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Is the job of "writer" truly a viable profession?
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As a writer myself, and someone who, thankfully, is making steady and measurable strides and inroads on the road to success, I have decided to look at this question a little bit more deeply. I mention the word "viability," so I ask: can a writer who chooses to work as a freelancer ever become self-sufficient, find work on a regular basis, and/or count on writing as his or her only source of income? Perhaps of equal importance is the issue of barriers and obstacles which must be overcome in order for one to successfully settle into the profession. In closing, I present some tips which I have learned through the process of trial-and-error. They have worked for me; perhaps you will find them useful.
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The Competition:
Writing is an incredibly competitive field. One need only look at any of the myriad of job-search sites (Job Shuk, oDesk, World-Wide Freelance, and Janglo, to name but a few) to witness the vast number of writers advertising their services. I’m sure that each of us, whether a "newbie" just entering the field or an established veteran, has asked him or herself if there is really enough work to go around. Keep in mind that when someone searches for a writer, they will have hundreds (if not thousands) of people to choose from. If you don’t stand out from the crowd in some particular way, you are likely to get lost in the crowd!
An Economically-Influenced Field:
Is any field (with the exception of hi-tech perhaps) as tied to the economy as writing is? As more and more people have lost their jobs due to the recent economic downturn, more and more have joined the ranks of writers. It is an old cliché, but those who have lost their jobs in other professions are frequently told, "Why don’t you advertise writing services!" Many take this advice, sometimes as a career-move, more frequently as something with which to bide their time until a more stable opportunity presents itself. Writing is, after all, something which is a widely-transferrable skill. Additionally, there are no tests to take, no licenses to earn and no governing organizations to check credentials, experience or skill-level. For better or for worse, an economic downturn often turns this relatively saturated field into an extremely saturated field!
Almost Anyone Can Write.
Not anyone can program a computer. Not everyone is capable of fixing a broken computer. An elite few can practice law, treat the sick or fly a commercial airliner. But almost everyone with even minimal education can write. Perhaps not on the level of a professional writer, but at least well enough to draft a letter, write the content for a basic website or construct a basic resume. Most people who need something written will tend to do it themselves rather than pay for a quality job. Perhaps the hardest aspect of being a writer is convincing prospective clients and customers that their writing task, with the assistance of a professional, can be taken up to a whole new level of quality. The advantage which can be pointed out in this section is that there is a large client-base of non-English speakers in Israel; this is a huge target-market!
Flood or Famine:
Anyone who has been in the field of freelance writing long enough can bear witness to the fact that there can be wild fluctuations in workloads. There are times when we as writers have such a heavy load that we are forced to turn down work. On the opposite end of the spectrum are those dreadful periods when we desperarely check our e-mails and phone messages for a new client in a manner which can only be described as "obsessive-compulsive!" Sometimes the down-time between projects is a few hours, sometimes a few days, and agonizingly, sometimes it can stretch into weeks! A fine balance is what we as writers can hope for, but is a regular stream of work and new clients a reasonable expectation? If you are looking for, or need, a concrete idea of how many hours you will be working next month or what your income will be, you might wish to consider another field of endeavor! Try going to the bank for a loan or mortgage and telling the manager that from month-to-month your salary can be several thousand dollars…or several hundred dollars!
So, you still want to become or remain a writer? Good, my intention was not to turn you off of the idea. Writing, despite the question of whether or not it can be financially lucrative, can be a very satisfying profession filled with many rewards. Here are some tips I have found to make the journey just a little bit easier:
1) Remember the quote, "Patience is a Virtue!" This pertains to getting started, it pertains to "down-time" between jobs and it pertains to the amount of time it might take for you to become established.
2) Remember the quote, "Don’t quit your day job!" Writing is something you might need to ease your way into. For reasons of why it is a difficult field in which to succeed financially, you are invited to refresh your memory by reading the initial section. Writing, at least initially, is something which might best be approached while working another job concurrently. Quitting a job to become a writer might not be the most advisable manner of approaching the field.
3) Channel your creativity! The most obvious way to do this is thru creative and literary writing. It is a natural extension of writing. Write stories, pen poetry. It will provide you with an outlet, and should you succeed, your published works will be a major tool for showcasing your abilities and attracting clients! Here, again, patience and the ability to deal with rejection are necessary! My favorite contemporary short story writer, Jacob Appell, has had over a hundred works published in such lofty venues as the Kenyon Review and The New Yorker, to name but a few. Along with his accolades, awards and heavenly reviews, he has, by his own admission, a stack of over 10,000 rejection letters!
4) Make yourself a portfolio! Prospective clients will want to see a demonstrated ability of your writing. Gather samples, polish, proofread and edit them, and post them to your site. Starting out without a portfolio is extremely difficult as it might take a while to build one up. Keep in mind that you need to obtain permission from a client to display his or her work in your portfolio, and due to confidentiality, secrecy and other reasons, not every client will be amenable. If you really want to build a portfolio and are having a difficult time doing so due to lack of clients, take the route which I did in the beginning: offer your services for free to those who would allow you to include the work in your portfolio.
5) Blog! If you want to demonstrate your writing prowess, put your work out there for all to see. I started blogging less than three months ago. A majority of my new clients now find their way to me via my blogging! Your blog is just like a giant billboard on the side of a highway which screams out, "READ ME!" The only difference is the billboard will set you back tens of thousands of dollars; the blog is FREE!
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6) Make Yourself a Website. It is a sign of stability and a symbol that you are serious about your work. It shows that writing is your profession and not something you might be "dabbling in." Posting ads on forums that you are a writer is fine, but they should direct the client to your site. No site might just mean "no business." You can make a very simple website for FREE. That’s exactly what I did; nothing fancy and didn’t cost me a dime.
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Dear Reader,
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If you enjoyed this article, I cordially invite you to partake of another! My most recent article presents some advice I have found useful in turning business articles and blog postings into new clients and income! To read the article "4 Keys to Closing a Business Article and Getting the Client!" click the following link:
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