tolerate that will make you a living. Take writing/English classes as electives and view writing as a hobby or a passion, not as a way to make money. That way you will have the freedom to write what you want and you will also not be living in the gutter. But yes, writing has to be a priority, and it has to be something you have to do, not merely something you enjoy. Otherwise you won't have the commitment to continue.

 

[Oberon]

If you want to succeed in this and you have even a modicum of talent, as you say you do, there is one thing that will make you succeed if you have it, or fail if you don't: Work Ethic.

Stephen King wrote that his "writing fairy" ...the mythical fairy godmother who dumps flashes of brilliant inspiration on a writer's head... is an imaginary guy in his 50s, stocky, in coveralls and sporting a salt-and-pepper crew cut. King's muse is a working man, the guy who packs a lunch and stays at it all day. This is the sort of shop foreman who may tolerate fools, but has no patience for the lazy. The difference between an amateur and a pro is what happens when you don't feel inspired. The pro has learned to dig down and gut it out, and work at it until the draft is presentable. King should know... he started out with a pretty good talent. Not brilliance, just a pretty good talent. The rest of his story is written in sweat, and the man has earned every dollar he's made.

Make the time, force yourself to do it, put in several hours a day, and stay disciplined. Maintain this, and you will be fully employed as a writer within a few years.

Lots of people want to be writers. Not all that many of them want to put in the hours.

 

[Bubbles]

Lots of people want to be writers. Not all that many of them want to put in the hours.

Smart man.

 

[Mole]

I want to make writing my career so badly.

So don't write the words, let the words write you.

 

[icmlite]

College = win. It doesn't even have to be a contingency plan for if writing doesn't work out - it's just an incredible learning experience and not one you should pass up on if you're given the opportunity. You'll find ways to improve your writing in the college setting, whether it's under a professor or via the books in your University library. Sounds like you're really motivated, good luck! Hope to buy one of your books someday

 

[Charmain]

I am INFP and I am a (wannabe) writer! The two seem to go together? Why can I just never be sure!!! I get so frustrated, because I'm always confused and doubting myself.

 

[Timmy]

IMO, you are either a "writer" or you are not. I can write well, and enjoy turning out a good phrase, report or blog/thread post. But I am not a "writer"...I am not driven to write. I have ideas for two books, one fiction, but just can't find time to sit down and crank them out.

The non-fiction book would be very easy, just sitting down and doing a bit of research, organizing it, then writing it up. But I haven't. The novel book is one I find interesting...in theory...but have basically written the opening paragraph.

A "real" writer would have done those by now (given the time I've had to do them).

On another note, if there are but two books I could recommend, they would be

Stunk & White's Elements of Style

William Zinsser's On Writing Well

(neither of these are affiliate links, so no worry about crass commercialism, even though I am an avowed capitalist pig)

 

[Glycerine]

Also, Spunk and Bite is good. It's like a modern spin to Elements of Style.

 

[edcoaching]

• Find a writer's group in your area. Writers Market might help you out. If Mary Higgins Clark needs a critique group so do the rest of us
• Even the smallest conference in your area can give you a chance to talk with writers and editors and find out what it takes
• Yes to college. Especially liberal arts. To transfer from nonfiction to fiction, Sue Monk Kidd went to (I think it was) Iowa Writers Workshop. You can learn a lot, even if the classes are a bit off from what you want to write
• Write. Sounds obvious, but what lots of beginners don't realize is that ANY publishing credits add up toward credibiity. My first book had nothing to do with what I originally thought I'd write about but then I could say I'd written a book
• Get somewhere where you can hang with writers. I volunteered to help write materials for a class at church. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but there were two published writers on that committee and pretty soon I was helping one of them with some crunch editing and...we've now written 9 books together. You just never know, but you have to show up...
• Think magazines. They have a neverending need for copy, especially the smaller ones (as in, don't start with The New Yorker) and again you get credits on your resume.
• Check your community ed offerings. I once took a 4-nite fiction class from a published author. Cost: $60 and I picked up some really solid ideas.

About a third of my income is from writing, 2/3 from teh consulting that comes off it. I still want to write fiction, have half a children's book written, trade "notes" with my screenwriter nephew on those projects, and still think it might happen some day. I value my English major as forcing discipline on my writing habits....

 

[Jaguar]

Don't choose to write.
Write because you have no choice.

 

[Spamtar]

Learn NLP, general semantics (i.e. Korzybski) and linguistics in general, it will teach you tricks to make your writing more interesting to your audience. Also if your into writing fiction I heard studying Joseph Campbell is a good idea. I would also highly recommend Comedy Writing Secrets by Melvin Helitzer. Also do some traveling and “living life” (this means getting out of you zone of comfort).

 

[Timmy]

Also, Spunk and Bite is good. It's like a modern spin to Elements of Style.

I read up on it on Amazon, then checked a copy out at the local library. It's pretty good. As I've always told folks, and this books seems to support, is that you have to actually know the rules in order to work around them. As the book quotes Woody Allen on comedy "If it bends, it's funny. If it breaks, it's not."

 

[LEGERdeMAIN]

Oh jesus.....i can't think of a good axiom, idiom or maxim.

Writer: one who writes.

If you want to be a professional writer, good luck. Most professional writers don't even get published until 30 or so. A young prof. writer nowadays is 40yo. Keep that in mind but don't be discouraged....until you're 50. Suicide is okay if you're 50 or older and you can't get published.

 

[Nyx]

All this advice is great. A lot of the time I do not think I am cut out to be a writer because I am afraid of writing...yet I am compelled to articulate my thoughts. I guess I'm afraid of that gap between what you envision and what actually comes out. I need to write more, methinks. I suppose honing a craft is about that very problem.