A writing career can be very rewarding; just ask any award-winning author just how much they could earn from royalties, endorsements, and book sales. Going beyond these perks is the reputation you get to cultivate once your name reaches every major bookstore outside of Australia. The best part is that anyone, including yourself, can start an illustrious career as a writer.
Like many career prospects, success won’t come easy. You can make it through either sheer luck or hard work. There’s no other formula for success but there are things you can do to get started if you lack the skills of a serious writer. It’s only a matter of doubling down on the steps that will mold you into a superstar author. Here are a few you will have to get started with:
1. Find learning opportunities
Anyone can write but it requires special training to write well. Apart from self-practice through journaling, you can also develop your creative skills by undergoing training and workshop sessions.
Look up community events organised by local writers’ organisations for valuable learning opportunities. You can also browse online for courses where you can learn the fundamentals of creative writing. Platforms like Coursera, Masterclass, and Domestika are some of the best if you’re looking for writing lessons facilitated by actual authors.
2. Choose a genre you like
To start a writing career, choosing a genre is just as essential as enhancing your skills. When choosing one, consider the types of writing you think you’re comfortable with. If you’re more into essay writing, then creative nonfiction would be the best genre to get started.
You might find fiction writing to be more appealing if you have an active imagination. No matter the case, choose the field you think you can excel in. You also need to identify familiar topics you can write about. This allows you to focus on a niche where you’re more likely to succeed.
3. Feed your creative mind
Even if you have the time and tools needed to write a book, you still need to have the most important resource: inspiration. Humans are naturally creative, but we often need extra stimulation to come up with original ideas. Coming up with a great story requires inspiration which you can only attain by confronting new experiences.
Some of the best ways to do that are to go on a spontaneous vacation, record unique moments in your personal life, and read materials from new international or local writers. For sure, there are Australian authors you can learn a thing or two from. In short, go out of your comfort zone and see the real world as a single pool for fishing out ideas you can feed to your stories.
4. Build a strong portfolio
Your skills alone won’t get you far. To truly get started on your writing career, you need to develop a body of work. You need a portfolio that includes short stories, long-form manuscripts, and literary pieces that haven’t been published yet.
This is important if you want to get published and build your network as a full-time author. The easiest and most affordable way you can do this is to start a literary blog. This will serve as your online portfolio that introduces people to your writing style and topics you’re ionate about.
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Building a successful writing career doesn’t come instantly. It’s a process that requires consistent effort and ingenuity. Banking on both will help you tap into your potential as a New York Times bestselling author, but until then, just start writing.