The Negatives associated with Freelance Writing
For many, writing conjures up the image of a successful writer who puts down a few words while working in his pajamas and instantly gets his book accepted by the first publisher he submits his manuscript too.
Most writers would tell you that this image is entirely false. Few writers achieve the stardom of aStephen Kingwhere novels and movies bring in thousands in royalties. More writers struggle to become known and must work jobs to bring in a steady income.
On the other hand, the image of the starving writer isn't accurate either. Reporters and ad copyists do make money by way of a salary and/or commissions. Technical writing is specialize writing, so major corporations have an in-house staff to write their reports and documents.
The freelancer may be skilled in stringing sentences together that make sense to the reader, but they have to do far more. Writing is a business that's no different than any other enterprise. Few writers would want to deal with the financial areas and prefer to leave that to agents, accountants and lawyers while they focus on the written word.
Writing is a poor career choice as society sees the arts as a sideline to real employment. Painters, authors, sculptors and anyone who creates are less likely to be rewarded for their efforts. Few painters achieve the stardom of aPicasso.
Writers work in isolation. This marks them as being antisocial, when in fact they use their quite time to be creative. Many well-known writers work like executives, prioritizing their time for maximum effectiveness. They stop when they have reached a quota of words.
Few writers are socialites. Many feel more comfortable with the written word than in the exercise of oral communication. If they do socialize, they connect with others with similar interests. They belong to writer's clubs or make contacts online to enhance their writing experience.
Once the manuscript is completed, there's no guarantee that the first publisher will buy the finished work. Editors are finicky and often require several revisions before a work is acceptable. Even after a book proposition is accepted, the writer is required to work on a deadline. A set date of completion may inspire some writers to work overtime, while others lose their concentration when a deadline is imminent.
Writers require thick skins. They meet with rejections constantly. Rejections are not personal, nor do they indicate the writer's level of professionalism. Rejections happen for many reasons. Besides putting the words down, the writer needs to study the publications he intends to write for and cater his work to the ultimate reader.
While writing is an isolated activity, the ultimate goal is always to have published work read by someone. Most writers forget that they write to be read unless they're filling up a diary or writing a few letters to friends and relatives.
Few writers want to deal with the bargaining that occurs once a manuscript is accepted. The legalities are best left to agents who can get the best commission rates or royalties for the author. Even so, that first book is unlikely to bring in a great deal of money for its author unless it reaches the New York Times bestseller lists.
Writing is not a profession most people would choose despite the glamor attached to it. There's little steady income and a great need for patience and perseverance before the writer becomes a household name. But for the wordsmith who is prepared to handle all the negatives, writing can become one of the most pleasant careers.
