Recently there has been an ad shown frequently at the start of YouTube videos, it is an advertisement for the musical Beautiful, the story of the singer /song Writer Carole King. A very moving moment is when she flings herself on a sofa and plaintively wails I wanna be a song writer Ma….
Many a writer has the same emotions, often greeted with the same disbelief by Ma, Pa, Grandma and quite a few others who will insist you must get a proper job!!! But, YOU want to be a writer ….
So, why not let 2016 be the year that you at least start on the journey? I have written before about how I find the best way to get started as a writer is to write from what you know, write from experience. Unless that is, you know that you are a gifted creative writer and plan to write novels. I am not an imaginative writer, I doubt I shall ever be writing a novel along the lines of Jackie Collins and many, many others, but when readers of my blog compliment me on my unique style of writing, I often reply that I put this down to the fact that I write not as a trained recruitment or careers consultant but as an older person trying to make a living with disabilities, I write from what I know and from my experiences.
A lot is heard now about niche blogs and which niche ‘s makes the most money for writers. Often the money can be made by either writing the articles on paying sites or advertising and sales from related affiliate links. The best and most profitable way to write is from what you know. I began writing about being an older person with disabilities looking for a job or a genuine income from home, as I was being forced to claim Job seekers allowance, which meant I had to apply for jobs. I used to work as a nursery nurse but found myself with arthritis, the effects of a fracture to my wrist and ankle, high blood pressure, the increasing effects of having been partially sighted since childhood, a heart condition and anxiety and depression since being a victim of domestic abuse. Dealing with job hunting and the department of work and pensions in the UK and the strict requirements of job hunting, having to go to the job centre to sign on and have my job search record checked no matter how unwell I was, or dreading having to try to get there in icy winter conditions when I am housebound, I learned a lot and decided that maybe I could help others in similar positions to mine. When eventually my doctor agreed to write medical certificates, having refused to do so for some time as they are discouraged from doing so by the government, I was able to make a claim for Employment and Support Allowance, the replacement for Incapacity Benefit. My doctor was certain I would be unsuccessful, even though the Job centre had been saying I was on the wrong benefit and needed to make a claim for as it is known ESA, after waiting fourteen months for a medical I was awarded the benefit. While writing the blog, I came to realise that actually, job hunting for older or disabled people is not the most profitable niche for affiliate income, because there are few products sold related to this, what advice there is in books for sale on Amazon, can be found for free on the web. However, the opportunities increase when making an income from home, starting a business and information relating to Baby Boomers is added…Baby Boomers are big industry because there are so many of them. Also, rather than hoping to earn money writing about being a job hunter, or being a writer, sell affiliate products that they need e.g. stationary items, home office equipment, journals, pens, laptops etc ….
However, do be willing to be adventurous and step outside your comfort zone. Maybe you do have a novel in you or discover you can write poetry, some of us are copywriters, some can blog about daily life, sport, religion, DIY, cookery, photography or some other arts or crafts, and some of us can do more than one but to stick to what we always feel comfortable with can stagnate us. I have admitted I am not much of a creative writer and I write more from factual experience, but I do keep journals and when I get the chance I do some journaling and write about other things besides job hunting. Do not be afraid to experiment and try other areas of writing that you are not so confident about, you may well be surprised at your talents and how they grow.
New year is for reflection and stock taking and making plans for the future, thinking about goals and hopes and things that have not happened so far but that you still wish for, and thinking how can you make them come true? What can a New year mean for a writer or someone who wants to be a writer? Well, maybe you will write that novel, maybe you will start or commit regularly to writing a blog that makes money, maybe you will write some articles for a paying site and get paid for doing so ...and maybe you will find the confidence to call yourself a writer and silence your critics.
First of all, every day or whenever you can, make a point of being disciplined and plan and make time to write. Many of us have commitments that can make it very difficult to find time to write, but it can be done. Try to set aside an hour on the days that you are able to write, and this does not have to be actually writing your book or articles, even the research and planning are a necessary part of what you will eventually put on paper or the computer.
Write something and make this the year that you can say you are a writer but remember it is not a get rich and famous quick occupation, many a famous author had a lot of rejection on the journey and so will you. However, calling yourself a writer, acknowledging that you are one is a big part of becoming known and respected as one. To many, and sadly often to those whose approval and encouragement you want most, it will seem to be no more than a hobby but writing regularly and steadily improving means that you are a writer ….and that dream can come true.
