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[Assuming you want to write books here, not magazines or technical writing] Most writers start writing and sell their first manuscripts or non-fiction projects
by GavinB 17y ago
[Assuming you want to write books here, not magazines or technical writing]
Most writers start writing and sell their first manuscripts or non-fiction projects while working at another job. Another large group are stay at home moms, which is really no different because they're still working writing around a time-consuming job.
Set aside 1-2 hours per day for a year. At the end of the year you should have a complete, revised manuscript and be able to start querying agents. Very few writers sell their first manuscript, so expect to have to go through the process at least a couple of times.
I would not recommend quitting your job to write full time. That puts too much pressure on you too fast. Once you're comfortable writing frequently you can consider leaving the industry for a year if you can afford to, but don't expect that quitting your job will help you overcome procrastination.
- cstross 17y agoWhat He Said. (I am a full-time novelist. I had to do other stuff for close to 20 years first, though. It's not a bed of roses, and it takes lots of practice and experience -- and knock-backs -- before you get anywhere. Oh, and it's badly paid and the hours are long! Frankly, if you're _lucky_ it's a lot like running your own one-person start-up, only without the break-out potential. And if you're not lucky, it sucks.)
- ido 17y agoI am not a writer myself, but I know several novelists. Some of which considered successful - i.e. they published several books which sold well and got payed handsomely for it. None of them works as a novelist full time, because they would have never been able to cover their expenses. Your chances of success (where success == making a living out of it without needing to keep another job) might be even lower than for indie game developers...