Types of Writers: What Kind of Writer Can I Be?

Being a writer is a wonderful thing. Like most of you who create stories by banging on a computer keyboard, my life changed forever when I decided I wanted to dedicate myself to the world of books, first as a writer and then as a teacher.

But let’s not kid ourselves: being a novelist, one essay writer free, or whatever modality you choose, is also challenging and complicated. Depending on the type of writer you want to be, you may be forced to make tough decisions. In this article, I want to take you closer to the different paths you can take if you’re considering spending time creating stories.

The amateur writer

When we think of a writer, we almost always think of great bestsellers and famous authors. Those who collect long lines at book fairs fill bookstores with their presentations. The author for whom writing is his job. I warn you: very little of that (although I’ll talk about that later). Be that as it may, a writer should never lose sight of the fact that writing is first and foremost a necessity of life. Let’s always remember that we got into this industry because our hearts told us to, not because we wanted to make money.

All writers started out as amateurs; it is not a failure to remain so. Publishing work is a great satisfaction, but only a few feel the need. Some authors like to write for themselves or for their family and friends. Short stories, poems and even novels serve to fill our souls and travel to those places and times we love. To live the story of our characters. A sporadic publication, but without going further. It is undoubtedly the most sincere way with yourself and perhaps the healthiest mentally. It is certainly much less stressful, I assure you.

The professional writer

On the other hand, it is also very understandable that at some point we want to take the step to something more serious. But as I said before, you should be aware that it is very difficult to become a professional author i.e. one who publishes regularly. Many of us strive for that, and the number of readers is limited. The competition is therefore fierce.

Even if you gain a publisher’s trust and your publications are mainstream, you need more time to make a living from your work. You must become a bestseller; if publishing is difficult, imagine succeeding. You will have to continue working in your regular profession for a long time before you can fully professionalise. And when this is the case, you will certainly have to support yourself in jobs related to literature, but not your books: editorial reader, proofreader, conferences, etc…

You have to work very hard and prepare well before taking this step. It is no longer enough to write when you feel like it when you get inspired. You will have to create a stable habit and forget about procrastination. Because this time you don’t get paid a euro if you don’t do that work.

Self-published

But hey, you are stubborn like me and decided to go for it. The question is how to do it. Do I go for the familiar and look for a publisher? Or am I doing an “I do it myself, I eat it myself”? I am, of course, talking about self-publishing.

You already know that I work with publishers, and that’s the direction I decided to take at the time. But I’m not against self-publishing at all. However, it must be a choice of conviction and well-considered. Despite some editorial rejections, this path should not be taken because that would be a mistake. Publishers are not your enemies. If they haven’t accepted you, it’s usually because your work needs improving or they need more time to read everything they receive.

If you decide to self-publish, you need to do it right. You say you want to be a professional writer, so you have to prove it and act like it. Self-publishing requires you to do all the work that a publisher does or hires one (which doesn’t come cheap): proofreading, layout, cover, promotion… You’re going to have to do it all yourself, and you have to do it right, so you will have to learn how to do it. Either through specialized courses or through a lot of practice. Because whether a book is published by a publisher or by Amazon, the reader always deserves the highest quality. Never forget this.

The traditional writer

This is the path I have chosen: write my novels and send them to publishers. It takes a lot of pressure off you because you practically forget about editing. But beware, this also has a downside. Because from the moment you sign a contract, your work is in the hands of the publisher as far as commercial exploitation is concerned (don’t worry, you still own the copyrights). So if the publisher doesn’t do a good job or the book just doesn’t sell well, your work will be paralyzed for the duration of the contract unless you agree to terminate it.

You already know the advantages of traditional publishing: distribution in bookstores, the possibility to reach other markets, an editing job done by professionals… Of course there is a lot in your favor, but it will take patience, since there are many other writers. like you, and publishers have a limited number of novelties. In other words: patience, a lot of patience.

Conclusions

Is there a better way than another for a writer? A priori no. You can be happy by choosing to write for yourself or by embarking on a professional career, traditional or self-published. You just have to be aware of your choice and act accordingly.