being a writer pros and cons

14 Pros and Cons of Being an Author

Home / Pros and Cons / 14 Pros and Cons of Being an Author

Trending Careers

A college education is not required to become an author, but it may help you to develop the fundamental principles of writing which are crucial to bringing your piece together.

Whether that be a full-length genre novel, editorial for a magazine, a screenplay, or poetry.

Through writing, an individual can look through the window of another industry, time, place, experience, or world altogether.

But it is not always glamour and red carpet events, some writers struggle to make it in life.

Here are seven advantages and disadvantages of being a writer.

Table of Contents

1. Great earning potential

2. there is no real retirement age, 3. the ability to structure your day, 4. turn your passion into a career, 5. there is zero manual labor, 6. there is zero capital required to begin, 7. opportunities for self-employment, 1. writer’s block, 2. rejection, 3. some barely make a living, 4. living a hermit lifestyle, 5. no job security, 6. weight gain, 7. home financing may be a challenge, pros and cons of being an author – summary table, should you become a writer, pros of being a writer.

As a writer, you can make great money.

Not just as a novelist, but also working for a company, a writing mill, starting your own blog, or even working freelance for a magazine or newspaper.

There are many avenues to make great money in this field.

In addition, the more life experience you have, the easier it is to write and find your writing voice.

And, when you can achieve this, the words will simply appear on the paper, so to speak. 

It is that simple.

Granted, not everyone will have this ability or experience.

While most people can write or string a sentence together, some have the ability to become great writers.

When you are in demand, or even just really good at writing, you can set your own rate per word.

For example, some writers charge upward of $1 per word.

For a 1,500-word article, you could earn $1,500.

And, it may only take you a few hours of research and writing to complete the project. 

Not bad if you ask me.

In most fields, the normal retirement age is around 60 to 65, depending on where you reside.

This may be frustrating for many people as they feel that they still have so much to offer.

As a writer, you could continue to write well into the later years of your life, without any limitations.

Provided that you are good at what you do, of course.

Writing is one of those careers where age is an advantage.

Most writers, provided that they are in demand, are able to continue working well after retirement age. 

Freelance writers choose how to spend their day.

As a writer, you can decide during what hours of the day or night you prefer to work and how much work you will be getting done.

Some writers are most creative during the early hours of the morning, let’s say from 02:00 a.m. to 06:00 a.m., while others feel the creative juices flowing at midday.

You will have more time on your hands to tend to family events and gatherings.

If you have a passion for writing and expressing yourself through written form, then you are able to turn your passion/hobby into a full-blown career.

Some sites allow you to write and publish your own short stories.

The great news is that there is a huge demand for self-published e-books in this market.

Some self-published short story novelists have even reported earning six-figure, passive incomes from these published stories.

Several categories of jobs involve hard work and manual labor, which can be extremely taxing on the body, and in some cases, on the lower back.

For example, jobs in construction, jobs in the hospitality and culinary industries, and jobs as firefighters.

Most jobs, to a certain degree, involve some form of manual labor.

As a writer, the toughest part of your job is putting that first sentence on the paper, or in modern terms, on the screen.

There is no physical heavy lifting, but there is a lot of research that needs to be conducted.

In the literary world, the term ‘manual labor’ jokingly refers to doing research on a topic before writing it. 

You’ll be relieved to learn that there is practically no capital required to get started.

If you own a PC, and most people do or can gain access to one in a public space such as a library or Internet cafe, and you have a vivid imagination, then you are set to go.

You won’t have to pay to get your work published unless you are self-publishing hard copies to sell in a physical store such as a bookshop.

Most work can be written on a PC and directly published on the internet. 

You are not required to work for anyone.

You could be an author or writer and work for yourself and publish your own work.

If you are new to the industry, you may want to look up a free writing course on sites like Udemy.com  or Cou rsera.com to get you up to speed on grammar and punctuation rules as well as writing style. 

Cons of Being a Writer

Some of the most famous writers in the world still experience writer’s block from time to time.

The problem is that you never know how long it can last.

It may last a few hours or even a few months. 

Many writers can easily become despondent as a result.

There are several reasons that a writer may experience writer’s block.

The problem arises that some writers believe it is the end of their creativity and give up on this career altogether.

This is the cold, hard side of the literary world.

Being rejected.

It can often lead you to believe that your work is sub par or that you were never meant to write. 

The truth is that this has often got more to do with subjective options than it does with the quality of the work.

For example, The Lord Of The Flies was rejected a whopping 21 times before a publisher took a chance on the writer and today it is listed as one of the greatest books written.

Similarly, Stephen King’s book, Carrie, was rejected 30 times.

Not all aspiring writers are going to make boatloads of money.

Previously, it was true that most novice writers would not see much income for the first few years, some may never really make a livable income, but, with the introduction of platforms that allow self-publishing, many writers earn a decent income.

For most, though, this is not the case. 

Some articles indicate that 77% of self-published writers make $1,000 a year.

That is barely enough to make a decent living. 

Writers often work in solitude, which quickly leads to a hermit lifestyle.

Unless you are collaborating with other writers, working on projects, or working in teams, this can become a very lonely career on a day-to-day basis. 

Sadly, this is part and parcel of the job. Most people enjoy human interaction on a daily basis and won’t be able to participate in this type of career for long.

Extroverts, especially, will not be able to adapt.

There is a low barrier to entry and the learning curve is not as steep as in other careers.

Once a writer is able to master the fundamentals of writing principles, it is merely a matter of imagination. 

And, many aspiring writers are entering the industry daily.

This means that the supply pool is very large, and with that, the demand for writers may not be as high.

This is due to the fact that writers can easily be replaced as a result of the availability of writers. 

Many writers face the same problem.

This is a sedentary lifestyle coupled with a hermit lifestyle.

It is easy to succumb to unhealthy foods that are quick to order or delicious to consume.

Mindless snacking is another culprit that can help to add to the pounds.

If there is little to no self-control, you may end up with a few extra pounds at the end of the year.

Writers need to organize their day and their tasks, making sure to incorporate regular exercise and healthy eating habits into their daily routine. 

If you are a self-employed and struggling writer, you may find that banks are not as eager to loan you money.

Especially not the large amounts required to purchase a home. 

Most self-employed writers only make money when they are able to produce content that their readers enjoy and want to engage with.

