Writer FAQs
Ever wanted to ask an author a question?
Every now and then I get an email query asking for an interview. Such was the case last week, from a college student who is interested in becoming a writer. So, since I went to the effort of answering those questions, here are the answers.
Can you describe your career journey? How did you get to where you are now?
I've always written, mostly just to entertain myself. But when I was an at-home mom and the kids were getting to me, my husband kindly kicked me out of the house every Thursday night. I used to go to the library to read during those free times, but eventually that gave way to writing. My first manuscript was pathetic, but I loved the process and stuck with it. It took me 2 years to write my next manuscript, and that one sold. My kids got older, I had more time to write, and voila. Instant writing career, that honestly wasn't all that instant.
What was your educational preparation or college major?
I went to school for graphic design and graduated with an Associates of Arts degree.
What skills do you feel are necessary for writing?
First and foremost you need a teachable spirit. There is no room for pride when you're an author or you'll never advance in the writing craft.
Obviously you need a good grasp of the English language (assuming you're writing in English) and know grammatical rules BUT (and I've always got a big but) not stick to them so rigidly that your writing is stilted.
And last but not least you need determination and perseverance. Writing is just a day in day out process of putting down word after word.
What does your typical workday look like?
Hah! Typical. Yeah. I don't know any author who has a typical schedule. But generally I like to get my writing done in the morning. I aim for 9-1 but usually it's more like 10-2. That is most weekdays, except for Wednesday, when I teach writing and history all day to high school students. When I'm not actively writing, I am usually working on interacting with readers via social media or appearances, namely marketing.
What do you enjoy most your job?
The flexibility of schedule. The creative process itself. Hanging out with other writers who "get me". Plus it's always a bonus that I don't actually have to change out of my jammies if I don't want to.
What are some pros and cons that I should know about when considering writing as a career?
Cons:
The money, especially at first, isn't great. You've got to be in the game quite a while putting out book after book before those royalties really start to pile up. Also you need to develop a thick skin because scathing reviews cut deep and you will bleed out otherwise.
Pros:
It's the best job in the world. I get to live in an imaginary world and interact with fictional characters all day. I also love hearing from readers when they share that one of my stories or some of my words made a positive change in their life.
What else might you have chosen for a career if you didn't choose to write?
Originally I wanted to be an astronaut but I really suck at math and science, so that was kind of a bust. I've always loved words, though, so when I did work full time before kids, I was a typesetter, making other people's words beautiful.
Does social media play a role in your position?
Big time. That's where I interact with my readers. Lots of my target audience is on Facebook, so that's a given, but I'm also on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
What could students do to prepare themselves for a career in writing while still in school?
Expect to get yourself a day job so you can support yourself while you write. You're not going to be able to make it on writing alone for many years (unless you luck out like a very VERY few writers do). Technical writing pays well, so that's an option. Otherwise I'd say get a trade under your belt and grab a 9-5'er that doesn't require any overtime so you can write in your off time. Or else marry a rich person.
And there you have it. If you’ve got any more burning questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section and I’ll save them for a future post.