Job Responsibilities
I write fiction and try to sell it to publishers. I also accept
job assignments, whether from editors or from those who desire
ghostwriting to be done for them.
|
Job Requirements
One is either a writer or one is not. Taking formal instruction
in the art of writing can often be deadly to one's originality,
and it is not recommended, unless one is so strong-willed that
no professor can succeed at bullying one to his view. A more
than competent facility in one's language (English in my case)
is absolutely critical. There is simply no subsitute for
writing, writing, writing, until one knows one's craft. Study
of large numbers of top writers' work is of great aid, but one
must never stoop to mere imitation.
|
Uppers
Complete independence and freedom of hours. Feelings of self-reliance.
|
Downers
Penury.
|
Lifestyle
If you're going to be a free-lance writer, DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY
JOB, until you are financially independent. Forget about those
few wealthy writers; if you expect to get rich as a free-lance
writer, you need a psychologist. If you need to write so badly
that you'll do it, even if you don't get paid for it, then I
welcome you to a career that's immensely rewarding, except for
the pay.
|
Compensation
Here's the rub. One gets paid only upon sale, and that may be
delayed by months. Sometimes one does a job, it gets accepted,
and the money is not forthcoming at all. A lawsuit to recover a
fee may cost more than the fee, so that is not a practical means
of enforcement. One needs to evaluate a contract and the
honesty and creditworthiness of one's customer. Big publishing
houses are fine, but much of the work is not for these.
|
Advice to Jobseekers
If you're going to be a free-lance writer, DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY
JOB, until you are financially independent. Forget about those
few wealthy writers; if you expect to get rich as a free-lance
writer, you need a psychologist. If you need to write so badly
that you'll do it, even if you don't get paid for it, then I
welcome you to a career that's immensely rewarding, except for
the pay.
|
|
