Making a living as a Freelance Writer

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by crich70

That's the advice that I've read in several books on writing. Set a project aside for several weeks (or longer) and then come back to it later with fresh eyes for it.

Yup, it's amazing how much faster the world moves today. In Ye Olden Days, when I was young (back when velociraptors chased us around), the advice was to put it away for 6 months and then come back to it (for something novel-sized). ;-)

I would note that it's either harder or easier for journalists to make a living nowadays; harder because so many newspapers have folded, but easier because it's patently obvious that standards have dropped to an all-time low. It seems that most of them read whatever PR sheets are put out by local government, and that's that. I realize that this is archaic and insane, but I recall in my journalism studies some ludicrous idea of reporters actually running around, researching material, developing sources, and the like. Absurd, I know.

Vis-a-vis creative writing, it's simply easier, period. I've been pretty consistently gobsmacked by the reality that there is an entire reading population out there that have dramatically lower reading standards than anyone could previously have thought. I personally know of books that are selling quite remarkably well, that wouldn't have made it past a lousy imprint's slush pile, a mere 10 years ago. And, before somebody says it, it's not merely erotica or romance or whatever; it's in every genre category.

I think that those in the business, for the last 5 decades or so (and prior) really misunderstood that there IS a reading public out there that wants simpler material. What many of us saw as the "dumbing down" mayn't be; it may be that that populace has always existed, and simply wasn't being served, as there was a reading "gap," sort of..., well, you had comic books, and then you had grown-up literature, and genre fiction. Nothing in-between for those unwilling to tackle more complex material. If you can say one thing about the publishing boom, it's that, without being snarky--a massive reading population that may not have been being served previously, are obviously being served NOW. They are buying and reading books.

Whatever else, that's likely not a bad thing, even if the books they are reading are books at which book-snobs would turn their noses up. I think that anything that gets people reading can't be "bad," really. (I reserve the right to contradict myself utterly on this topic if we're discussing anything with sparkly freaking vampires or 50 shades of something that isn't a color.)

Hitch

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Hitch

well, you had comic books, and then you had grown-up literature, and genre fiction. Nothing in-between for those unwilling to tackle more complex material.
Hitch

Yep, and there was a time when 'genre' fiction wasn't considered the most respectable either I'm sure. In at least one book I've read about writing the author talked about the SF ghetto among other things (if I remember correctly). And at one time what genre you were expected to write in seemed to depend upon your gender. After all women couldn't write SF nor could men write Romance, right? And I imagine many writers back then used pen names that hid their genders because of that fact. In fact when Mary Shelly wrote her novel Frankenstein she didn't use her own name at 1st. There are still a few taboo's in writing even today, but I think the written word is more available than ever before due to ebooks.

[mrmarlowe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

eg journalism, working in advertising, etc.

A JOB you mean? While these can be done as an indie freelancer, I believe in a competitive world you need to get a job to build your CV/portfolio, following which, clients would hire you independently.

[mrmarlowe]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Vis-a-vis creative writing, it's simply easier, period. I've been pretty consistently gobsmacked by the reality that there is an entire reading population out there that have dramatically lower reading standards than anyone could previously have thought. I personally know of books that are selling quite remarkably well, that wouldn't have made it past a lousy imprint's slush pile, a mere 10 years ago. And, before somebody says it, it's not merely erotica or romance or whatever; it's in every genre category.

It is not just books. Look at the bs movies made nowadays. Even most trash/grindhouse movies of the last three decades would be Oscar materials by comparison.

Or the music, for that matter. It seems the standards of art in general has fallen to an all-time low now.

[mrmarlowe]

Originally Posted by crich70

Yep, and there was a time when 'genre' fiction wasn't considered the most respectable either I'm sure. In at least one book I've read about writing the author talked about the SF ghetto among other things (if I remember correctly). And at one time what genre you were expected to write in seemed to depend upon your gender. After all women couldn't write SF nor could men write Romance, right? And I imagine many writers back then used pen names that hid their genders because of that fact. In fact when Mary Shelly wrote her novel Frankenstein she didn't use her own name at 1st. There are still a few taboo's in writing even today, but I think the written word is more available than ever before due to ebooks.

George Elliot too.

[Namekuseijin]

pretty easy:

1. write something
2. publish it somewhere
3. create lots of clones, make each have at least 1k fakebook friends and spread the word that author X is a must buy

good luck having a life

[mrmarlowe]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

pretty easy:

1. write something
2. publish it somewhere
3. create lots of clones, make each have at least 1k fakebook friends and spread the word that author X is a must buy

good luck having a life

I dunno how to make 1k FB friends fast without getting my account blocked. Otherwise I have done almost everything else you mentioned.

[jandrew]

It really isn't hard. You can be a freelance writer, live comfortably on $100,000 a year, and be a millionaire in just ten years:

1. Start with two million dollars.