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What a question to ask in a writers' forum. You'll never be able to shut us all up.
I always find it interesting when a college student or younger has questions about what it is to be a writer because it makes me reflect on what I thought about it then and what I think about it now, 30 years later, when I've just begun to publish some of my work. So here are my thoughts.
30 years ago–– I would sit home and write novels , be the next Hemingway, appear on TV and radio, make huge amounts of money doing it.
Now–– I would not go into it hoping to be "successful," which to me means making at least a living wage from it. You will probably have to accept writing only part-time or, if you are lucky like me, end up with a partner who can subsidize you to some extent (and doesn't mind doing it).
30 years ago–– My novels would be artistic creations that different publishing houses would fight over.
Now––If you are hell-bent on making money at it, then you'll need to study the market and write commercial type works that can preferably be made into movies. There's still no guarantee, but writing literary stuff is pretty much a guarantee that you won't make money. Is that a sell-out? Not if it's what you want. At my age and in my situation I can afford to aim for literary as opposed to thrillers, because I don't need the money or the fame, but it's an individual choice.
30 years ago–– creative writing is the only writing that counts.
Now––If you already work at your school newspaper and are good at writing articles, consider subsidizing your creative writing by either doing newspaper work of freelancing. Freelancing isn't easy. You'll probably end up putting in as many or more hours as you would with any business, but with a good business approach you can do pretty well, or even great.
30 years ago–– I don't want to work in the corporate world 9-5. I don't want to work for a demanding boss. I have no business sense, so I will be a writer.
Now–– I don't care what kind of writing you do, if you want to get published as opposed to treating it as a hobby, it is a business. This means starting at the bottom; working regular hours; and having lots of bosses–– the editors you submit to–– rather than just one. Study the market. Keep a spreadsheet with your submissions. Network. Keep good tax records. You're self-employed in a home-based business, and if you don't see it like that, you will fail
30 years ago–– If I'm not good enough to publish in the Atlantic Monthly or The New Yorker, or be published by Knopf, I may as well give up.
Now- Learn to count your successes rather than your failures. If you are already worried about your book going out of print, you may not have what it takes. Think of all the people who never get into print. Getting published at all is a great thing these days. Don't expect miracles the first time around. If you write short stories, remember that even magazines for beginning writers receive hundreds of submissions a month and publish maybe 20 per year. Getting into one of those is nothing to be ashamed of.
Thats my 2 cents.
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