This is another reason that banks are hesitant to lend money to individuals who do not have a steady income.

If you feel that you are naturally talented with words and you have a vivid imagination, you may find that writing is a good fit for you. 

If you are in a career or job already, it may be a good choice to freelance part-time, bring in a few clients, and then take the risk and make the swing to full-time writing.

Related Resources

• How to Become an Author
• How to Become a Writer
• 14 Pros and Cons of Being an Editor
• 11 Top Professional Writing Jobs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The pros and cons of being a writer

‘sometimes i think writing is like living with a terrible boyfriend who drains you financially and tortures you mentally’.

Rosemary Jenkinson: Waiting to hear back from an editor can be like waiting on the NHS, the only difference being the pain is spiritual

All of us writers question why we write. Which is fine – we spend so much time examining our characters’ motives, we might as well look at our own. This piece is about the pros and the cons (and that’s not short for prostitutes and con artists, though there are plenty of both in the literary world), so here goes:

You can experience more in life What people don't realise is that writing is not about inventing life; it's about reinventing what you have already lived. You get to explore things under the guise of research and the best bit of being a writer is that it's a passport to bad behaviour. You're supposed to shock people, épater les bourgeois , which is great fun. And if you're a quick writer, you don't have to labour at the laptop. Look at Jack Kerouac – he spent seven years on the road and three weeks on On the Road.

In spite of the lack of royal grants, it is a terrific feeling to be, as Jack London called it, "a brain merchant"

It's a perfect fit for your personality The best writers are monastic hedonists. A lot of writers go into schools and try to promote writing as a potential career choice but, if there is a true writer in that class, she'll be the one rolling her eyes and thinking if you were great as a writer you wouldn't be there as a teacher. Writing is the only path there is for non-conformists and, in my case, I'm so non-conforming I nearly didn't conform to it. I remember the time I was sacked from teaching English in Warsaw. I'd recently written my first article ever for an expat magazine and the school principal said, "We really think you should be a writer." I knew he was totally right, but did I go home and be a writer? No, I went straight round the corner and joined another school.

It costs you practically nothing (except blood, sweat and tears) All you need is a cheap computer and off you go. Of course, there are expenses like going to literary events and buying books but, to me, the real danger is feeling you should go on courses. As Edward Albee said, "Creativity is magic. Don't examine it too closely." The amount of garbage taught out there is mind-boggling. Those screenwriting classes that claim there are seven basic plots. If you believe that, you've lost the plot.

You can write till you're 90 (if the lack of success doesn't kill you first!) If you start writing late, you may think you've missed the boat, but you haven't and, if you get in that boat, rock the boat. Naturally, publishers and theatre companies are looking for the next wunderkind but never mind. You can be a wunderfrau. So they're looking for the latest enfant terrible – so what? Be a vieux terrible ! When I was young, I read Keats' On Fame which suggests that it's better not to chase after fame but to "bid adieu, Then, if she likes it, she will follow you." Stupidly, I believed it but now I know you have to grab fame by the hair and drag her with you.

Rejection Waiting to hear back from an editor can be almost as long as waiting on the NHS, the only difference being the pain is spiritual rather than physical. I prefer not to send out stories indiscriminately because the more knockbacks you get, the more they dent your confidence. After all, you have to reject half your own work, so why subject yourself to more rejection?

You have to be your own salesperson Like most writers, I am awful at selling. I once had a job in San Diego, cold-calling on behalf of a charity for Vietnam vets. I embarrassingly failed to get one donation and didn't even last the day. Image is everything, so you should probably nick a fortune and purchase your headshots off Annie Leibovitz. As an illustration of how annoyingly important a great image is, look at the recent resurrection of Maeve Brennan, who fits the notion of a writer with her funky specs and cigarette perched in her languid fingers. I notice the photos are all when she's young – not one of her as the old bag lady she turned into. Nowadays, writers are expected to blitz social media. A few months ago, I finally signed up for Twitter. I teetered on the cusp of sending my first tweet, but resisted and it felt like a revolutionary act.

Writer's block We'll call it that even though, for me, it's rewriter's block, as I love the writing itself but will start something new, do anything, rather than go back for a rewrite. All writers at some time or other get stuck in that vicious mental circle – if you don't write, you feel ill; if you feel ill, you can't write. Sometimes I think writing is like living with a terrible boyfriend who drains you financially and tortures you mentally.

You have to make sacrifices moneywise Long gone are the days when F Scott Fitzgerald could make four grand on a short story. Of course, he spunked it all on booze and ended his career early so perhaps it's better not to be similarly rewarded. And Chaucer went one up on Fitzgerald by receiving a royal grant of a gallon of wine every day for the rest of his life – no wonder he never finished The Canterbury Tales! Still, in spite of the lack of royal grants, it is a terrific feeling to be, as Jack London called it, "a brain merchant". And it beats any job I ever had. Especially the teaching. Rosemary Jenkinson is artist-in-residence at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Her latest play, Lives in Translation, will be produced by Kabosh at the Belfast Festival. A short story appeared in The Glass Shore and an essay will be published later this year in Female Lines by New Island

IN THIS SECTION

This is how you remember it: portrait of a life in the digital age, final verdict: a holocaust trial in the twenty-first century review: deft analysis that takes in author’s family history, tender, hopeful, empowering: ya titles to devour this may, ‘multicultural is a handy word but i wrote about one culture, dublin culture’, private revolutions: brilliant, often tragic tales of life for women in modern china, motion on baptism of children of unmarried mothers defeated as burke family interrupt church of ireland synod, ireland’s ‘sick’ car insurance system: a scrape involving two drivers who know each other turns ‘nasty’, quiet quitting: why should an employee doing the job they are paid to do and then going home be a problem, ‘i lost €1,000 in cash on the way to the bank to lodge it. someone in dún laoghaire had a big win that day’, retail and hospitality businesses in line for cash injection worth thousands, latest stories, trump’s former fixer michael cohen expected to testify in hush-money trial.

Security guard jailed for sexually assaulting teenager caught shoplifting from Penneys

Israeli bombardments of Rafah are intensifying while troops re-enter northern Gaza

Yahya Sinwar: The October 7th architect who played a key role in ceasefire negotiations

Teenage boy dies in Grand Canal in Co Kildare

‘Did you see anyone you knew?’: An Irish emigrant peers into the New York-Dublin portal

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Don’t mess with the Ulster final

Brucewatch: Bruce Springsteen indulges his love for Dublin fish and chips

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Information
• Cookie Settings
• Community Standards

34 Creative Pros & Cons Of Being An Author

“If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research.”

