When you sit down and think about what you want to do when you “grow up,” you need to consider three different variables. Values, passion, and purpose. They all have a direct impact on the process of choosing a career. We get it, it’s not an easy process. Just understanding what your values are takes time and requires a lot of introspection. However, finding and defining your values and passions will make it easier for you to understand what needs to happen for you to experience greater satisfaction and what drives you to commit and achieve.
The purpose of this article is to help you understand if becoming a published author is what you want or need for your future. If you have a love for storytelling and words, if creating worlds and characters excites you enough to dedicate your life to it, then holding your first published book will make you feel like you’ve created something extraordinary that you want to share it with the world.
Read on and let’s dive into the passionate world of becoming a published author.
The Love of Storytelling and Words
Did you know that only 50% of those who start writing a book finish it? Don’t get us wrong, we’re not trying to discourage you from pursuing your dream of becoming a writer. We just think it’s worth knowing the truth. There’s so much more to it than just wanting to educate, entertain, and inspire others. To be successful in this field, you need skills and training, but most of all, you need passion.
Passion is what’s going to keep you inspired and motivated to keep writing and editing, and producing great work. Passion is what will keep you up at night because you’ve “just got to finish that last chapter”. Passion is what’s going to turn your deepest interests, emotions, and desires into words that will make anyone interested want to keep reading.
Do any of these situations resonate with you? Do you feel the urgeto share your deepest thoughts with strangers? Do you feel the need to help and educate others? If so, you may be one of the passionate lovers of storytelling and the art of putting words together.
Crafting Worlds and Characters
Take the story of Alex, he came to us to experience what writing classes were all about and to decide if this was something he wanted to do during his 4 years of university. He enrolled in our Creative Writing Summer School, where he got the chance to learn about the importance of great characters, how to map a plot, the importance of creating tension and turning points, and more. After completing the program, he expressed that the program not only allowed him to share opinions and listen to feedback, but also gave him a very good opportunity to get an idea of what university is like, to experiment, and to learn and improve his skills.
Some claim that Shakespeare or Stephen King are “natural” writers, that they were born with the necessary skills to become renowned authors. But the truth is that writing is somewhere in the middle between genetics and practice. Of course, some have a significant advantage over others, but that doesn’t mean that with effort and training, you can’t develop the skills to become the next Shakespeare.
For example, you may be someone who knew from a very young age that you had a passion for writing. You probably enjoyed school assignments that required you to create a story, poem, or book. Or maybe you realized later in life that you wanted to inspire and educate others through your words.
Whatever your case may be, genetics or not, to become a published writer, you still need to learn some key lessons that will help you use imagery, drama, and narrative to create compelling stories. These lessons are designed to:
- Improve your communication skills so you can find the right words and create powerful messages.
- Learn techniques for creating memorable characters that come alive beyond the page.
- Navigate the different ways characters can shift the tone and action of your story.
- Explore various writing methods and routines.
- Overcome the fear of the blank page.
- Explore various publishing options.
- Etc.
Think about it… Would To Kill a Mockingbird be the same without Atticus Finch? Or “Casino Royale” without James Bond? How would Don Quixote end without that thin, pale, idealistic man?
Every character and every word has an impact and can quickly distract the reader’s attention. If you want someone to read every word, enjoy every line you write, and get lost in your story, then you should probably consider exploring the possibility of writing and follow your vocation.
Overcoming the Writer’s Block
Even with all the training in the world, there are times when you will experience writer’s block. Writing is a long process, and every project is different. This makes it difficult for writers to maintain momentum and find the right words to express their ideas. There are times when it is hard to get started, and others when finishing a chapter seems like the most difficult task ever.
But on the bright side, this has happened to almost every author out there, so there are several proven strategies to help you get through these times.
Some people need to get out of the house and go for a walk, a run, a hike, or whatever helps them relax and unclog their brains. Others simply put their work aside and start writing about something else; the distraction helps them restart their creative process. Some writers claim that all they need is a good night’s sleep to recharge their batteries and get back to creating worlds and characters.
