Before you jump into the writing ring, whether you want to become a full-time freelance writer and pitch home restoration services in Harrisburg, PA and ghostwrite for businesses, or write your novel on a part-time basis, there are certain questions you should consider before taking the literary leap.
It’s OK to revisit these questions along the way because the answers might change. Nonetheless, they will help you figure out what you want from writing and decide where you are going to start.
Why do you want to become a writer?
Is it because you saw that cool TV show where the main character wrote a book and then became rich and famous? Maybe you went to school for writing and it’s the next step on your journey. Perhaps you want to try something new and you believe writing will be a fulfilling endeavor. You might have always wanted to write a novel.
Whatever the case might be, now is the time to answer this question and to do so honestly. This is your why, and it’s important because it will help you stay motivated during this trek.
What are your writing goals?
What do you want to accomplish as a writer? It’s OK to have short-term goals, such as pitching your first client, writing for your first publication, or writing the first chapter of your novel, or long-term goals, like completing a novel, landing a book deal, or making a full-time living off of writing.
As with all goals, it’s important to make these realistic yet challenging and to also create a real plan and take action. And, yes, creating SMART goals for your writing is very much encouraged and appropriate.
What do you want to write about?
The good thing about this question is it can change over time. You might want to be a novelist today and an essayist tomorrow. You might want to create a travel blog in which you explore Henry County, Georgia and write about your experiences. You might want to do content marketing for businesses.
What type of topics do you want to write about? Is there a specific niche you have in mind?
These questions are important because they will give you an idea of where you want to go, what you want to write about, and which publications match up with your interests.
What kind of writer do you want to be?
The great thing about writing is that there are many different genres to write about and there are also different kinds of writers you can become, from a screenwriter, to a novelist, to a content creator. That also means there are many different ways to make money from your writing.
Whether you want to write books, scripts, poetry, articles, or essays, you have to figure out what kind of writer you want to be so you get started on the correct path and write in your desired genre.
Are you willing to give up things to become a writer?
As a writer, you might have to give up your mornings all the way to your Friday nights. You might have to trade in your mindset of wanting to publish immediately and receive instant gratification for hard work and learning how you can become a better writer.
Everyone has to give up certain things, such as negative mindsets and people, to achieve success.
What are you willing to give up to make your writing dreams come true?
These are just some of the questions you should consider before becoming a writer. Once you have answered them, you should have a better idea of where you want to go with your writing.