Wilson Mizner, Dramatist

Pros and Cons of Working as a Writer

You think about becoming an author but want to learn more about this profession before actually going this career path? Good news!

I am a writer myself and can therefore show you all the pros and cons of being an author in great detail from my own personal experience.

Table of Contents

Writer Job Profile

Advantages of being an author, you can work self-employed, authors can structure their day as they want, writers don’t have that much stress, writers have a good work-life balance, some writers make really good money, you don’t need fancy education for becoming an author, you can start out your writer career as a side hustle, authors can share their work via social media, writers can work indoors, you can avoid physical work, you can build a personal brand, authors can work from home, you can use self-publishing and keep a bigger share of your revenue, you can avoid working in classical office jobs, authors can write about the things they love, you can make the world a little bit better, you may become famous, being an author is more than a job, you can improve your writing skills with many free courses, free tools can help you increase your efficiency, you can get into blogging.

One advantage of being an author is that you can work self-employed and don’t have to work for someone else while police officers and many other people don’t have this luxury.

This means that you do whatever you want during your workday and don’t have a boss who will be looking over your shoulder all day long.

Consequently, you can spend your workday like a free human being instead of being trapped in a corporate job where you always have to do what other people want and your own preferences just don’t count that much.

Since you will have no boss, you will also be free to structure your workday like you want it to be.

For instance, you may not want to work in the morning since you got home late last night.

In such a case, there will be no problem since you will not have to show up at work in the morning but you can rather sleep in the morning and work a little bit longer in the evening.

Barely anyone else will have this level of flexibility regarding when and how to work and this can make your life as an author just so much better since it gives you a real feeling of freedom and independence.

In fact, the great level of flexibility is one of the most important things I get from my work as an author and it just makes my life much more enjoyable.

Another upside to working as an author is that you will also not have that much stress.

Sure, there may be periods where you have to finish books or have to do many things at the same time to reach your financial goals.

Yet, compared to other jobs where time pressure and high stress levels are quite common, you will have a rather relaxed life as an author and this can greatly increase your quality of life since you will have more energy throughout the day and will also have lots of power left to meet up with friends in the evening while many other people are just too tired to do so.

Not only will you have a rather relaxed life as an author, but you will also benefit from a good work-life balance.

Since you can decide when and how much you want to work, you don’t have to work many extra hours.

Instead, you can decide in a completely free manner how much you want to earn from your job and adjust your working hours according to that.

If you are really good at what you are doing and also have a little bit of luck, you may be able to make really good money from your writing career.

Sure, only a small minority of authors make good money.

Yet, if you can figure out what people like in our current state of the world and meet their preferences, you may be able to write one bestseller which may completely change the course of your life in a positive financial manner.

Another benefit of becoming a writer is that you will also not need a college degree or other fancy education.

In fact, barriers to entry are quite low.

You don’t even need a high school diploma as long as you can write in a decent manner and are familiar with grammatical things.

Consequently, almost everyone can become a writer and talent and perseverance will be much more important to succeed in this job compared to any formal education you could get.

If you are not sure whether you want to become a writer or not, you could also start your author career as a side hustle.

You can just write before and after work for a few hours and see how your career develops.

If you are really good at what you are doing and people buy your book quite often, you may be able to quit your day job and make a full-time income from your writing.

However, before this is the case, you can still keep your day job to cover your bills.

By doing so, you can lower the financial pressure and can start your writing career in a more convenient manner, even though you might have to work long hours every day since you will have two jobs.

It has also never been easier to share your work as an author.

In fact, you can share your work on social media or through many other channels.

You may also want to give away some copies for free so that people get to know your work.

In turn, you may sell much more paid copies afterward and your level of popularity may increase as well.

You will also enjoy the privilege of working indoors as a writer.

While many other people have to work outdoors during heavy snow or rain, you will be the one who can sit inside your four walls while writing your books and you will be protected against the rough elements outdoors while you can even enjoy a nice coffee and tea at the same time.

Another advantage of working as a writer is that you also don’t have to work in a physical manner.

While writing can be mentally and emotionally demanding, you still don’t have to stress your body at all.

Many people have to work in a physical manner and complain about health issues that come along with it sooner or later.

You as an author will not have to worry about those physical health problems that much since you will just sit in your chair for many hours while other people have to lift heavy stuff on a regular basis.

If you know how digital marketing works or if you are willing to learn those digital things, you can also build your personal brand on social media to sell your books and to increase your level of fame in general.

For instance, you could start a YouTube channel where you present your opinion about latest topics and gather many followers.

In turn, you can monetize your audience later on since your fans will likely buy your books and support your work.

You also don’t have to commute to work as an author.

Instead, you can work from home or from every other place you want.

You could even travel the world while working at the same time and this gives you a great level of flexibility regarding where you want to work from.

Hence, while other people have to commute to work every day and spend plenty of time stuck in traffic jams, you can just sit on your couch and do your work.

You also don’t have to worry about wearing the right clothes.

You could even work in your pajamas since nobody would notice it anyway.

Thanks to our modern technology, you will also be able to use self-publishing and keep a bigger share of your revenue.

While you had to give away 80% or more of your revenue in the past to other parties, it is now possible to keep a major fraction of your revenue as an author.

You can also publish your work by using e-books.

The advantage of e-books is that you will not have any production costs since you will just produce your work in a completely digital manner instead of having to pay for printing.

Moreover, it has also become quite easy to self-publish books and almost everyone who is a little bit familiar with computers could do it.

Hence, barriers to entry are quite low and you can also keep much more of your revenue compared to just a few decades ago.

Another upside to a career as an author is that you can also avoid classical office work.

While many people have to work in an office and do things they don’t like at all, you can really enjoy your work, especially if you love writing and expressing your own ideas.

Thus, while you will be free to do your work whenever you want it to do and can also decide what you want to do each day as a writer, many other people will not have this luxury since their boss will dictate to them what they have to do.

You can also write about the things you are really interested in as an author.

For instance, you may love riding horses. In such a case, you could write a book that shows people how to ride and care for a horse.

