So the other day, I was doing my daily checking of emails when I stumbled on a cool one from one of my Misfits, who simply asked,
“Dear TheBlondeMisfit,
How do I become a writer like you, full-time, successfully?”
I have to say, I was both amused and freaked out at the same time. Amused at the fact she had called me “TheBlondeMisfit” (which just means I’m getting through to you guys), yet freaked out that someone was coming to ME for career advice. Girl. It’s like that moment when you realize you’re not the ‘kid’ anymore, and all the babies you saw have now grown up and are talking and…dating, or whatever people do.
Nonetheless, I will attempt to give her, and a few of you out there, some advice that I have learned in the short time I have taken my writing skills and applied it to this medium and to other venues. First of all, I’m not perfect and I definitely don’t consider myself a guru. In this 21st-century time and space, I am always astounded at the quickness in which people profess themselves “professionals”. The reality is, I don’t really know the line between ‘professional’ and ‘amateur’, but I would say it’s a mixture between time, experience/training, and natural ability. While I have been writing my entire life, I haven’t been writing with an audience (per say) in mind for more than a year or two (aside from term papers read by teachers or internships read by…bosses). It’s been an experience of learning what your audience likes, which is key, without sacrificing the voice and genuine persona you want to possess. You see what works, and when that doesn’t work, ditch it and try something else.
To be a writer, well, you have to write. To be a photographer, you have to take photos. I know that sounds pretty “DUH”, but I think you’d be surprised at how such a simple thing gets lost in the sauce. If you want to call yourself a writer, you have to write. Even when I’m not posting online, I have more writings than I could imagine sitting in folders scattered all throughout my Desktop home screen. I write in journals, post-it cards, notes that I will later transfer to my journal. I am a writing Queen. It’s a habit that I think has to be involved in that “10,000 hours” thing (God I pray so). Nonetheless, if you want to write, you have to write and write fearlessly with persistence and tenacity. Sometimes you will want to give up. However, realize the art of writing, and writing well, is becoming a lost art. So you can’t necessarily hang up the towel JUST BECAUSE you’re tired. Better get you some coffee.
You need to determine the TYPE of writer you want to be. Saying you’re a “writer” is like saying you’re a person. Ooookk?…Be descriptive. Do you like fashion writing, lifestyle writing, research writing? It’s okay to like more than just one, but shooting with no target makes for an easy miss (or hurting someone). So set a target, aim, and go on with your bad self.
The second half of her question is where the real nitty gritty begins. Full-time and successful. Firstly, I am not full-time. Yet. While I would love to just sit at my computer screen and type out post after post after post for all the beautiful Misfits in the world, life and bills don’t work that way honey. I freelance for other websites, who have their own individual deadlines. I work in a restaurant, which takes up most of my nights and sometimes my day. Not to mention the attempt to still have a social life (which at this point, is drinking Riesling and watching Netflix). Most “full-time” writers are not, in fact, full-time. The few that are live in a glorious universe I hope one day to live, but until that day, THIS day will be spent working and writing. I’m all for the pursuit of doing what you love, but you must work diligently and faithfully for it WHILE doing what you need to do to handle your business.
Also, the idea of “success” intrigues me. What do you mean by success? Thousands of viewers a month? Paid posts? For me, the idea of success changes frequently, where even the small things like “Today I got my blog piece up” is success. Doing what I love is success. Being happy is success. & you have to define success to yourself, in your own words and your heart. Every day I wake up is a success. & every time I get to write a post, do a photoshoot or simply tell someone that they matter, that’s success to me.
So I hope this cleared up the air for her and all of you out there wondering how you can be successful and full-time at what you do! Peace & blessings, my Misfits.
