Writing is a dream for many people. However, with the rise of AI, is making a career out of writing even possible? How can you compete with AI and all the other great writers out there?
While starting a writing career can seem overwhelming, it’s actually a lot easier than you might think. As a successful writer myself, I know how serious “imposter syndrome” can be for aspiring writers. But, if you’ve landed on this article, there is a good chance that you can be a successful writer – if you just follow the right steps.
Do Writers Earn Well?
A writer’s earnings vary widely based on their experience and genre. Established authors, popular genres, and effective self-promotion can increase incomes. However, many good writers supplement their earnings, and success often demands persistence and business sense.
Do You Need a Degree to Become a Writer?
Absolutely not. You don’t need a degree to become a writer. In some cases, formal education can be helpful, but it’s often more efficient to teach yourself. With so many online writing courses and guides, there is little reason to seek a college degree.
Roald Dahl used to work for the British Embassy before he wrote ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. He also served as a WWII fighter pilot in 1942. This shows that writing is an extremely personal form of creative expression, with many making an illustrious second career as a writer.
6 Common Types of Professional Writers
Of course, there are many types of writers. Journalists, creative writers, and copywriters are all very different types of professional writers. Aspiring writers should narrow down exactly what type of writer they want to be.
- Content Writer
A content writer is a professional writer who focuses on creating written materials for websites, blogs, and other online platforms. They often produce informative and engaging SEO-friendly content (whereas other writers may not use SEO at all).
Most online content was produced by a content writer. The average income for a content writer is around $58K a year, according to Glassdoor.
- Fiction Writer
Fiction writers are storytellers who craft fictional narratives from the written word, including novels and short stories. They’re what most people think of when you tell them you’re a “writer.”
That said, this is one of the harder careers to break into, and fiction writers don’t tend to make that much money. They usually only make around $22.50 an hour.
- Poets
Poets write poems which is straightforward enough. In most cases, writers cannot make a full-time income from poetry unless they happen to win many awards. Often, poetry is more of a supplement to other writing or a full-time day job.
Most people who make money “as poets” are typically professors during their day jobs.
- Journalists
Journalists are often lumped in the “communications” category, as they work closely with others in media to create and investigate news. Often, journalists work in newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and online platforms. Today, more and more freelance writers are also dabbling in journalism.
According to Salary.com, the average journalist makes around $50,825 and $65,041. Of course, a very good writer may make more.
- Technical Writers
A technical writer creates content about complex technical information. Usually, they’re creating user manuals, guides, and instructions for complicated products to help users figure them out a bit easier.
Technical writers bridge the gap between technology and end-users. While this technical writing does sound boring to many, these writers often make between $55,738 and $69,496. For upper-level jobs, you can make well over six figures a year.
- Copywriters
Copywriters create content for advertising and marketing. They’re sometimes interchangeable with content writers, but copywriters are more focused on advertising (while content writers can write a wider range of content).
For the most part, a copywriter’s primary goal is to encourage readers to make a purchase or sign up for a service. They may create headlines, slogans, product descriptions, and advertising campaigns.
Usually, they make between $51,560 and $65,117, though good writers and those with special experience may make more.
10 Simple Steps to Start a Writing Career
Even if you don’t know the exact sort of writer you want to be, you can still take steps today to improve your skills and land your first job. Eventually, though, it does help to niche down.
Step 1: Read Smarter
Reading helps you become a better aspiring writer – if you read properly. Speed-reading is not the way to go here, and neither is picking up whatever book is trending at your local store. Instead, you need to read books that challenge you to expand your vocabulary and learn new styles of writing.
You can only produce writing as good as the writing you’ve consumed. So, it’s essential to read “the good stuff” when trying to become a writer. Here are some resources to help you get started:
Recommended Resources to Read Better
- The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. A book about how to read books, complete with a suggested reading list. A must-have for anyone looking to become a writer.
- How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading. A classical book on how to intelligently read just about anything.
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List. Still don’t know what to read? Check out this literary bucket list for an endless supply of ideas.
