There was a brief time that I wanted to be a writer when I was a kid. As a single child, I spent my free time all alone in my room drawing or writing. It was only after ten that reading became a hobby (thanks to Princess Diaries!)
I started writing when I was 7.
At 15, after being confident that I’m good enough (because my English teacher told me so) and constantly publishing for the school magazine and newsletter, I knew its time to make a career writing.
This was obviously after I wanted to be a fashion designer and then a pilot until I realised how much I suck at science and math.
My parents and I went to a career counsellor.
Even though all aptitude tests recommended me to pursue law, I wanted to give writing a try.
She told me I could be a journalist. And that's the most ‘stable’ path for a writer.
I don’t think I have the nerve for journalism. It’s exhausting, has long hours, and doesn’t feel too safe for a woman in India. At least for me, I’d be scared to work at odd hours outdoors and cover crime. So I settled on mass communication, which again didn’t happen.
Long story short — I eventually became a full-time writer at 25 thanks to the Internet.
But I still read how people across age groups are finding it hard to write full time. Because what career path do we pick today?
A journalist?
Novelist?
Blogger?
Too many options are as nerve-wrecking as a lack of them.
The internet era has changed the entire ball game. It’s confusing for those who aren’t used to it.
It’s chaotic.
Post multiple times a day on Twitter.
Engage.
Provide value.
Meanwhile, I see my friends in their forties and fifties writing a bit on LinkedIn and enjoying sharing their life stories with the world.
That’s the thing with time. The only constant is change; the only way to ace that is to be in contact with this change at all times.
Last year I went out for dinner with a friend who introduced me to their friends. All two decades older than me. They were discussing a bestseller and how average it is.
My friend asked a woman, “Why don’t you publish a book? You’re a great writer.”
She answered, “I can publish, but who will buy?”
It’s never been this easy to publish books, it’s never been this hard to sell them.
Think of it — everyone can publish. Anyone can self-publish.
You don’t need to be good to sell things, you need to have an audience who’s ready to buy from you.
This, again, has its pros and cons.
My goal is also to publish when I’m closer to forty if I have a vaster audience by then who will be ready to buy from me.
It’s never been this easy to publish books, it’s never been this hard to sell them.
Write online.
Quora. LinkedIn. Blogging. Twitter. Where exactly do we write online?
For a newbie online writer, this isn’t just confusing but also rather all over the place. First, you’re unsure where to write. And when you start, you don’t get traction until you realise every platform has its nuances and tweaks that work on it.
Everything doesn’t work everywhere.
And it’s a long game too.
To put in these hours along with full-time school or work isn’t a cakewalk either.
The monetary side of it, though — do you sell courses, digital products, or books? There are plenty of options.
Writers get flak when they sell courses. But shouldn’t art or skill be taught?
Guitarists teach how to play the guitar. Many actors take sessions in theatre schools (and even publish books). My drama teacher in school was an actor who worked in a Bollywood movie and then became a teacher instead.
My friend, who’s been dancing since she was a kid, takes dance classes for children alongside her full-time job.
In India, many women start tutoring batches of students at home so they can help them with their homework.
Since when did teaching become such a bad thing?
To this, I’ll only say
- envy: not everyone will love you for making big bucks teaching
- humans are not stupid to put a chunk of money to get nothing in return
When somebody tries to pull me down, I tell them that my audience isn’t stupid that they don’t know where they’re spending their money. And if they aren’t asking for a refund even though my courses have a policy for that, they are probably learning something unique.
So, after establishing yourself, this is one plausible way.
And at the end comes marketing where we have one-person scheduling content to full-fledged teams on the run. Just like everything else in life, there will always, always be someone ahead of you.
The silver lining – I don’t see writing ever fading away as a career.
The mode and methods will keep changing.
But the urge to feel, express, and the joy of reading — I don’t see this going.
So if you can relate to any of this, I’d recommend you take one step at a time and one day at a time. It’s the only way to make it less overwhelming. And of course, don’t do things that will make you fall out of love with your craft.
All the best!