As you can see, you can spend your time as a writer with the things you are really passionate about and don’t just have to work for the money as most other people do.

Once you have reached a certain level of popularity as an author, you can also use your fame to make the world a little bit better.

For instance, you can remind your followers how important it is to treat people with respect and to tolerate other ways of life.

You could also support charity foundations by promoting their projects on your social media channels.

As you can see, you can also make a real difference for many people out there who would be helpless without your support.

While the chances are rather low, you may also become famous as an author.

If you are willing to work hard and are also willing to invest countless hours, you may be able to build a huge audience and many people may recognize you when you walk down the streets.

Therefore, an author career can also be great for you in case you want to be in the spotlight and want to become famous in the long run.

For many people, writing is more than just a job.

It is a real passion and many people really enjoy sharing their work with others.

In fact, I personally really enjoy producing content that other people benefit from since it gives me motivation to carry on and to work hard on my projects.

Even if you don’t know how to start your writing career yet, you will still have the opportunity to join free courses that show you exactly how to start your author career.

You can also watch some free YouTube videos to learn how to start out as an author so that you get a head start over the competition.

You can also use free tools to increase your level of efficiency as an author.

There are many free grammar checking tools out there and those tools can save you lots of time.

In turn, you will have more time that you can put in your actual writing and will therefore have a higher output which in turn translates into a higher chance to succeed as an author.

Many writers also not only write books, but they also start their own blogs where they promote their books and write about other topics they are passionate about.

In fact, if you are really serious about becoming a professional writer, you should definitely consider starting your own blog as well as a YouTube channel so that you can promote your books in the best possible manner.

Now that you know all the advantages of working as a writer, it is time to also talk about the negative things that come along with it.

Disadvantages of Being a Writer

Most writers barely make a living, some authors need a second job to pay their bills, only a small minority of writers will be able to afford any luxury, you will have no job security at all, you will not learn many hard skills as a writer, authors suffer from creative blockades sooner or later, overweight may become a problem, hard to finance a home as a writer, rather low social standing of authors, difficulties finding a partner, old-age poverty may become a serious problem for many writers, lack of job security may lead to mental problems, hard to switch fields.

One problem with being a writer is that most authors barely make a living from what they are doing while computer programmers and many other people have a much easier time in this regard.

In fact, most writers only make a few bucks since not enough people buy their books and since they also don’t know how to promote their books in an optimal manner.

Due to the low income that many authors have, they also often struggle to pay their bills from their author job and need to work in a second job.

This can be really stressful and annoying since you will barely have any leisure left in such a case.

While it is true that some authors have made millions of dollars with just one book, this is an exemption from the norm and you should never expect such a huge success.

There are so many books out there and only very few of them are sold well.

Consequently, it will likely not be a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket and you should rather start your author career as a side hustle while still keeping your job to lower the financial pressure.

Since most authors work self-employed, they will also have no job security at all.

They will also not get a constant paycheck.

In fact, authors only make money if they produce content their audience likes and if this is not the case, authors will not get paid enough and will often have to go into debt to pay their rent and to cover other basic expenses.

Another disadvantage of working as a writer is that you will also not learn that many hard skills.

While other people gain lots of experience in their respective fields, you will only become an expert in writing and you will lack experience in those other fields.

Sure, you could also learn about blogging and digital marketing in general.

Yet, most authors are not willing to put in the work in this regard and this can lead to serious trouble since job prospects in other fields will be rather poor for authors.

Writing is also not as easy as you might think. Sure, there are periods in which writing will feel pretty easy to you.

However, there will also be times when you will suffer from creative blockades and will not get any work done at all.

This can become a serious problem since you will not make any money during those times and if you haven’t saved enough money from good times, you will not be able to pay your bills during those dry spells.

Another downside to working as an author is that you will sit in a chair in front of a computer screen all day long.

This will likely cause problems for your health since you will not exercise enough and may gain weight pretty soon.

In turn, overweight and obesity can lead to serious health problems and you should therefore make sure that you work out on a regular basis to avoid those issues as an author.

You may also experience serious difficulties when it comes to financing a home as a writer.

Since you will not have a steady income, banks may not be willing to lend you money and you will have to rent a home instead of buying your own dream house.

You should also not expect any admiration from people regarding your job.

In fact, many people still don’t consider writing as a valuable thing for society and some people will also belittle you or try to bring you down in this regard.

Since you will likely not make that much money as an author and you will also not have a high social standing, chances are that you will also have serious problems finding a partner since money and status are still quite important in this regard, even though people may tell you the opposite.

Due to your low and unsteady income as a writer, you may also suffer from serious old-age poverty since you will simply not be able to save enough money during your career.

In turn, you may not be able to pay your bills once you retire and may even end up in the streets in the worst case.

Due to the constant insecurity that you will have to face as an author, you may also develop serious mental problems like depression and anxiety and if you are a person who loves security and having a safe job, you should definitely go for an alternative career instead.

Since you will not learn that many skills as an author apart from writing, it will also be hard for you to switch fields in case you no longer want to work as an author anymore.

Hence, make sure that writing is really a passion of yours before going for an author career since you may have to do it for your whole life.

Top 10 Being an Author Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should you become an author.

As you can see from the previous discussion, there are many advantages and disadvantages of being a writer.

In the end, you have to decide for yourself whether you still want to become an author or if you want to go for a different job instead.

If you want to learn even more about an author career, make sure to also have a look at the salary, job prospects, working hours and job satisfaction of authors .

Also make sure to check out the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of working as an influencer

Advantages and disadvantages of working as a painter

Advantages and disadvantages of working as an artist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Author

https://medium.com/swlh/could-writers-receive-a-regular-salary-15aa998c68d5

https://www.recruiter.com/salaries/writers-and-authors-salary/

About the author

My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy.

This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. I did the same when I started working in consulting after finishing my Master’s degree in Economics. However, I’ve quit pretty soon after that since I haven’t found true meaning in my job.

Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go this exciting path towards happiness instead of money.

I conducted various interviews with employees to give you a good impression of what working in different fields will look like and that you can make the best possible decision regarding your future career choice.

Wanna support my blog? Share it!

