A Writer’s Life
Dear Maggie,
Are you a full-time writer? What’s it like? Should I quit my job and give it a go?
Wannabe a Writer in Wisconsin
Dear Wannabe,
I wouldn’t quit the day job just yet, but I would get going on your writing immediately! Most of us started out by squeezing our projects in on the side. In fact, when I was working another job, I protected my creative time fiercely and managed to finish my first manuscript in about nine months.
The creative aspect is only one side of the equation though. The business side - pitching, selling, and promoting your work is a very big part of the deal and certainly a discussion for another day. Suffice it to say, you can be a fabulous writer and still not make enough to support yourself. Until you have some traction, I suggest you make a healthy writing habit part of your daily life. You’ll make progress on your project, but you won’t put yourself in a difficult financial situation to do it.
As for me, I am a full-time writer now. When my kids got older and began leaving for college, I felt like it was time for a career change. When I wrote my first novel, they were all still living at home and I was working a different full-time job. The manuscript was a labor of love for sure, but I learned I was capable of completing a full-length novel, and further, I really enjoyed the process. My husband was super-supportive, and at that point in our lives, we could afford for me to take a chance on my writing.
I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a full-time writer. Would I write only novels? Would I write articles for blogs or magazines? Short-fiction? Would people actually pay me to produce content? I really didn’t know. Turns out, I do all of the above, and I do get paid. My writing career is an interesting mix of things. In addition to novel and short fiction writing, with two platforms to support since Maggie was born, I’m also the managing editor of a writer’s blog, and a partner for an online author review/interview site. I will occasionally take on editorial projects that really interest me as well.
I think its important to recognize the things we can control and the things we can’t, and focus our efforts on the former. For example, I can’t really control book sales. However, I can write, edit, and re-write in order to improve my craft and tell a good story. I can learn as much of the business side of the profession as possible. I can attend signings, keep up to date with the latest marketing trends, maintain a platform, and engage with my readers.
Right now, you can learn to be the best writer you can be by writing! Once you get going, you’ll know if the time is right to take your career to the next level!
In other news…
For some reason, my Book Bub promo didn’t run on the dates I’d scheduled, but the good news is, it’s up and running now! That means you can get Lost and Found, the latest book in the Tactical Solutions International series for only $0.99 from today until October 26th!
The Goodreads giveaway is still underway for the rest of October. Meet Jake and Fiona in Sing for Me, and see how things all began for the TSI crew. You can’t win if you don’t enter!
Find out how Jake proposes to Fiona! If you sign up to receive this bi-monthly newsletter, you’ll get that free bonus scene!
My bedroom suite is still under construction and I am hiding in the basement trying to write this blog. I get stressed when things look like this. Send chocolate!
Do you have a question for me? Send it to maggie@msmaggieclare.com, and I’ll try and answer it here!
