tips for aspiring writers?

countingstars

Hi,

Recently, I found myself a job within the banking industry. There's room for progression, the company I work for is fantastic and offers great incentives, and my work mates and managers are lovely to work with.

However, a small part of me still yearns to be a writer. It's been my dream since I was young. I'd like to write books but I'm not sure how to go about it. I have a manuscript that's 3/4 written but then what?

I feel guilty because I have a decent job and yet, I still want more. Is it wrong for me to want this when I should be happy with what I've already got? Each day, I try and push my dreams of becoming a writer away and just concentrate on what I have and yet, it always comes screaming back to me. I feel like it's something I should do, that's it's something I need to do.

If I try and fail, then I can't accept that. I just hate the thought of not trying at all.

So, just wondering ... Any writers out there with some advice for me?

SailorSam

Even if you're only writing for yourself you should still do it.
If your hobby was playing golf or painting, you wouldn't stop either of those just because you'd got a job you like.
Carry on with the book, at least you can say to yourself. .....
I did that.

unlikelyheroine

You will probably be aware that very few writers make money. Even fewer make enough money to give up the day job. It is, however, the perfect hobby or side interest to take part in whilst working full-time because it is possible, if you are disciplined, to write any time or anywhere - for example, I have a writing app on my phone that I tap away on anytime the mood takes me when I am on public transport, waiting in a cue, etc - although good old pen and paper would do.

If it is your dream, finish the manuscript, edit it as best you are able, let someone else (preferably an avid reader whose opinion you trust) cast a pair of eyes over it and let you know their thoughts, and then try and get an agent. You can also try and self-publish, although this is isn't for me personally (if I can't persuade a decent publisher to take on my stuff then so be it!)

countingstars

SailorSam wrote: »

Even if you're only writing for yourself you should still do it.
If your hobby was playing golf or painting, you wouldn't stop either of those just because you'd got a job you like.
Carry on with the book, at least you can say to yourself. .....
I did that.

Good point.

It's tough doing it with a full time job but I'm still managing to get a fair bit done during the evenings - and I love it. I just wish I could devote more time to it. Before I got the job, I was writing obsessively with the plan of having it finished by early June but that's all delayed now. Of course, I will still continue what I'm doing. Just felt a little lost with it.

countingstars

unlikelyheroine wrote: »

You will probably be aware that very few writers make money. Even fewer make enough money to give up the day job. It is, however, the perfect hobby or side interest to take part in whilst working full-time because it is possible, if you are disciplined, to write any time or anywhere - for example, I have a writing app on my phone that I tap away on anytime the mood takes me when I am on public transport, waiting in a cue, etc - although good old pen and paper would do.

If it is your dream, finish the manuscript, edit it as best you are able, let someone else (preferably an avid reader whose opinion you trust) cast a pair of eyes over it and let you know their thoughts, and then try and get an agent. You can also try and self-publish, although this is isn't for me personally (if I can't persuade a decent publisher to take on my stuff then so be it!)

Yeah, I always explain to other people (when I tell them I want to be a writer) that I don't see myself as being the next J.K Rowling! I know that very few writers 'make it'. However, I've seen a few relatively successful ones who have a string of books. They're not popular enough to get mobbed on the street but they seem to be living a comfortable life doing what they love. I don't want to quit my day job, I just want to get published and write in my own time. But currently, I feel like I should be concentrating on the job I have and what bothers me is that I feel like I'm putting my writing on hold.

I'm going to continue writing, even if that's means doing a little every day and sacrificing a few nights out in favour of getting a chapter done!

I always, always carry a notebook with me as I'm continually jotting little bits and pieces down. May I ask what app you're using?

tomterm8

unlikelyheroine wrote: »

You will probably be aware that very few writers make money. Even fewer make enough money to give up the day job.

That's not as true as it used to be.

Royalties have always been the main problem. Your royalties on a book are about 6.5% so for a £10 book you'd make 65 p. Given very few books sell 10k, to make a middle class income you needed to write 4 publishable books a year, or write very good books that sold above average.

But, you get royalties of 70% on self published ebooks on level terms with publishers, and you get between 20% - 35% royalties on paper books you self publish and can distribute through the normal channels.

Ten years ago,I decided that being a pro writer was an impossible dream. Now, IMHO, it is a possible one. I know dozens of writers who are solidly midlist who you will have never heard of and who are full-time. Writers who make a living out of it without huge sales or movie deals.

countingstars

tomterm8 wrote: »

That's not as true as it used to be.

Royalties have always been the main problem. Your royalties on a book are about 6.5% so for a £10 book you'd make 65 p. Given very few books sell 10k, to make a middle class income you needed to write 4 publishable books a year, or write very good books that sold above average.

But, you get royalties of 70% on self published ebooks on level terms with publishers, and you get between 20% - 35% royalties on paper books you self publish and can distribute through the normal channels.

Ten years ago,I decided that being a pro writer was an impossible dream. Now, IMHO, it is a possible one. I know dozens of writers who are solidly midlist who you will have never heard of and who are full-time. Writers who make a living out of it without huge sales or movie deals.

That's encouraging! And I especially agree with the 'I know dozens of writers who are solidly midlist who you will have never heard of and who are full-time. Writers who make a living out of it without huge sales or movie deals' part.

Thanks to a writers' event, I had the opportunity to spend a day with one of these writers. A writer who most people probably hadn't heard of (and so she wasn't getting mobbed on the street) but was successful enough to live comfortably through her writing. When she first started and was published, she continued with her day job and wrote part time and now she's doing it full time and seems very, very happy.

And that, is what I want to aspire to. I suppose when you think about it like that, it doesn't seem as impossible.

winalot

hi open university are currently running a free course

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/literature-and-creative-writing/creative-writing/start-writing-fiction/content-section-0

could be good to get you started, get some tips

good luck

countingstars

winalot wrote: »

hi open university are currently running a free course

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/literature-and-creative-writing/creative-writing/start-writing-fiction/content-section-0

could be good to get you started, get some tips

good luck

Ahhh, that's fantastic! Thank you so much for the head's up!

tiger_eyes

Everything I know about writing I learned from AbsoluteWrite.

countingstars

tiger_eyes wrote: »

Everything I know about writing I learned from AbsoluteWrite.

Thank you! I'll go take a looksie.

Edit; actually, that link isn't working for me. I googled it instead and found the site. Cheers for letting me know x