Terms & Privacy Policy

Pin It on Pinterest

• How To Become

Exploring The Writer Pros and Cons: An Insider’s Perspective

Being a writer comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and in this article, I will provide an insider’s perspective on the pros and cons of this profession. Whether you are considering a writing career, freelancing as a writer, or simply interested in the writing profession, understanding the benefits and drawbacks can help you make informed decisions and better navigate the writer’s world.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways:

• Being a writer offers greater creative freedom and expression, allowing you to share your unique perspectives and make a meaningful impact through your work.
• Flexibility and independence are key advantages of a writing career, with the ability to work from anywhere and set your own schedule.
• Writing stimulates intellectual growth and personal development, constantly challenging and expanding your mind.
• However, being a writer also comes with challenges such as competition and financial uncertainty, requiring consistent self-promotion and resilience.
• It is important to weigh the pros and cons of being a writer and make informed decisions about pursuing this career path.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of being a writer .

The Advantages of Being a Writer

As a writer, there are numerous advantages and benefits that make this career path appealing and fulfilling. Let’s explore some of the key advantages:

• Creative Freedom and Expression: Writing provides a platform for creative freedom and self-expression. Writers have the opportunity to explore their passions, share their unique perspectives, and make a meaningful impact through their work. Whether it’s creating captivating stories, thought-provoking articles, or engaging marketing copy, writers have the freedom to express themselves and connect with audiences.
• Flexibility and Independence: One of the major advantages of being a writer is the flexibility and independence it offers. Writers can work from anywhere, whether it’s a cozy coffee shop, a beautiful beach, or the comfort of their own home. They have the freedom to set their own schedule, allowing for a better work-life balance. Additionally, writers can choose the projects they want to work on, allowing them to pursue their interests and passions.
• Intellectual Stimulation and Personal Growth: Writing constantly challenges and stimulates the mind, fostering intellectual growth and personal development. Writers are constantly researching and learning about new topics, honing their writing skills, and expanding their knowledge. This continual learning process not only enhances their writing abilities but also contributes to their overall personal growth.

In conclusion, being a writer offers numerous advantages and benefits, including creative freedom, flexibility, and personal growth. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there are also challenges and disadvantages, which we will explore in the next section. As a writer, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons and make informed decisions about pursuing a writing career.

Greater Creative Freedom and Expression

One of the major advantages of being a writer is the freedom to express oneself creatively and explore diverse topics and themes. As a writer, I have the opportunity to delve into my passions and share my unique perspectives with the world. Whether I’m writing about social issues, personal experiences, or fictional worlds, I have the creative freedom to shape my ideas into meaningful stories and compelling narratives.

Being a writer allows me to break free from the constraints of traditional work environments and explore my own personal interests. I can choose projects that align with my values and beliefs, giving me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This freedom to choose what I write about and how I present it is truly empowering and allows me to make a meaningful impact through my work.

Embracing Diverse Perspectives

Writing also allows me to explore and understand diverse perspectives and cultures. Through my writing, I can step into the shoes of different characters, immerse myself in different settings, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around me. This not only enriches my writing but also broadens my horizons and helps me develop empathy and understanding for others.

Moreover, being a writer gives me the opportunity to challenge societal norms and question the status quo. I can raise awareness about important issues, challenge stereotypes, and give a voice to underrepresented communities. This ability to bring about change through writing is both impactful and fulfilling.

Overall, the creative freedom and expression that comes with being a writer are unmatched. It allows me to share my thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a way that connects with others. Through writing, I can leave a lasting impact and contribute to the broader conversation. While there may be challenges and moments of self-doubt along the way, the rewards of being able to express oneself authentically and make a difference are worth it.

Flexibility and Independence

Another appealing aspect of being a writer is the flexibility and independence it offers, allowing individuals to work on their own terms. As a writer, I have the freedom to choose when and where I work, which allows me to create a schedule that suits my personal preferences and lifestyle. Whether it’s writing at a local café, in the comfort of my own home, or while traveling to different destinations, I have the flexibility to set up my workspace wherever I feel most inspired.

This level of independence also allows me to pursue personal passions and interests. Being able to choose the topics I write about gives me the opportunity to explore different subjects and expand my knowledge in various areas. I can take on projects that align with my interests, enabling me to continuously learn and grow as a writer.

Furthermore, the freedom to work independently gives me a sense of control over my own career. I am not bound by the limitations of a typical 9-to-5 job, and I have the autonomy to make decisions regarding the type of work I take on, the clients I collaborate with, and the direction I want to take my writing career. This level of control allows me to shape my own professional path and pursue opportunities that align with my goals and values.

Overall, the flexibility and independence that comes with being a writer provide a liberating and empowering experience. I am able to structure my work around my life, rather than the other way around, and have the freedom to pursue my passion for writing on my own terms.

Intellectual Stimulation and Personal Growth

Engaging in the writing profession provides writers with continuous intellectual stimulation and opportunities for personal growth. The act of writing itself requires critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which can sharpen the mind and expand one’s knowledge base. Whether it’s researching and exploring new topics or honing their craft through practice, writers are constantly challenged to push the boundaries of their knowledge and understanding.

As a writer delves into various subjects and genres, they are exposed to different perspectives and ideas, broadening their horizons and fostering a sense of curiosity. This exposure to diverse viewpoints not only stimulates intellectual growth but also cultivates empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Moreover, the writing profession encourages continuous learning and self-improvement. Writers are constantly seeking feedback and critique to enhance their skills, and they actively seek out opportunities for professional development. Whether it’s attending workshops, taking courses, or connecting with fellow writers, the writing community offers a wealth of resources for personal growth.

Opportunities for Growth and Learning

In addition to the intellectual stimulation, the writing profession provides writers with numerous opportunities for personal growth. By exploring different genres and writing styles, writers can discover new aspects of their own creativity and develop their unique voice. The process of writing also allows for self-reflection and introspection, leading to personal growth and self-discovery.

Furthermore, the writing profession often involves collaboration with editors, publishers, and fellow writers, which fosters teamwork and interpersonal skills. Through these interactions, writers learn to adapt to different working styles and receive valuable feedback, enabling them to refine their craft and grow as professionals.

“Writing is the painting of the voice.” – Voltaire

Overall, the writing profession offers writers a dynamic and fulfilling journey of intellectual stimulation and personal growth. By embracing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that come with being a writer, individuals can continuously expand their knowledge, develop their skills, and shape their own unique voice in the literary world.

