A Career in Creative Writing:
have you got what it takes?
Find out if you have what it takes to have a career in creative writing. (But don’t worry if you don’t have it yet, because this website is all about helping you get it!) I’ll tell you in a minute exactly what you need to have a career in creative writing. But first, know this: People often think that you have to be published to be an author, but that’s not true. Once you have written a piece of fiction – long or short – you’re an author. Likewise you can think of yourself as a writer as soon as you are writing. And don’t say, or even think, “I’m trying to write a novel”. That statement has the seeds of failure within it. Instead, say and think, “I’m writing a novel”. (Or, of course, your screenplay, or play etc)
The most important piece of advice I’d give you is this: don’t wait for permission to become a writer. Don’t wait for somebody else to tell you that it’s okay to do this, or that you’re good enough or whatever. Unfortunately our culture teaches us that we need to wait for experts to tell us it’s okay to do something, or that we need their endorsement before we can do it. This is one of the basic premises of our school system, but it’s also pervasive in our whole culture. I’ve even read posts on writers’ forums that ask if it’s okay to start writing a novel unless you've got a creative writing graduate or even have a creative writing masters degree! Don’t fall into this trap. All you need as an education in creative writing is a) fiction writing resources which are freely available (such as this website) and b) down to your own practice of your own fiction writing skills. Fiction Writer's Mentor aims to give you all the fiction writing techniques you will need. Think of this website as a free creative writing class! This website is also very much focussed on getting your thoughts and beliefs to support you – to give you the confidence you need to write. (See the pages on
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique),
and
Creativity in Writing).
Having said all that, what do you need to have to launch a career in creative writing? You need: |