Step 2: Enroll in an Online Writing Class
I also highly recommend enrolling in a few online writing courses. Technically, you can enroll in whatever classes interest you. However, try to seek out classes that offer certificates of completion and are from well-known companies. You can put these on your writing website later.
Of course, your primary goal should be to learn from these courses. Choose courses that match whatever genre you’re interested in, or take a few different ones to figure out what you like.
A successful writer is always learning, so don’t procrastinate by trying to take all of the courses right now. Pick one writing skill to work on and master it.
Recommended Resources for Online Writing Classes
- Hubspot. This website offers tons of courses on writing, SEO, and other online skills. It’s free, and most courses offer certificates.
- Coursera. You can find some gold on Coursera, but you do have to go digging for it. Plus, these courses don’t always offer certificates.
- Masterclass. If you’re more interested in literary fiction writing, take a few of the writing courses from Masterclass. There are many courses that can teach you how to write fiction.
Step 3: Commit to a Writing Routine
To get better at anything, you need to create a consistent routine. Writing is no different. If you want to do it well, you need to do it every day. It’s a muscle that needs to be honed through exercise, and there is no shortcut around that.
There are many “tips and tricks” for creating a writing routine. However, in many cases, you just have to do it. Yes, it is hard to stick to anything consistently, especially when your warm bed or a night out is calling. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t necessary.
Let me share a couple of writing routines for you to take inspiration from:
- In his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” critically acclaimed author, Stephen King, mentions he writes about 2,000 words daily – a number that gets added up to about 180,000 words in just three months of writing. No wonder it doesn’t take him more than three months to finish the first draft of his novel.
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction nominee, Nathan Englander, has a peculiar writing habit. He writes with earplugs in — even if it’s dead silent at home! According to him, his writing routine has no space for cell phones, social media, or email. When he writes, he only writes.
Recommended Resources for Crafting a Writing Routine
- Creating a Sustainable Writing Routine by the University of Pittsburgh. This straightforward guide can help you find time to write if you’re having trouble with your schedule.
- The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. Keep this book on your nightstand whenever you need some inspiration to eliminate writer’s block.
- On Writing by Stephen King. Stephen King has written every day for years. You can, too.
- Write or Die. For those who really need motivation, this inexpensive software application forces you to write, or it will delete your work. Yes, it’s just as scary as it sounds! (Luckily, it is very good at killing writer’s block.)
Step 4: Invest in (Tech) Tools of the Trade
While many people still write the old-fashioned way, there are tons of online tools you can use to step up your writing. For instance, editing software like Grammarly can be exceptionally helpful, no matter what kind of writing you’re doing. There is a free version, but the paid version is worth the price.
I also highly recommend the Hemingway App, which is a free web program that helps you simplify your sentences. Academic writing may involve long sentences with complicated vocabulary, but this won’t fly in most other types of writing.
Most clients will want you to work in Google Docs, so I recommend you start familiarizing yourself with it if you aren’t already. Some other clients will want you to work in Microsoft Word, so it is best to have both. (My work is about 50/50 at this point.)
Step 5: Choose a Niche and Build an Impressive Portfolio
Now that you’re writing well and with the right tools, it’s time to start building a portfolio. The point of a writing portfolio is to show potential clients your skills, so the work inside your portfolio should be your best writing work.
Start by identifying your niche. A niche is a specific genre you’re publishing in or a specific type of writing you’re doing. For instance, you may specialize in social media posts, the finance sector, or business writing.
Build a portfolio based on your niche. There are tons of ways to go about this (far more than I can cover here). However, nonfiction writers can try guest posting on popular websites in their niche, or you could even start your own blog.
Creative writers can self-publish, too, though they may be better off publishing on Amazon or a similar platform.
Medium is a great option for most writers, as it lets you publish your work on a website that doesn’t look like spam.
Resources for Creating a Portfolio
- Clippings.me. This website is a great way to make a writer portfolio that looks professional without having to deal with the tech side of things.
- WordPress. If you want to build a whole website (which I recommend doing at some point), use WordPress to make the whole process much easier.