What they all agree on is that you can’t beat yourself up for having writer’s block. It’s normal, it’s natural, and you’ll get out of it. Besides, nothing will feel better than overcoming writer’s block, getting inspired, and starting to type words that will soon become a world of characters and experiences.
The Outcome of Getting Published
Of course, becoming a published author takes more than just sitting down and writing. For starters, you have to create a great and marketable book. But you also need to become a great businessperson who understands the world of promotion, design, editing, branding, and publishing.
There are two main ways to get published.
There’s the traditional way, where you work with a publisher who handles the production, distribution, and marketing of your book. In exchange, they receive a percentage of your profits.
You can also try self-publishing, which means you take care of everything, including making sure your book is well-written and marketable.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Whichever way you decide to go, it’s important to know that marketing is a key part of the process. It’s what will help you become a writer and maintain your credibility and career. It’s what will help you connect and build a relationship with your readers.
Once you master these skills and publish your first book, you will feel exhilarated, satisfied, and exhausted. The process is long and hard, and you must be able to handle feedback. But the day you finally see your book on Kindle or the shelves of a bookstore will give you a sense of satisfaction unlike anything else out there.
What will your first book be about? Have you figured out what kind of writer you want to be? You can write fiction (action, adventure, crime, fantasy, horror, historical, romance, science fiction, etc.) or non-fiction (science, biography, memoir, history, humor, self-help, etc.). Who will be your audience? Children? Young adults? Adults?
Now, imagine for a moment that you have completed your book. You see it in the bookstore and you get your first positive review, even a phone call from someone not so close to you who has read it. How would that make you feel?
The Financial Aspects of a Writing Career
We need to say it, this is not a glamorous career. People tend to romanticize it a bit, but when you talk to different authors you will get similar answers. Their fingers hurt, they write at night without any distractions, their eyes are red, and they have struggled through writing blocks. But, they all agree that this is worth the satisfaction of having your book edited, printed, and in your hands.
But how did they get there? How expensive is it to get a degree in this field?
In the United Kingdom, a Creative Writing bachelor’s degree can cost somewhere around £10,000 per year for a three-year programme. While living costs (accommodation, internet, travel, food, drink, study materials, etc), as a very general guide, can add up to £7,000 – £9,000 per year. Of course, these numbers will be lower if you are living at home.
There are different student loan options to help you fund your studies. In this link, you will find all the details and application process.
Yet, not every published author has a degree in the area. Most of them have completed writing courses to polish and develop their skills. And you, as a high school student have the chance to complete summer school programmes that can help you understand what does the writing process actually looks like.
Writing for Impact: Case Studies of Writers Who Have Made a Difference
Words have an impact – just look at the work of George Orwell. He was an English novelist and critic who produced literary criticism of totalitarianism and support for democratic socialism. Through Animal Farm, he reflected on the degeneration of the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalin. While his book Nineteen Eighty-Four talks about life under totalitarian rule.
His words are considered one of the most recognized critiques of totalitarianism. And it just proves that from your desk you can make a difference and educate society about different topics as relevant as politics.
Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, is another great example of how you can make a difference through simple words, worlds, and characters. He is known for his children’s books, and while he claimed that “children can see a moral coming a mile off,” he still expressed his views on a wide variety of social and political issues that served as a guide for children on what’s wrong and what’s right. The Lorax talks about environmentalism, the Grinch about economic materialism, and Horton Hears a Who! about internationalism. All in a very accessible way.
Maybe in a few years, we will see your name among the most influential authors of all time.
Final Thoughts
Some may say that becoming a published author is an easy task, but when you begin to learn all the details about the process of publishing a book, you begin to take this career path more seriously. Some of you may have this innate writing ability, while others are looking for ways to develop it. Whatever your case is, please know that you still need a lot of training. Practice makes perfect, and to get your first book published and successful, you need more than just great writing skills.
We want to encourage you to enter this field and use it as a way to entertain people from a frontier that has nothing to do with technology. Your words, the worlds and characters you create, will matter to someone out there.
