Writing

MartialArtMan

I quite enjoy writing and have a few book ideas. Can anyone advise on the earning potential of writing a few novels and the trials and tribulations that are attributed to it?

Also is there any other way to take advantage of my writing skills?

mommamoney

You may find these websites useful. Kate Mosse has kept a writing diary and they also do workshops.
I'm not a writer, but like you I enjoy it. Just write, write, write and write somemore and if you've got something you think works, send it off to a publisher. Also try entering competitions.

http://www.sepulchre.co.uk/workshop/kw_htwn.asp

http://www.mosselabyrinth.co.uk/

Sorry I can't tell you anything about earning potential etc. I also would like to hear from any writers out there who make a living through writing. Maybe freelance is the way to go?

altyfc

Hi there... I hire a number of freelance writers on an ongoing basis. But it's non-fiction writing that's required. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info.

cazmanian_minx

For journalism, go and have a browse through this:

http://www.journobiz.com/forum/

The 'Pitches that worked' sticky in the main forum is especially helpful and I'd recommend reading through the whole thread.

Caz

MrsM40

altyfc wrote: »

Hi there... I hire a number of freelance writers on an ongoing basis. But it's non-fiction writing that's required. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info.

Hi, newbie here!

I'd be really interested to find out more about this and have tried to PM you but your inbox is full. I'll try again or maybe you could PM me?

Thanks

Tabby_Kitten_2

I'd be interested in finding this out too, I've written things for magazines, newspapers and websites before (not all paid but I've won a fair few prizes from it) but would love to be able to sit down and write a novel.

Have you looked at the Arts Council website? They have a development grant, there's some more info about it on this site under 'grant grabbing'

MuddledOfMiddlesex

I'm a full-time novelist/journalist and it's a great job in so many ways but the income is precarious and can be very low. The Society of Authors has done numerous surveys and the majority of published authors make less than £7,000 per annum from their books...and that's once they've jumped through all the hoops: finishing the manuscript, finding an agent, finding a publisher.

I wouldn't want to put anyone off - making up stories for a living is fabulous. But I'd say that you need to love writing for its own sake, rather than do it because you think it'll be a new career. It MIGHT well end with your book in the window at WH Smith, but then again it might not so if you love books and want a guaranteed and reliable income, you’d be better off working in a bookshop. Even though my books are classed as 'best sellers,' I only became a full-time writer after I'd already had three books published. And, of course, you're only as good as your last novel...

The other issue is cash flow - if you're a new writer, you won't get a deal unless you've completed the book. So it could be several years before you see any return for your time 'investment.' I'd definitely advise would-be authors not to give up the day job until you have a contract (and ideally have had a couple of contracts: I know a lot of writers who have published two books, but because sales weren't as many as the publishers had estimated, they never got another deal). Also, if you can complete a book while working full-time, it proves you have the commitment and self-belief you’ll need when you begin to look for a publisher.

Journalism is definitely a more immediate source of income – the rates of pay for 1000 words for a national paper/magazine could be between £200-£800 (more usually at the lower end of the scale). That’s great money – though the issue here is how much pitching you need to do before you get a commission. It helps to have a thick skin as your emails will be ignored by 9 out of 10 commissioning editors. But as your reputation grows, it should get easier.

MartialArtMan

Thanks for all the replies and especially to MuddledOfMiddlesex for the first hand insight. Writing is a love of mine and a novel would just be the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. But if I write a book and never get it published I think that I'd die a happy man anyway....
Thanks again :beer:

NigeWick

MartialArtMan wrote: »

if I write a book and never get it published I think that I'd die a happy man anyway....

I have written my autobiography. I decided that I will offer it as an e-book to see how it goes with a bit of SEO on the internet. Some of the lads at the school where I work have said they will buy it. If I can get a few good reviews from them, people who do not know me may take an interest. I am also going to do an MP3 of me reading it to add a second stream of income. If I get a decent response I shall then try traditional publishers and see if I can get it into print. I started it because I am interested in genealogy and wanted a record of my life and thoughts for my descendants if any of them took an interest in their family history.
If I make my fortune from it, that'll just be a bonus:beer:

I think I've got the bug now as I have started my second book. "A Year in the Life of a Cover Supervisor." Some of the stuff the pupils and staff come out with is hilarious.

Nigel.

Tabby_Kitten_2

I once found a website that let you up load a book and sell it through them as an e-book. Can't remember much more about it but might be worth looking for.

MartialArtMan

Nigewick you seem to have pretty similar philosophy towards it as me. Good luck with it

Tabby perhaps it's https://www.lulu.com ?