What Kind of Writer Do You Want to Be?

 

What kind of writer do you want to be?

 

When many writers first start writing, they really don’t think about that. They just think about what they want to write and how to write it. That’s fine; that’s how it should be.

 

But as some writers move through the motions of writing, working writing gigs, applying for jobs as a writer and getting published, they may get to a point where they take a good long hard look at their work and at their writing abilities. They may decide to be only one kind of writer or the kind of writer who can write a variety of things – and do it well.

 

The truth is, there’s no rule on what kind of writer a person can be. You can be any kind of writer you want. You don’t have to be known as a writer of only one kind of writing.

 

For some writers, a set of writing skills may be the very thing they can use to get published (freelance writing, fiction writing, poetry). For others, they may have a diverse set of writing skills they can use in a professional capacity.

 

But for yet another group of writers, they may just be chugging along, trying their hand at this kind of writing or that kind of writing to see which one takes.

 

It can take a long time to figure out what kind of writer you want to be. It can also happen right at the very beginning of your writing career, or it can happen several years after you first start writing. Keep in mind, however, that your decision can change later on. When I made the leap to write professionally, I thought I would only want to be a journalist. But then I started freelancing and I kinda liked being a freelance writer as well. So I was no longer “only a journalist” but a freelance writer too. (My debut novel didn’t exactly take off, so I did not put too much energy into being a novelist.)

 

Of course, writers are creative enough to be able to write all kinds of things, but for other writers, they may prefer to be known as one kind of writer: Romance novelist, freelance writer, copywriter, etc. This is usually the field of writing which they have found success with.

 

Personally, I don't want to be known as a writer of only one thing. I don't only write paranormal novels; I also have a horror novel and a romantic suspense novel. I also plan to submit another horror novel, a YA fantasy series and a sci-fi story collection. I also write articles, poems, essays and short stories. I am currently learning how to write scripts. I call myself a "writer of all trades" and I've got no problem with that label. 

What kind of writer you want to be is entirely up to you. If you only want to write books, that’s fine. You can also write books alongside working as a journalist. You can be a ghostwriter, freelance writer and author all at the same time. 

 

The thing you need to do in order to figure this out is to try your hand at everything. On the other hand, if you prefer to do only one kind of writing, then go for it. But if you feel compelled to see if you can also find success as a freelance writer or copywriter, then give those things a try, too. Just make sure your professional status as a writer is your first priority.

 

Most writers these days have managed to eke out a career as a writer of many things: Novels, scripts, short stories and articles. You can do this, too. You don’t have to write only one thing. If you want to write other things, then do so. Try it out and see if it’s something you can do. Don’t limit your creativity; allow it to expand and dabble in other skills. See where it takes you. You just might find another writing skill you are actually really good at.

Comparison Can Kill Your Motivation to Write

 

"Why should I even bother to write anything? I'm not Stephen King!"

 

This is one thing holding back a lot of aspiring writers, as well as aspiring novelists. They read all the bestselling authors, compare their own work to that author’s brilliant masterpiece, and suddenly feel so disheartened and discouraged that they give up on their dream of getting published.

 

Some writers have felt that there’s no way they could achieve any success as a writer, because look at the kind of bestselling writers they have to compete with. Those other writers out there are better writers who make a lot of money. How is their writing supposed to stand up against them?

 

The truth is, your writing is not supposed to stand up against them. All it has to do is exist. If there’s an editor or literary agent out there who has deemed your work worthy of publication, then that is all that matters.

 

If you start comparing your writing ability or your own unpublished work with other writers and their work, then you’ll be heading downhill. It will hurt your confidence and convince you to give up on being a writer.

 

This is a problem I quarreled with when I started freelancing. I saw ALL of those amazing articles that other writers had written and worried that there was no way my own writing could compare. I thought that kind of writing was better than mine and, because of this, my writing would never be accepted for publication.

 

There were some magazines and newsletters, however, that ended up proving me wrong!

 

The next time you feel that niggling to compare your writing to all the other writing that is out there, think about this: What you are reading is NOT the writer’s first draft. In fact, it could be their fourth or tenth draft! What you’re reading is the final result of a whole heck of a lot of work the author AND the editor put into that piece in order to make it shine.

 

This is what every single writer has to go through no matter their trade. The final piece everybody is reading is the result of a lot of work and not some gifted writer’s effortless attempt to scribble a bunch of brilliant lines and send them off to markets that will be captivated by their amazing talent.

 

That sort of changes the perspective, doesn’t it?

 

So, you see, it’s a waste of time to compare your writing to everybody else’s writing. Plus, you could be spending that time more productively on honing your craft. The only way to be a good writer is to consistently write, so the more you write, the better you will get at it.

 

All you need is to just write your way and not the same way everybody else is writing. Write with your own voice, your ideas and your own style. No one can write like Stephen King because they are not Stephen King. Stephen King is Stephen King. Just write the way that you write. Write with your own voice. Because, ultimately, that is what will make you stand out: Your own kind of writing.

Your Writing Matters

 

“Who am I to write about my thoughts or ideas? I’m not anybody special.”

 

I know of a lot of writers who have battled with these kinds of thoughts, or worse. Their belief is that because they are not popular, wealthy, important, educated, talented or a newsmaker, anything they write won’t have any value. Nobody will care about it, so what’s the point in even writing anything?

 

Anything that you want to write must be written because you are the person to write it. You feel compelled to write something, so write it. Take heed of your muse when you feel that call to write and start putting those words down.

 

You don’t need adoring fans or bestseller status in order to be a writer. Anybody at any age and at any stage of life can be a writer. Everybody has the right to write. Your writing matters because it is YOUR voice and YOUR ideas. You are allowed to share these things and write these things. You don’t need permission. You don’t need validation. All you need is your own confidence in yourself to write.

 

If you just want to write as a hobby, then by all means, go ahead and write as a hobby. Anybody can write as a hobby. There’s nothing wrong with this. You don’t need permission to write stories in your free time or dabble with a novel-in-progress. Go ahead and write to your heart’s content.

 

If, however, your goal is to seek publication of your work, that is fine too. My advice? Go for it! Take those steps to get published. You don’t need to be a famous writer to get published; you just need to be you.

 

When I first started out as a freelance writer, I was intimidated about sending queries to magazines. I was not a writer with many clips under my belt – unless you count the articles I wrote for my local paper. I wasn’t a bestselling author. I didn’t even have a website! (Then again, I got started with freelancing before websites were even in fashion!) I eventually realized that I had to get over this fear and self-doubt if I wanted to get published, I had to put myself out there. So that’s what I did.

 

That’s what you need to do, too. Don’t worry if you’re not published yet or if you’re not a bestselling author. You have to get your start somewhere! The best way to do it is to have faith in your ability to write and your dream of getting published. If you really want to get your work published, then write and submit!

 

Additionally, a lot of editors, as well as readers, are hungry for new voices. They WANT the kind of writing that is different and that stands out. Your writing voice and your writing style are unique, because they are yours. They are not copies of what everybody else has already written. That is your advantage.

 

Not only do you have the advantage of being a fresh, new voice in the writing world, but you also have your own ideas of things to write. And some of those ideas for things to write just might make your work stand out above the rest. Your creativity can help you get that article, short story or novel accepted for publication. What makes yours different is that it comes from YOU.

 

You have every right to write. No matter what happens with your writing or your life or your place in the world, your writing matters. Your writing is important because it’s about your thoughts, your ideas and your experiences. You don’t need to be “somebody special” to be a writer. You only need to be you. You can be a writer if you want to be a writer, but you need to make sure that you’re not just a writer, but also writing.