Advice on starting a writing career?

beeper917

Hi all,

I've been working sales since I was 17 years old and I'm thinking it's time for a change. I've been writing ever since I was young...I've won writing contests in college...I have a BA in English Lit...yet I'm clueless how to get a job as a writer.

I suppose I'd be willing to do anything in the field of writing...proofreading, editing, novelist, columnist, journalist even video game writing. I do live in New York City, I realize most of the publishers are here...I just really am unsure as to how to transition careers (for instance, my resume background is all in sales...how would that even translate?)

Having landed corporate sales/marketing jobs out of college I realize I just really do not want to do that anymore. If anyone has any advice on how to break into writing I'd appreciate it!!!

-Chris

Thanatos

How's your technical background? Obviously, you found PA, but are you at all technically inclined? Technical writing is a good field to get into, from what I've heard. At least while you're applying for more writing-oriented jobs.

themightypuck

beeper917 wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been working sales since I was 17 years old and I'm thinking it's time for a change. I've been writing ever since I was young...I've won writing contests in college...I have a BA in English Lit...yet I'm clueless how to get a job as a writer.

I suppose I'd be willing to do anything in the field of writing...proofreading, editing, novelist, columnist, journalist even video game writing. I do live in New York City, I realize most of the publishers are here...I just really am unsure as to how to transition careers (for instance, my resume background is all in sales...how would that even translate?)

Having landed corporate sales/marketing jobs out of college I realize I just really do not want to do that anymore. If anyone has any advice on how to break into writing I'd appreciate it!!!

-Chris

Check out a lot of the big portal sites. They are addicted to blogs. Start one as a hobby and see if you can generate some interest and grow it. Worst case you write a lot and generate some stuff to show prospective employers.

Taximes

Well, if you want to publish a book, resources such as this or these can help you find publishers and/or literary agents to whom you can submit your work. It sounds like you're looking for something more stable and less starving artist, but you said you've been writing for awhile....So, if you have something already, why not send it in? Having something published would certainly look great on a resume. Heck, even if you don't have anything now, I think you might be able to send in a sample and find an agent willing to represent you, at least (for a fee, or a percentage of any future royalties).

I spent my first year of college in journalism hoping to one day be a columnist, but what I gathered in that time is that it's not something you can plop into...more like the privileged positions of the reporters who are discovered to have interesting opinions and a good voice in the writing (at least for newspapers). If you think you could start a blog and get yourself noticed then by all means go for it, but if you want to move up the ranks to columnist at a newspaper, you're probably going to have to start out doing obits and covering crappy stories until you can gradually move up to better ones. Plus, there's the fact that newspapers are dying and staff is being cut...so, perhaps your best bet is to start an independent blog.

Do you do much writing for your job now? I'd think that marketing could possibly involve a bit of writing, and if so, highlight that as strongly as possible on any resumes you might submit.

Look up some publishing companies around you and check out what positions they might have open. Random House has a job search page you can check out.

No matter what, though, just make sure you keep up the writing. Even if you don't think a small little unheard-of blog would ever be discovered, writing on different topics daily is a great way to keep in practice and even to play around with various styles. Maybe write a new short story some days and practice your social commentary on others.

Edit: Looking at the Random House page, I found this:

Here is a sampling of entry-level opportunities and the kinds of responsibilities associated with these positions:

* Editorial Assistant
Responsibilities might include reading and evaluating unsolicited manuscripts, logging, trafficking and maintaining files on in-coming manuscripts through all stages of publication; attending editorial meetings and performing editorially-related administrative tasks.
* Publicity Assistant
Responsibilities might include writing press releases, preparing press kits and mailings of publicity/press materials, coordinating author tours and book signings, and performing general administrative tasks.
* Marketing Assistant
Responsibilities might include preparing marketing summary reports for the sales representatives and/or department; coordinating and organizing sales conference materials; acting as a liaison to booksellers and sales representatives and performing general administrative tasks.
* Production Assistant
Responsibilities might include maintaining vendor and title files, trafficking and reviewing proofs, monitoring prepress, manufacturing and delivery schedules and performing administrative tasks for production department.
* Sales Assistant
Responsibilities might include processing and tracking orders, acting as a liaison between our external sales force and the internal department, coordinating sales kit and catalog mailings, assisting in the preparation of trade shows and performing general administrative duties.

I noticed marketing and sales...maybe you could find a job similar to your current one at a publisher, and then work your way to a better position once you're there? I'm not sure if that would be feasible or not, but it seems like it should be.

TokyoRaver

Heya.

A couple of my friends do video game writing for various publications here.

I don't want to discourage you too much, but the market is extraordinarily oversaturated. The guys I know don't even get paid; they get review titles, basically, and write just to keep writing. It's very hard to make it as a writer...all the English and Journalism majors I know save one (a grad from Columbia Journalism, and even he's poor, despite being one of the better-recognized young writers in New York...hint, his middle name is Rocket) ended up in publishing doing non-writing jobs unless they moved out of NYC...most game-related writing jobs are West Coast.

Oh, did I mention you have to have a million friends, be really cool, and live in Williamsburg in order for most publications to even look at you? Apparently that's a prerequisite.

NexusSix

New York has a mountain of opportunities in writing/publishing--you've already won a goodly portion of the battle with your geographic location alone. Taximes has plenty of good info for you in his post, so check into that stuff.

Another avenue you could check out would be the nonprofit world. My academic background is very similiar to yours, and I spent my first decade out of college doing horrid word processing grunt work at law firms--it was a high intensity pressure cooker and fucking soul crushing. So, I dusted off the resume, got in touch with some contacts in my neighborhood, and ended up landing a development/marketing position at a nonprofit mental health services agency. Now, I'm writing business plans, doing newsletters and annual reports, working on style guides, agency brand/marketing, etc.

If you need a break from corporate America but still want to get some writing/editing experience to beef up your resume, a nonprofit job is a great opportunity. Nonprofits are, for the most part, a 180 degree departure from corporate America. I'm not saying the nonprofit field isn't without its faults, but it would give you a different environment to work in and a new perspective. Start doing some research on the nonprofits in N.Y. I'm sure there are plenty of job listings where you'd be able to use your skills, and you'll also be learning new things, strengthening your resume, and making new contacts in a new job market. All of those things could lead to an even better writing career down the road.

Edit:

Here's a link with general info on the NY nonprofit sector:

http://www.nycnonprofits.org/

I only did a quick scan of the site, but it looks like there's plenty of info and links for you to check out, including some network stuff where I'm sure you'd be able to find job listings and career information.

supabeast

Head to the library and find the book Bloodchild by Octavia Butler. Read the chapter “Furor Scribendae”