If you want to be a professional writer, read this:
Disclaimer:
• I make 100% of my income from writing.
• I believe anyone is a "writer" the moment they hit publish.
• "Professional" is subjective, however here's a guide for how to turn writing into your CAREER.
Let's get started:
• I make 100% of my income from writing.
• I believe anyone is a "writer" the moment they hit publish.
• "Professional" is subjective, however here's a guide for how to turn writing into your CAREER.
Let's get started:
1/ If you want to be a writer, you have to write more than you *think* about writing.
If you want to be a writer, you have to care more about writing than you care about being *known* as a writer.
If you want to be a writer, you must hit publish.
Your output is what matters.
If you want to be a writer, you have to care more about writing than you care about being *known* as a writer.
If you want to be a writer, you must hit publish.
Your output is what matters.
2/ There is more than 1 way to become a "pro writer."
You can put food on the table as a:
• Novelist
• Ghostwriter
• Content writer
• Freelance writer
• Sales copywriter
• Paid newsletter writer
• Messaging consultant
You're "pro" when you make money from your words.
You can put food on the table as a:
• Novelist
• Ghostwriter
• Content writer
• Freelance writer
• Sales copywriter
• Paid newsletter writer
• Messaging consultant
You're "pro" when you make money from your words.
3/ There is more than 1 way to make money as a "pro writer."
Your business models can be:
• Selling products (books)
• Selling education (courses)
• Selling services (ghostwriting)
• Selling insight (consulting)
• Selling digital access (paywalled content)
Your business models can be:
• Selling products (books)
• Selling education (courses)
• Selling services (ghostwriting)
• Selling insight (consulting)
• Selling digital access (paywalled content)
The big mistake aspiring writers make is thinking they can only make money in 1 way.
As if there is nobility in only living off your book sales, for example.
There's not.
Especially in the digital age, you want as many revenue streams as possible.
You want to be antifragile.
As if there is nobility in only living off your book sales, for example.
There's not.
Especially in the digital age, you want as many revenue streams as possible.
You want to be antifragile.
4/ There is more than 1 way to achieve "status" as a writer.
Status isn't only for NYT best-selling authors.
Status can also be:
• Social media status (followers)
• Ecosystem status (Twitter famous)
• Industry status (Category King)
• Sales status (money made)
Status isn't only for NYT best-selling authors.
Status can also be:
• Social media status (followers)
• Ecosystem status (Twitter famous)
• Industry status (Category King)
• Sales status (money made)
Writers get into trouble when they think of themselves as a "failure" because they don't have a certain type of status.
Maybe that status isn't possible for WHAT you write.
Or WHERE you write.
Or WHEN, or WHY, or HOW you write.
Status is subjective.
Maybe that status isn't possible for WHAT you write.
Or WHERE you write.
Or WHEN, or WHY, or HOW you write.
Status is subjective.
5/ There is more than 1 way to have an impact as a writer.
Impact can be:
• Helping people take action
• Helping people change their perspective
• Helping people laugh, cry, or make emotional progress in their life
Different types of impact, but all valuable.
Impact can be:
• Helping people take action
• Helping people change their perspective
• Helping people laugh, cry, or make emotional progress in their life
Different types of impact, but all valuable.
6/ There is more than 1 way to leave a legacy as a writer.
Legacy can be:
• Breaking records
• Leading by example
• Creating a new category
• Starting or advancing difficult conversations
Again, writers get in trouble when they measure legacy purely in sales or Likes.
Legacy can be:
• Breaking records
• Leading by example
• Creating a new category
• Starting or advancing difficult conversations
Again, writers get in trouble when they measure legacy purely in sales or Likes.
When I was younger and first starting out as a writer, I had a very fixed definition of what "success" looked like:
• I needed a book deal
• I needed to be Hemingway 2.0
• I needed the literature world to tell me I was awesome
But this was a giant mistake.
• I needed a book deal
• I needed to be Hemingway 2.0
• I needed the literature world to tell me I was awesome
But this was a giant mistake.
There is massive freedom in creating your own definition for success as a writer.
Creating multiple revenue streams.
Exploring business models that work for you.
Having the impact you believe is important (not the impact someone else says is important).
Creating multiple revenue streams.
Exploring business models that work for you.
Having the impact you believe is important (not the impact someone else says is important).
Anyone can become a writer, or a professional writer who makes money from the art & business of using words.
If you're looking for a way to get started, here you go:
startwritingonline.com
If you're looking for a way to get started, here you go:
startwritingonline.com
Loading suggestions...