Can I make a living as a writer?

“No,” opined my uncle to my teen self.

At the time this observation was made, it was an objective assessment.

In those days, the avenues open to writers were as:

• Authors of fictional or nonfictional works. 
• Writing staff at a legacy print media (newspapers, magazines etc.) as staff writers, editors, columnists etc. 

A few people found work in the movie-making business. Still fewer were associated with the publishing industry as review-writers, story analysts, etc.

Beyond these, there hardly was a market for writers. The now familiar stereotypes emerged from this milieu. That of an uber rich writer conversing with the who’s who of the nation (or even the world). Or, an idealistic artist struggling to meet ends. 

That was then.

Today, thanks to the digital revolution, a whole new range of writing jobs have emerged. So much so that, as Seth Godin remarked: “Content marketing is the only marketing left.”

The new-age marketing team needs copywriters, content writers, video scriptwriters, presentation specialists, technology writers among others. The slight decline in demand for technical communicators is compensated by a slew of new jobs in UX writing, content design, and other design-oriented content. 

The market requires a new class of writers for their current and future needs. 

Unfortunately, the training programs for these writing jobs are still stuck in the 90s. 

When the ability to produce literary works dictated your survival as a writer, it made sense to read the giants of literature. When academic rigor was a prerequisite for a writing job in the media industry, it’s natural that the education was tailored to nurture them too.

But, this kind of training is inadequate to be gainfully employed in the current market. 

To wannabe writers who seek my advice, my questions are:

1. What kind of writer do you want to be?
2. Are you relying on your writing skills for your livelihood?

It’s vital to sincerely answer #1 before one moves on. Though people put all writers under one roof, it takes a vastly different expertise to frame a policy paper than it takes to create a sales copy. 

Do you want to be a copywriter at an ad agency? Or generate content for an IT company? Or script videos for a digital marketing business?

If your answer is everything, then you’ll end up with nothing. 

If you answer to question #2 in an affirmative, I suggest you avoid expensive writing programs at universities. Their teachings have little relevance in the current business landscape. 

I’m all for literature. Despite my formal education in technical and business subjects, I have benefited from “standing on the shoulders of the [literary] giants”. 

However, if you plan to make a living out of your writing enterprise, classical literature can wait. 

Instead, take a plunge into the business world. Seek work as a writer at any for-profit company. Or begin as an intern if you must. Just 1-2 years’ experience at any business will help you learn the ropes of the trade like no educational program can. 

I would like to share what worked for me. Years ago, while I took a brief break from employment, I volunteered my writing services to an NGO. This NGO worked on a cause close to my heart and this was my modest way to contribute to the cause. Since they frequently needed funds to support their activities, they sought my help in writing WhatsApp messages that appeal to their patrons and well-wishers for donations. 

My target audience was a mixed one, both educated and those in vocational employment. The moment I pictured their collective persona, my strong vocabulary flew off the window. I realized that these people would be reading these appeals amidst their busy schedule. My clever wordsmithing might even fail to register in their minds. 

Significantly, I realized that this was not a venue to showcase my writing finesse. It was an opportunity to persuade people to contribute to the NGO’s work. I learned more in my brief tenure with them than I did at many writing workshops and courses.

Lastly, a word of caution for aspiring writers. As long as writing is your hobby, it will inspire passion. But the moment you turn a hobby into a profession, it ceases to evoke passion any more. Professional writing is nowhere as romantic as the culture and media paints it to be. It’s as much of a grind as any other job. 

There’s more. But I’ll park that for a future blog.

Meanwhile, happy writing!