How to Create a Successful Writer Career
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Crafting a successful writer career can be a challenge, but it’s far from impossible. With the right combination of hard work, dedication, and knowledge, you can start earning money and establishing yourself as an authority in the writing world. Whether you’re looking to have a full-time writing career or to pick up occasional work as a freelance writer, these tips will get you on the right track for a satisfying writer career.
Develop Your Skills to Launch Your Writer Career
Writing is an art form that requires practice and dedication. To become successful in your writer career, you need to hone your storytelling craft and continually improve your skills. This means reading books on the subject and practicing regularly to develop your creative self. You might also consider taking courses offered at local universities or community colleges that focus on topics such as grammar, punctuation, and proper formatting guidelines. You could also work with a freelance editor or critique group to help you learn and grow. They will be able to point out issues with your writing, and offer opportunities for growth that will allow you to reach for bigger projects and assignments in your writer career.
Find a Niche for Your Writer Career
Finding the niche for your writer career is essential for anyone looking to establish themself professionally. While it’s important to be versatile in order to attract more clients, specializing in one specific area—such as travel writing, YA romance, or middle grade fantasy—can help you stand out among other writers and make it easier for potential clients or employers to find you. Take some time to research different niches and decide which one best suits your interests and talents. Where will you be happiest in your writer career? What is your ideal target audience? The more specialized you are as a writer, the better you’ll be able to reach out to potential magazines, employers, and organizations. For example, if you develop an interest in writing about healthcare, that can make you more attractive to other targets in this field, rather than someone who dabbles in all kinds of topics.
Research Potential Clients and Employers
Once you know what kind of writer career you want, you need to find clients or employers who are looking for someone with those specific skills. Devote some time each day (or week) researching companies that may be interested in working with a writer like yourself. Look for job postings online or read through publishing industry-related publications for leads on companies that could use your help. You can also reach out directly via email if there isn't an open position listed but they are looking for content from freelance writers in your niche. While there’s a question about will AI replace creative writers, you could also become skilled at writing AI prompts and remain agile and adaptable that way. There will always be a need for writers, and if you want a writer career in the next few decades, you should become comfortable with AI, and see it as a tool, rather than a threat.
Writing is a rewarding career path with many opportunities for success. By developing your skills, finding your niche, and researching potential employers/clients, you can create a successful writer career that allows you to make money while doing something you love. As a final tip, consider your relationship with AI. Generative large language models can mimic writing pretty well, but these outputs will always need a human touch and an editor. With dedication and hard work, anyone can nurture a successful writer career. All it takes is knowing where to start.
Elevate Your Storytelling
Wherever you are in your writing journey—from an initial outline to a draft to pitching your project—the experienced team at Good Story Editing can take your work to the next level.