So You Wannabe A Writer?

We live in a culture of reality TV, of instant celebrity and instant gratification. I see this perverse sensibility pervading the writing arena. I see an unfortunate rise in the number of writers who believe they have a right to be published. A rise in the number of people turning to the vanity press, or the self-published route.

Writing is a right; getting published is a privilege - one that is earned.

If you want to be a serious writer, that is, write stories to the best of your ability and have your work read by a multitude of people, then you need to think of your work as precious.

Writing is a long, slow, at times tedious, at times wonderful, process. It takes years of hard work and dedication to get your writing up to a publishable level. Chances are, the very first novel or short story you write, isn't going to be a literary masterpiece. And what more, if you think you don't need an editor, than you're one deluded fool. Even the best need their work tweaked here and there.

Writing is hard; getting published is like going through the Spanish Inquisition and dinner at the In-Laws all at the same time, while having nails slowly poked into your fingertips - painful as hell.

But, if you have the talent and, more importantly, work to hone your craft, learn from other writers who have been at it longer than you, sit your ass in the seat in front of the computer and write, then I believe, eventually, you'll be a published author - one that gets paid (hopefully a good amount, most probably just enough to last you half a year without having to work another job), rather than having to pay someone to do it for you.

I see writing, and the business of getting published, as the universe's (or God, or Buddha, or whatever you like) way of weeding out the wannabes from the true writers, those who can't live without writing, who would write stories with their spit on the pavement if all their limbs were severed, if they had to.
There's a reason it's bloody difficult to land that big (or medium, or even small) publishing deal. There's a reason it takes years and years of practice for a writer to find their voice and for their writing to reach a stage that it can be deemed worthy to be published. There's a reason we're not born being able to write like Hemingway or Tolstoy.

It's the weeding process.

And rejection is like the ultimate test. Can you take it? the world's asking. Do you have what it takes? If not, see ya later, have a nice day. But if you're truly meant to write stories for a living, then you'll take the punches. Yes getting that story or novel rejection stings, but it's the world's way of saying not quite, but keeping trying. If you have what it takes, then you'll wipe away the tears, file the rejection slip in with all the others, and keep on going.
Because if you're a writer, you have to.
You'll take that rejection and try and use it to motivate you to do better next time, so next time it'll be an acceptance.

Don't settle for instant gratification. You shouldn't need, or want, to pay for your novel to be published. You should be proud enough of your work, have enough faith in your ability, to want a legitimate publisher pay you to publish your novel.

Because you've worked hard for it. You've put in your time, dedication and have honed your craft and uncovered your own unique voice. You've listened to the advice of the more seasoned and wiser writers. You've accumulated enough rejection slips to create a paper metropolis.

Because you take your writing and the business of getting published seriously.