Anyone know how I can become a PAID writer?

[Dean Anderson]

Just asking...

 

[Westvleteren]

When you say "paid," do you mean, "get money in exchange for your words," or "make a living as a writer"?

Because I can help with the former from experience; and I can tell you how to do the latter, I just haven't done it yet myself...

 

[heron]

If you decide to go that route, remember that many people in most of the arts struggle with this same problem, and it is not about you. It is the nature of the fields (rock bands, opera singers, violinists, painters, potters, glassblowers, theatre set designers, photographers, ballet dancers, actors, comedians).

Keep reminding yourself of that, even if you think you're going to defy all odds and become the great success story. Some people do well, some make a living, and an unusually high percentage experience a lot of discouragement.

Prepare for a job where you use writing--technical communications, promotional writing, instructional design, journalism, teaching...and you will will hone your skills, use your craft, and have the freedom to develop your own projects in your spare time.

 

[Spherical Time]

A paid writer of . . . what?

Newspaper, Books, Magazines, Television, Movies . . . all require writers, and there are different answers to each.

 

[Drifster]

Writing is alike any form of medium we use to convey emotion and expression in a form we wish others to relate in. Watch "American Idol" and see how many view how they wish to be perceived when expressing who they are!!...The problem is getting others to hear us?...I don't write this to discourage others, but to question there intentions. Do you love writing and do so every waking moment when time allows? If the answer is 'YES', then you might have a chance in earning a sub-poverty level of income in writing. I write to find myself like a musician plays an instrument to portray himself (or her) in the emotion they are in at that moment of expression. If you can capture that moment, you can become a writer in the sense of one who can obtain an income from the scribbling we write. If you find yourself constantly struggling to find words in describing your feelings to another?..Then, you do not count on writing as a form of income!

But!.. If anything you do, keep writing and always enjoy such. I can think of worse things to do to occupy our time.

 

[Antoninus Verus]

Prayer

 

[Dean Anderson]

Well, I'm published on the internet (Short Stories, poetry), and I'm writing a novel. I'm also a published journalist (at my old church and my old school). My dad says I'd do better writing fiction. My problem is I'm working without a contact and no agent.

 

[Westvleteren]

Well, I'm published on the internet (Short Stories, poetry), and I'm writing a novel. I'm also a published journalist (at my old church and my old school). My dad says I'd do better writing fiction. My problem is I'm working without a contact and no agent.

If you're a first-time novelist, best to have the novel complete before you start shopping for agents. The way it usually works is you send out queries, interested agents will ask for the first three chapters, then the ones that are still interested are going to want to the see the whole thing. And they'll want it NOW.

The only way you can get an agent without a finished work to show them is if you're already a well-established writer.

You can start collecting the names of agents who might be interested in your genre or niche while you're still writing, but I wouldn't query them until your novel is finished. For now: write first, business later.

Good luck!

 

[MsSnow]

I have started writing at epinions.com. Wont pay much but it does pay and it will get my feet wet and give me the practice I need.

I am also looking into writing fillers for magazines. I figure i can start small and work my way up.

 

[Ann Doupont]

When you say "paid," do you mean, "get money in exchange for your words," or "make a living as a writer"?

Because I can help with the former from experience; and I can tell you how to do the latter, I just haven't done it yet myself...

Well, I'd like to know how to do both, or either, of these myself. I published my first book last year, a Christian Inspirational called "Surrendered." It's selling slowly, but surely. Certainly not enough to live on.

Ann

 

[heron]

MsSnow,
Epinions looks like it survives on volunteer reviews. Do you write the copy for products, or get paid to write reviews? I'm not trying to steal your job. (-;

 

[Westvleteren]

Well, I'd like to know how to do both, or either, of these myself. I published my first book last year, a Christian Inspirational called "Surrendered." It's selling slowly, but surely. Certainly not enough to live on.

Ann

Congratulations on your book! Just getting one finished is more than a lot writers accomplish!

Well, as I said above, I know the process for becoming a highly-paid writer, I just haven't managed to do it yet. I have a novel with an agent, but it appears from the rejection letters that I have an interesting, well-written, and completely unmarketable book. So, back to the drawing board (or the keyboard, as the case may be)...

So I'm working on another novel, and in the meantime I hone my skills in the small press, short-story market. It gets me a couple of hundred bucks a month--enough to keep me in Belgian ales, but not enough that I can quit my day job, by any means. But I enjoy it immensely--I'd write even if I never saw another cent from it.

If you're interested in that sort of thing, I can offer you some general advice. (I think our chosen genres are probably far enough apart that I can't really direct you to specific resources.) But to start, get on the internet and start looking for sources of market information -- magazines, anthologies, etc. that are in your genre and are looking for stories. If you know of some off the top of your head, go to their websites and look for submission guidelines. I happen to write horror, fantasy, sci-fi, etc., so a lot of times I'll find a call for stories like "3k-5k words dealing with Hallowe'en in the South." That kick-starts my imagination and off I go.

Then start writing and sending stuff in. If you're like me, you'll start a very thick folder for your rejections, and every once in a while you'll get a "yes." With every story, accepted or not, your writing will improve and you'll get your name out there--the intangible rewards, I suppose, but in your case, it might help with sales of your book.

So that's my "more-information-than-you-probably-wanted" response; hope it helps!

-Erin

 

[CalledToWait]

MsSnow,
Epinions looks like it survives on volunteer reviews. Do you write the copy for products, or get paid to write reviews? I'm not trying to steal your job. (-;

Reviews, from what it looks like- my question was, approximately what does it pay- and is there an age restriction?

~CalledToWait

 

[Dean Anderson]

Thanks for your help, and heron, I just joined Lulu.com. I'm thinking of separately publishing collections of short stories and poetry there once I have enough of them.

To the person who said our genres might be different, I have a ghost story based on actual events, and a fantasy story taken from my book, which is Christian sci-fi/fantasy. My poetry, on the other hand is all Christian, though it's in mixed genres within Christian writing.

I'm also joining the Christian Writers Guild, which I found at Jerry B. Jenkins' web site.

 

[Westvleteren]

To the person who said our genres might be different, I have a ghost story based on actual events, and a fantasy story taken from my book, which is Christian sci-fi/fantasy. My poetry, on the other hand is all Christian, though it's in mixed genres within Christian writing.

Ah, not so far apart after all! Well, in that case, here's my favorite site for market news, and here's a fairly new listing for sf/f/h writers with a Christian bent.

 

[MsSnow]

MsSnow,
Epinions looks like it survives on volunteer reviews. Do you write the copy for products, or get paid to write reviews? I'm not trying to steal your job. (-;

sorry it took so long to get back to you.You write reviews for the product and you do get paid but not a lot. Its based on how many hits you recieve and how helpful your reviews are. I havent gotten paid yet so Im not sure how much but I have talked to many of the top reviewers there and you do get paid. dont worry about stealing my job LOL anyone can write reviews there..this is my best review yet

http://www.epinions.com/content_181900250756