While being a writer has its advantages, it’s important to acknowledge and understand the disadvantages and challenges that can arise in this field. One of the main drawbacks is the competition and financial uncertainty that writers often face. The market for writers is highly saturated, making it difficult to stand out and secure consistent work. Additionally, the pay rates for writers can be quite low, especially for freelance writers who may have to negotiate their rates or rely on low-paying gigs to establish their portfolio.

Another disadvantage of being a writer is the need for consistent self-promotion. Writers often have to market themselves and their work in order to attract clients or secure publishing opportunities. This can require a substantial amount of time and effort, taking away from actual writing work. It also means that writers have to constantly be on top of industry trends and developments in order to stay relevant.

Furthermore, the life of a writer can be isolating and solitary. Many writers work independently, often from home, which can lead to a lack of social interaction and support. The solitary nature of the job can also be mentally and emotionally challenging, as writers may deal with self-doubt, writer’s block, and the pressure to consistently produce high-quality work.

In summary, while being a writer offers the advantages of creative freedom, flexibility, and intellectual stimulation, there are also significant disadvantages. The competition and financial uncertainty, the need for self-promotion, and the isolating nature of the job are all challenges that writers must navigate. It’s important for aspiring writers to carefully consider these pros and cons before pursuing a career in writing, and to be prepared for the potential drawbacks that come with it.

Competition and Financial Uncertainty

One of the main challenges faced by writers is the intense competition in the industry and the financial uncertainty that comes with it. The writing profession attracts countless individuals who aspire to share their stories and ideas with the world, resulting in a saturated market where standing out can be a daunting task. As a result, writers often find themselves competing for opportunities, contracts, and clients.

This fierce competition not only makes it difficult to secure consistent work but also puts downward pressure on compensation rates. Many freelance writers, in particular, struggle to earn a stable income due to low pay rates and an oversupply of talent. The financial uncertainty can be overwhelming, as writers may experience fluctuating income, irregular payment schedules, or even periods of no work at all.

However, despite these challenges, writers who persevere often find ways to navigate the competitive landscape and establish a sustainable career. This requires not only honing their writing skills but also mastering the art of self-promotion. Building a strong personal brand, networking with industry professionals, and consistently delivering high-quality work can help writers differentiate themselves from the competition and attract better opportunities.

In conclusion, the writing profession offers both advantages and disadvantages. While writers enjoy the benefits of creative freedom, flexibility, and intellectual stimulation, they must also contend with intense competition and financial uncertainty. It’s crucial for aspiring writers to weigh these pros and cons when considering a career in writing. By staying persistent, adapting to the evolving industry, and continuously improving their skills, writers can overcome the challenges and succeed in their chosen profession.

In conclusion, being a writer offers a range of advantages and disadvantages, and it’s crucial to carefully consider these aspects to determine if this profession aligns with your goals and aspirations.

On the positive side, being a writer provides greater creative freedom and expression. Writers have the opportunity to explore their passions, share unique perspectives, and make a meaningful impact through their work. They also enjoy flexibility and independence, with the ability to work from anywhere, set their own schedule, and pursue personal interests. Additionally, being a writer offers intellectual stimulation and personal growth, as writing constantly challenges and expands one’s mind, fostering continual learning and self-improvement.

However, there are also disadvantages to consider. Writers face competition and financial uncertainty, with a saturated market and low pay rates. They need to consistently self-promote to stand out and secure steady income. It’s important to be aware of these challenges and be prepared to navigate them.

In summary, becoming a writer is a decision that should not be taken lightly. It offers advantages such as creative freedom, flexibility, and intellectual stimulation, but also comes with challenges like competition and financial uncertainty. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, individuals can make informed decisions about whether a writing career is the right fit for them.

What are the advantages of being a writer?

Some advantages of being a writer include having greater creative freedom and expression, flexibility and independence in your work, and the opportunity for intellectual stimulation and personal growth.

What are the disadvantages of being a writer?

Some disadvantages of being a writer include facing competition and financial uncertainty, dealing with the challenges of a saturated market and low pay rates, and needing to consistently self-promote.

How does being a writer provide greater creative freedom and expression?

Being a writer allows you to explore your passions, share your unique perspectives, and make a meaningful impact through your work. You have the freedom to express yourself creatively and delve into various genres and styles.

What does flexibility and independence entail for writers?

Writers enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere, set their own schedules, and pursue personal passions and interests. They have the independence to choose the projects they take on and how they manage their work.

How does being a writer offer intellectual stimulation and personal growth?

Writing constantly challenges and expands your mind, fostering continual learning and self-improvement. It allows for exploration of different subjects, research, and the opportunity to share knowledge and insights with others.

What challenges do writers face in terms of competition and financial uncertainty?

Writers often encounter fierce competition in the saturated market, making it challenging to stand out and secure consistent work. Additionally, low pay rates and the need for constant self-promotion can create financial uncertainty.

How should one weigh the pros and cons of being a writer?

It is important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of being a writer before pursuing a writing career. By weighing these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and aspirations.

Recent Posts

Recent comments.

At CareereGuide.com, we're on a mission to demystify the world of careers. We believe that finding the right profession should be an exciting journey, not a daunting task. Our team of career enthusiasts is dedicated to providing you with honest, engaging, and comprehensive guidance. We combine informative content with a touch of humor to make career exploration not only informative but also enjoyable. Join us on this adventure as we help you discover, plan, and thrive in your dream career. Your future starts here at CareereGuide.com!

Footer Menu

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Latest Posts

Are you ready to unlock your potential…

Unveiling the Average Writer Salary in the…

Contact Info

[email protected]

345-677-554

#prosvscons

The Pros and Cons of Being a Writer

Exploring the ups and downs of pursuing a writing career.

Being a writer is a dream for many, filled with the allure of creative freedom and the potential for success. However, like any profession, it has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will delve into the various pros and cons of being a writer, shedding light on the realities of pursuing a writing career.

From flexible working hours to the challenges of uncertainty, being a writer encompasses a wide array of experiences. Whether you're a budding author or a seasoned freelancer, understanding the highs and lows of this profession is crucial for making informed career decisions.

Dreaming of a career as a writer? Explore the numerous advantages that come with pursuing this creative path.

Missing a pro?

Contemplating a career in writing? Gain insights into the potential challenges and drawbacks that writers commonly encounter.

Missing a con?

