At some point in our lives, or maybe at several
points, we're faced with deciding what direction we want to take with our
profession or if we're ready to take on a second livelihood. We might be tied
into a particular job for multiple reasons--great pay, pension, healthcare--and
those are all legitimate reasons to stay. And if that job takes twenty hours of
your day, each and every day of the week, perhaps you shouldn't be thinking
about moving into another career, or side job, or hobby.
But if it doesn't or if you're considering a
change in career, and if you feel the tug to be a writer, now or sometime in
the future when the kids are grown, you're retired, or you just feel you have
the time, then think about some of the following points to see if you're suited
for the writer's life.
1. If you think nothing of carrying
on a conversation with the people in your head, you might be a writer. If you
find yourself eavesdropping on those same people in your head, even if you're
not conversing with them, you certainly could be a writer. While it
might sound silly, it's a common practice for writers to rehearse scenes in our
heads as we test dialogue, see how characters interact with one another, or just
plot out a certain part of the book. It's as natural to us as practicing the
piano is to a pianist. I imagine they sometimes rehearse in their heads; we're
no different.
2. If watching people around you,
checking out their mannerisms, how they stand, sit, walk, converse with others,
how they discipline their children or talk to their spouse or friends, is
comfortable and natural for you, you could be a writer.
 |
Smooth sailing toward my goal of successful author! Wait...
that's not me. That's a kite. An otter kite. And it's heading
straight for that tree branch on the right. Such an easy mistake
to make: author-otter. Yep.
|
4. If everyday events trigger ideas
for a story, then you might consider becoming a writer. If you can't get
through a day without coming up with story ideas, you could very well
become a writer.
6. If you find yourself taking
notes (physically or mentally) while reading a book, you might have the stuff
to be a writer. And if you find yourself correcting someone's grammar,
punctuation, or other aspects of a book, you should think about being a writer
(or even an editor).
7. If you don't mind working by
yourself for sizable chunks of time, you could be a writer. Yes, writing is a
far less solitary endeavor than it was even twenty years ago, but for the most
part the actual writing--sitting down at the computer and pounding out
words--should be done while you're alone or with very quiet people... except
for #8, that is.
8. On the other hand, if you can
concentrate well with chaos all around you--kids, pets, spouse, television,
maybe the neighbor's kids--you could also be a writer. It depends on how much
noise and distraction you can filter out while thinking clearly and actually
writing something worthwhile. I spent many an evening writing my first
manuscript with the ruckus of three teenagers all around me. In fact, for a
while there it was difficult for me to write when it was quiet. I needed the
background noise.
9. If you don't mind starting at
the bottom of the heap and working your way upward, paying your dues, working
hard and taking direction, accepting constructive criticism (mean-spirited
criticism should never be accepted), constantly straining forward to learn
more, write more, accept rejection (because it will come), read, read, and read
some more, and write every chance you have to get better and better at your
craft, you might just have what it takes to be a writer.
10. If you have a natural talent
for writing, you should definitely consider becoming a writer. If you don't
seem to have an innate ability, try taking some college courses to see if it
can be drawn out of you or if you even enjoy it. A lot of writing, at least in
my experience, seems to be intuitive. If you feel you have the ability to
honestly view your writing as either good and in need of more work (and all
writers, successful or not, have to keep learning and striving to become
better), or hopeless and no amount of work will change that fact, it will take
you a long way to making the final decision. A lot of what makes a good writer
can be learned. Some of it cannot.
11. If you can live with the fact
that you probably won't be the next J.K. Rowling or John Grisham, you could be
a writer. If you're bound and determined to hit the bestseller lists first time
out you're either deluded, optimistic, incredibly driven, or ... right. You
just might be right! Just because most of us won't reach the pinnacle of the
bestseller lists on a regular basis doesn't mean you won't. Perhaps you'll be
that one in a million. If you can accept those odds, go for it! (And that's not
to denigrate those who won't reach the top of the heap. There's only so much
room up there or else we'd all be there and there'd be nobody below us to keep
those mid-lists warm.)
12. If you think writing a book
will make you rich and that's the reason you're doing it, you're fooling
yourself and should probably drop the idea of being a writer. If, on the other
hand, you want to write whether you make a dime or not, if you can't help
yourself from writing, then you have what it takes to be a writer. A few of us
get rich. Many of us write and eventually get published. Some of us, rich or
not, make a mark on our fellow human beings. Frankly, as much as I'd enjoy
making more money writing books than I do, I'd opt for influencing fellow human
beings in a positive way any day of the week. If you can live with the idea
that you might not make enough money in a year to pay for your internet access,
but you have readers who love your work and tell you what a difference you've
made in their lives, well, you're definitely writer material.
No two ways about it.
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