If you are a new writer, then before you even get to the stage of contacting agents and publishers it makes sense to pull in the reins and take things one step at a time. You might have a masterpiece in you somewhere, but if you rush things then you risk rejection and disappointment. Sometimes this is enough to deter even the most talented writers. If you have true talent therefore this would be a shame. It is therefore a good idea to start slowly, and on a smaller scale, perhaps copywriting or writing articles or short stories rather than spending 10 years on your version of War and Peace. If your articles and short stories are well received then it all bodes well for the future, and you can progress from there. It is better doing it this way around than spending hours on end working on an epic novel only to discover that no one likes it! That said, just because you aren't the greatest novelist in the world this doesn't necessarily mean that you can't carve out a career for yourself in writing. On the contrary, there are numerous genres, and you may well find that whilst creative writing isn't your forte, journalism or technical writing is. The main thing is to try. Another tip would be to start with something you are interested in. So for example, if you are interested in food then you could try your hand writing about that. Again, it makes sense to start on a smaller scale, perhaps contributing to the food section in your local newspaper initially rather than going all out and writing a full book. Additionally, it is often helpful to seek opinions and listen to advice. Some new writers make the mistake of assuming that just because they love what they are writing then everyone else will. Often this just isn't the case. So to make sure you are on the right track it will do no harm to ask a few friends and acquaintances what they think of your writing. And if you know a professional writer who you can ask then all the better. At some stage we are hoping to start a blog on this website. This should prove a useful resource for new and experienced writers like. Writing can be a great job. It is flexible, you can work your own hours, you can pretty much do it from anywhere, and the rewards can be fantastic. However, on the other side of the coin, getting discovered is far from easy, so it helps if you have the contacts or can get some exposure for your work - quite literally spreading the word. One place you could start is right here. Please feel free to check out our writer profiles section. |