In conclusion, embarking on a writing career presents aspiring authors with a multitude of opportunities and challenges. By weighing the pros and cons, individuals can make informed decisions about pursuing writing as a profession, understanding the realities that come with this creative path.

#PROSVSCONS

What does a writer do?

Would you make a good writer? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

What is a Writer?

A writer expresses thoughts, ideas, or stories through written language. Writers may work in various genres and mediums, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism, screenwriting, and technical writing. They use their creativity, imagination, and language skills to craft engaging and meaningful pieces of writing that resonate with readers and convey a message or evoke emotions.

Writers may work independently as freelancers, contributing to publications, websites, or blogs, or they may be employed by organizations such as media outlets, publishing houses, advertising agencies, or corporations. Regardless of their specific role or area of expertise, writers share a passion for language and storytelling and are dedicated to honing their craft through continuous learning and practice.

What does a Writer do?

Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of a writer vary depending on their specific role, industry, and area of expertise, but some common tasks include:

• Researching and Planning: Writers often begin projects by conducting research on their topic, gathering information from various sources such as books, articles, interviews, and online resources. They may also outline or plan their writing, organizing their ideas and structuring their content before they begin drafting.
• Writing and Editing: The primary responsibility of a writer is to create written content that is engaging, informative, and well-crafted. This may involve drafting articles, essays, stories, scripts, or other written materials according to the requirements of their project or assignment. Writers also review and revise their work, editing for clarity, accuracy, grammar, punctuation, and style.
• Meeting Deadlines: Writers often work on tight deadlines, especially in fields such as journalism, content creation, or advertising. It's essential for writers to manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and deliver their work on schedule to meet the needs of their clients, editors, or employers.
• Collaborating with Others: Depending on their role, writers may collaborate with editors, clients, subject matter experts, or other stakeholders throughout the writing process. They may need to incorporate feedback, address revisions, or work closely with others to ensure that their writing meets the expectations and requirements of the project.
• Staying Informed and Adapting: Writers must stay informed about current events, industry trends, and developments in their field to produce relevant and timely content. They may need to adapt their writing style, tone, or approach based on audience feedback, editorial guidelines, or changes in the industry landscape.

Types of Writers There are various types of writers, each with their own unique skills and specialties. Here are some of the most common types of writers and what they do:

• Academic Writers : Academic writers may write research papers, essays, and other materials for academic publications. They may also work as ghostwriters for academics who need assistance with their writing.
• Bloggers : Bloggers create and publish content on a website known as a blog. They typically write about a particular topic or niche and aim to engage with their audience through their writing. Bloggers may also use social media and other platforms to promote their content and build their audience.
• Content Writers : Content writers create online content, such as blog posts, articles, and social media posts. They use their writing skills to create engaging and informative content that attracts readers and drives traffic to websites. Content writers must be able to write in a style that is optimized for search engines and social media platforms.
• Copywriters : Copywriters write advertising copy, slogans, and other marketing materials. They use their writing skills to create persuasive messages that motivate people to buy products or services. Copywriters must understand the target audience and be able to write in a style that resonates with them.
• Fiction Writers : Fiction writers create works of imaginative prose, such as novels, short stories, and novellas. They may specialize in specific genres, such as science fiction, romance, or mystery, or they may write across a range of genres. Fiction writers use their creative skills to develop characters, settings, and plots that engage readers and keep them hooked until the end.
• Food Critics : Food critics write reviews and critiques about restaurants, food, and dining experiences. Their reviews can have a significant impact on the success or failure of a restaurant. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets.
• Ghostwriters : Ghostwriters write books, articles, and other content on behalf of someone else, who is usually credited as the author. Ghostwriters must be able to write in the voice of the credited author and capture their ideas and perspectives accurately.
• Grant Writers : Grant writers prepare grant proposals for non-profit organizations and other entities seeking funding. They must be skilled in writing persuasively and have knowledge of grant writing techniques.
• Journalists : Journalists write news articles, feature stories, and investigative reports for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other media outlets. Journalistic writing is typically focused on presenting facts and information in a clear and concise manner, often with an emphasis on objectivity and accuracy.
• Lyricists : Lyricists write the words, or lyrics, to a song. Their primary role is to create poetic and evocative language that complements the melody and helps convey the song's intended meaning or emotion.
• Music Critics : Music critics use their writing skills to provide insightful and informed critiques that help listeners understand various musical works in greater depth. They can work for newspapers, magazines, online publications, and radio stations.
• Nonfiction Writers : Nonfiction writers create works of fact-based prose, such as biographies, memoirs, history books, and journalism. They use their research skills to gather information and then use their writing skills to craft engaging and informative narratives that convey the truth about the subject matter.
• Playwrights : Playwrights are writers who create scripts for plays and theater productions. They develop characters, storylines, and dialogue, and craft scripts that are designed to be performed by actors on stage.
• Poets : Poets write verse, using language in innovative and expressive ways. They may focus on a range of subjects, from personal experience to social issues, and they use imagery, metaphor, and rhythm to convey meaning and emotion. Poets often perform their work in public settings, such as poetry slams or readings.
• Screenwriters : Screenwriters write scripts for film. They use their storytelling skills to create compelling characters, plots, and dialogue that translate well to the screen.
• Speechwriters : Speechwriters write speeches on behalf of others, such as politicians, executives, and public figures. They research and gather information on the subject and the audience, craft compelling messages, and use persuasive language to convey key ideas and points.
• Sports Writers : Sports writers cover sporting events and write about sports topics for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other publications. They attend games, interview athletes and coaches, gather information about statistics and performance, and craft articles that inform, analyze, and entertain readers.
• Technical Writers : Technical writers create user manuals, instructions, and other technical documents. They use their writing skills to make complex technical information accessible to non-experts. Technical writers must have a strong grasp of the subject matter and be able to communicate it clearly and concisely.
• Television Writers : Television writers write scripts for television shows. They create the storylines, characters, and dialogue for each episode, and work with other writers and the production team to ensure the show meets its goals.
• Travel Writers : Travel writers describe the places they have visited and the experiences they had while travelling. Contemporary travel writing includes pieces presented in a blog-style format, providing advice and tips and focusing on must-sees.

Are you suited to be a writer?

Writers have distinct personalities . They tend to be artistic individuals, which means they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Some of them are also investigative, meaning they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if writer is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of a Writer like?

