Can you write for a living?

11Dec07

“Almost anyone can become an author;the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.”
-A.A. Milne

I‘ve seen several blog posts lately that talk about the fact that writing for a living is not for everyone. Deb Ng wrote that not everyone can do freelance writing. Freelance Parent posted a while back that the ability to type doesn’t make you a writer.

These posts are informative and true. Writing can be a difficult profession and the ability to string words together does not mean you can be a freelance writer. A writing business doesn’t take much overhead to start, so it’s often the default for someone looking to make extra cash or work from home. Posts like the above help dispel the myth that a writing career can be accomplished by anyone with an Internet connection.

But I think there is another side to the story. Chrisblogging wrote a post called Is a Freelance Writing Career Really a Possibility? Chris has managed to become very successful in his freelance writing career and has been brave enough to post his monthly writing income. His take is that if you have writing skills and a desire to succeed, it’s very possible to make it as a writer.

And I agree. If you truly have the drive to be a successful freelance writer, you can find success. I feel like a prime example of that. I used to think that I needed more knowledge or skills; I thought that writers knew some secret that I didn’t know. So I didn’t attempt to sell my writing or make a career of it.

Then I moved to Athens, Georgia where the job market is fairly anemic. Rather than continuing to apply for jobs that paid half of what I made in Arizona, I decided to pursue my dream of a freelance writing career. I started a blog which gave me writing samples to use to apply for writing jobs. I had no other clips or professional writing experience, but I started networking and applying for writing gigs.

My first paying gig came within a month through a friend who recommended me to a company that builds high school websites. They hired me as a copywriter, and to my amazement, I got paid to write! Then I found other writing gigs and opportunities, and even though I’m not yet at the salary level I’d like to be, my writing income has consistently increased every month. I feel amazed I didn’t pursue my writing dream sooner. The main thing holding me back from a writing career was me not starting because of fear.

So I guess what I’m saying is – if I can do it, you can too. If a writing career is what you truly want, and you’re willing to do what it takes to make it a reality, you will succeed. I plan to share more details of how I broke into the business, and share information I wish I had known when I started. But start now! You may make mistakes, and you probably won’t achieve instant fame. Don’t put off your dream to become a freelance writer – if you have the drive and desire, you can do it.

Filed under: Freelance Writing, Getting Started, Writing   |  8 Comments