54
votes
Accepted
What is the most fundamental advice when it comes to writing?
To me, Stephen King's advice (as seen in a live interview, and asked what advice he had for aspiring writers):
Basically he said, if you want to write, write. Every day. Don't worry about plotting, ...
- 97.5k
26
votes
Occupational Hazards to being a Full-Time Writer
If I were a rich man, all day long I'd sit and write.
To elaborate:
What do you eat while you're writing your first novel?
Did you manage to get your first novel published?
What do you eat until the ...
21
votes
What is the most fundamental advice when it comes to writing?
Get an Agent: I sold my book on my own, largely because younger me hated the idea of signing over 15% of my profits to someone else forever. But a good agent does a lot more than just sell the book. ...
- 56.3k
21
votes
Accepted
When should a starting writer get his own webpage?
Personally, I think that's a crock.
It's understandable why someone would think having a website would be a benefit, but if you have it too early-on, it will come across as amateurish at best or ...
- 2,512
19
votes
Occupational Hazards to being a Full-Time Writer
I will presume you mean that you can write and get paid for it, and could actually choose a life as a professional writer, without starving.
If that is the case (and this answer is tailored to your ...
- 97.5k
12
votes
What is the most fundamental advice when it comes to writing?
I don't know about "looking back" and "career", I'm still rather looking forward to that... :)
That said, one piece of advice that really struck me, stuck with me and stayed with me is Neil Gaiman's "...
12
votes
When should a starting writer get his own webpage?
Bloggers and vloggers by definition have an online platform on which they've built their success. Their input on the necessity of having an online platform is biased. They cannot speak for all writers....
- 3,022
9
votes
How should I plan a life as a professional Writer/Author/Novelist?
The posters here are absolutely right, the first thing you should do is look to an alternative income source. Making money from novel writing is a long-term goal and takes decades, not months or years ...
- 9,913
9
votes
Accepted
Should I create a domain name using a pen name that is common with another person's domain name?
Names are almost never globally unique. This is true whether the owner chooses or the owner's parents do. Author Alex Feinman even has a note on his web site (.net) saying "looking for the other one?...
- 21.4k
8
votes
When should a starting writer get his own webpage?
There are two key parts to this, and it is important to distinguish between them to help decide what steps to take and when.
Domain Names vs Websites
A domain name is an address, it is where people ...
- 1,321
7
votes
When should a starting writer get his own webpage?
Every non-fiction writer should have a blog covering the topics they write about. You are trying to establish yourself as an authority on the subject, an influencer of ideas and opinions, or a curator ...
- 25.7k
7
votes
What is a more techy Technical Writer job title that isn't cutesy or confusing?
This is a challenging specialization to capture in a job title, which is why my LinkedIn tagline says "speaker to programmers". But that doesn't work as a job title at any but the edgiest startups.
...
- 21.4k
7
votes
Accepted
How to tell people you write smut/erotica/porn
"I write stories for adults only."
or
"I write erotica."
It all works.
There's enough out there that is NC-17 or even a hard R, or the book/TV/comic equivalent, that people get it if you say ...
- 32.3k
7
votes
Is there a career for a person in writing who likes to gather knowledge in multiple fields?
Self Development:
I was reasonably sure I could never write, because I wrote some truly awful short stories in high school and college. As excited as I was by them, they sucked. Yet I still wanted to ...
- 13.5k
6
votes
If I write an erotic / porn novel now, what are the chances that it might impact my mainstream writing career?
Anne Rice wrote four erotic novels using pseudonyms -- Exit to Eden under the pen name Anne Rampling and the Sleeping Beauty trilogy under the name A.N. Roquelaire -- and they don't seem to have hurt ...
- 751
6
votes
Occupational Hazards to being a Full-Time Writer
Loneliness: Writing is primarily a solitary activity. Many software developers are introverts already, so lots of solitude and isolation may not bother you, but for me, as a social person, it's one ...
- 56.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Can I turn my anal-retentiveness into a career?
One option that may work for you is Fiverr.com
I have not personally used it yet, but I plan to both hire audio editors from it, and also offer my own services.
There are articles about writing ...
- 4,634
6
votes
Accepted
What is a more techy Technical Writer job title that isn't cutesy or confusing?
I really like the title "Developer Evangelist" or "Developer Advocate". The former implies that you're spreading knowledge about the company's software/SDK, but that you're also a ...
- 184
6
votes
What is the most environmentally safe medium of modern storytelling?
Paper is a renewable resource. Trees are usually harvested from farms now that are constantly being replanted and cut at the best age. There are obviously some exceptions, but you aren't ever reading ...
- 61
5
votes
What is the most fundamental advice when it comes to writing?
My grandfather relentlessly encouraged his family members to always keep a journal. This can prove to be an important resource. A real world, off-line personal dictionary, and reality checker. If ...
- 101
5
votes
How hard would it be to find writing jobs with an English degree?
Strictly speaking, you don't need an English degree to get writing jobs, nor are you guaranteed any kind of job in writing/editing/publishing if you have said degree. You get hired when you convince ...
5
votes
Occupational Hazards to being a Full-Time Writer
Your question is:
What are the occupational hazards to being a full-time writer?
But based on what you describe I would flip that and perhaps ask:
What are the occupational hazards to being a part-...
- 201
4
votes
Accepted
Should the amount of work I write as a high school senior be a concern when choosing a career?
Summary: The timing will never be better. Give it a try, and learn from your mistakes.
You are at the best time of your life to try writing professionally. As a new graduate with few responsibilities,...
- 267
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