Step 6: Start Sending Writing Pitches
Once you have a portfolio, it’s time to start looking for your first writing job. This process is a huge number game, so your plan should be to get turned down a lot. You only need one person to say yes, though. After you land your first few writing gigs, landing the others is often easier.
Check on job marketplaces like ProBlogger, which provides tons of writing jobs in many niches. You can also consider joining Contently, a paid writing marketplace.
Don’t quit your day job as soon as you land your first writing gigs, of course, but once you do, you can officially call yourself a professional writer.
Recommended Resources for Finding Jobs as a Freelance Writer
- Social Media. Now is a great time to start following industry leaders on social media, as they may occasionally post jobs. Figure out what websites are popular in your industry and follow their social profiles.
Step 7: Build Relationships and Collaborate with Other Professionals
Networking is vital in the writing industry. Attend writing conferences, join writing groups or forums, and connect with fellow writers, editors, and publishers. Collaborations and referrals can lead to exciting opportunities.
Many of my jobs have come from referrals, especially as the years go by. One of the most stressful parts of writing is finding more work. Referrals can diminish the need to pitch (at least partially).
Plus, having some editors and other writers in your corner can be a great way to get writing advice when needed. Even talented writers need another pair of eyes and some helpful advice sometimes.
Recommended Resources to Build Relationships
- Reddit. While it may seem like a strange place to make contacts, r/writing can be a great place to get critiques. Many published writers hang out there – even if they don’t use their real names. It’s a fantastic place to get writing advice.
- LinkedIn. I wasn’t a huge fan of LinkedIn at first. However, if you take the time to learn how to use it, it can be a great way to find new contacts.
Step 8: Develop Non-Writing Creative Entrepreneurship Skills
Being a freelance writer is a business. Therefore, developing the skills you need to run yoru freelance writing is important. Writing skills are great, but they can’t be the only skills you have. You have to learn how to brand and market yourself.
After all, when you’re a freelance writer, you’re really trying to sell yourself and your freelance writing.
Recommended Resources for Building Business Skills
- Freelance Writers Den. This community is all about helping freelance writers level up their incomes and make more money. It’s a great source for anyone looking to become a writer.
- Masterclass. Masterclass has tons of courses on refining your business sense. If you’ve already taken some of these courses earlier, now is a great time to explore their business section.
Step 9: Master Self-Editing
Self-editing is even more important now, as an AI can produce decent-quality first drafts. However, an AI cannot edit itself. Set yourself apart by becoming a fantastic editor and a successful writer.
Learn not to pad with filler words, which the Hemingway App can help you with, and use only strong words in your writing. These basics are easy to understand, but they’re hard to practice.
If you want to become better at self-editing than 95% of the writers, get Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King. Work through it and apply the concepts they explain to your own writing. Think of this more as a marathon than a sprint.
Resources to Master Self-Editing
- Elements of Style: If you don’t have this book, you need it. Read it once a year. All writers need this, whether they’re working for a larger company or refining their freelance writing.
Step 10: Keep Pitching and Upskilling
Congrats! If you follow all the steps to this point, you should be a successful writer with at least a few projects up your sleeve. Now, go back to the beginning and do it all over again.
Read more challenging books, upgrade your portfolio (and build that website if you haven’t already), take an advanced writing course in an area you’re struggling with, and land a few top-tier clients.
If you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse. There is nowhere to go but up, so make sure you keep moving in that direction.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a writer is surprisingly straightforward. However, it requires far more persistence and work than most people realize. It may be a creative pursuit, but you aren’t going to be feeling creative most of the time.
Even Stephen King, one of the most popular novelists in the world, sits down to write every day whether he feels like it or not. He doesn’t wait for creativity to strike, and neither should you.
AI may be able to automate some of the more tedious bits of writing, but it isn’t going to replace creative writing professionals anytime soon.
So, now that you know how to become a writer, take the first step right now and purchase one of the books I recommended in step one. Purchasing the Kindle version is fine, especially if it makes you start right now. Then, go pick out a writing course and schedule some time to do it. (I recommend starting with HubSpot, as it’s free.)
Bookmark this page so you can return and finish the other steps as soon as you finish that course 😉