The workplace of a writer can be as varied as the topics they cover and the industries they serve. For many writers, especially freelancers or those who work remotely, their workplace is often their home office. This space is tailored to their preferences, equipped with necessary tools like a computer, reference materials, and perhaps a cozy corner for brainstorming sessions. The flexibility of working from home allows writers to create a comfortable and personalized environment conducive to their creative process, free from the distractions of a traditional office setting.

However, writers employed by publishing houses, media outlets, or corporations may find themselves in more conventional office environments. In these settings, writers collaborate with editors, attend meetings, and pitch ideas in a dynamic, team-oriented atmosphere. They may have access to resources like libraries, archives, and research databases to support their writing endeavors. These workplaces offer opportunities for networking, professional development, and feedback, fostering a sense of community among writers and their colleagues.

Additionally, writers often find inspiration outside of conventional workspaces. They may seek out coffee shops, libraries, parks, or other public places to break out of routine and stimulate their creativity. These alternative work environments provide a change of scenery and the chance to observe people, events, and surroundings that can spark new ideas and perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Copywriter vs writer.

While both copywriters and writers share a common foundation in writing skills, they serve distinct purposes and operate in different professional contexts. Here are the key differentiators between a copywriter and a writer:

Purpose and Audience:

• Copywriter: Focuses on creating persuasive and engaging content with a specific goal, often related to marketing or advertising. The primary aim is to drive action or response from a target audience, such as making a purchase or clicking on a link.
• Writer: Engages in storytelling, creative expression, or informative writing across a broad range of genres and styles. Writers may produce content for various purposes, including literature, journalism, blogging, or academic writing, and their primary goal is often to inform, entertain, or inspire.
• Copywriter: Typically works in a commercial or business context, often employed by advertising agencies, marketing firms, or in-house marketing departments. Creates content for promotional materials, advertisements, websites, and other marketing channels.
• Writer: Can work in diverse contexts, including publishing, journalism, academia, or as a freelancer. Writes for a broad spectrum of mediums, such as books, articles, essays, poems, or scripts.

Style and Tone:

• Copywriter: Adapts writing style to align with the brand voice and marketing objectives. Emphasizes clarity, persuasion, and a call to action. Often employs concise and impactful language to capture attention.
• Writer: Has the freedom to explore a variety of styles and tones, depending on the genre and purpose of the writing. May prioritize creativity, literary techniques, and a distinctive voice tailored to the chosen form of expression.

Creativity vs. Information:

• Copywriter: Creativity is essential for crafting compelling and memorable messages that resonate with the target audience. Focuses on creating content that not only informs but also motivates the audience to take a specific action.
• Writer: Creativity is central to the writing process, but the emphasis may vary based on the genre or objective. Writers often explore complex themes, character development, or the conveyance of ideas and information.
• Copywriter: The success of a copywriter is often measured by the effectiveness of the content in achieving the desired marketing or advertising goals, such as increased sales, brand awareness, or customer engagement.
• Writer: Success for a writer is more diverse and can be measured through critical acclaim, publication, reader engagement, or personal satisfaction. The goals may vary depending on the writer's objectives, whether it's completing a novel, contributing to a magazine, or sharing thoughts on a personal blog.

In summary, while both copywriters and writers are skilled communicators, their distinct roles, contexts, and objectives shape their approach to writing. Copywriters focus on influencing actions in a commercial context, while writers explore a broader spectrum of creative expression and informational content across various genres and industries.

Continue reading

Writing and Journalism Related Careers and Degrees

Writing Careers

• Academic Writer
• Content Writer
• Fiction Writer
• Food Critic
• Ghostwriter
• Grant Writer
• Music Critic
• Nonfiction Writer
• Screenwriter
• Speechwriter
• Sports Writer
• Technical Writer
• Television Writer
• Travel Writer

Journalism Careers

• Correspondent
• News Anchor
• News Reporter
• Photojournalist
• Broadcast Journalism
• Children's Literature
• Creative Writing
• Screenwriting
• Songwriting
• Technical Writing

Pros and Cons of Being a Writer

Becoming a writer can be a fulfilling and rewarding career choice, but like any profession, it comes with its own set of pros and cons.

• Creativity and Expression: One of the most significant advantages of being a writer is the opportunity to express creativity and share unique perspectives through written words. Writers have the freedom to explore a wide range of topics, genres, and styles, allowing them to unleash their imagination and craft compelling stories, essays, articles, and more.
• Flexibility and Independence: Many writers enjoy the flexibility and autonomy that comes with their profession. Whether freelancing or working remotely, writers can often set their own schedules, choose their projects, and work from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility allows writers to balance their professional and personal lives and pursue other interests or passions outside of writing.
• Impact and Influence: Through their writing, writers have the power to inform, inspire, entertain, and provoke thought in their readers. Whether writing fiction that transports readers to imaginary worlds, journalism that uncovers important truths, or content that educates and empowers, writers can make a meaningful impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
• Financial Instability: While some writers achieve financial success and stability through book deals, bestsellers, or lucrative freelance contracts, many others struggle to make ends meet. Writing can be a competitive and unpredictable field, with irregular income, fluctuating demand, and limited opportunities for advancement, particularly for aspiring or emerging writers.
• Isolation and Solitude: Writing is often a solitary pursuit that requires long hours of focused concentration and introspection. Writers may spend hours alone at their desks, grappling with writer's block, self-doubt, or creative challenges. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, frustration, or burnout, especially for writers who crave social interaction and collaboration.
• Rejection and Criticism: Rejection is an inevitable part of the writing process, whether it's facing rejection letters from publishers, negative reviews from readers, or harsh criticism from editors or peers. Dealing with rejection and criticism can be disheartening and demotivating, causing writers to question their abilities or lose confidence in their work. However, learning to accept feedback constructively and persevere in the face of adversity is essential for growth and resilience as a writer.

Writers are also known as: Author

Pros and Cons of Being a Writer

Imagine diving into a world of words, where your thoughts become art and your imagination knows no bounds. Being a writer opens doors to a realm of flexibility, creativity, and personal growth.

You have the power to captivate minds, inspire hearts, and make a lasting impact. However, with great power comes challenges, like facing the uncertain path of financial security.

Explore the pros and cons of this literary journey, and decide if the writer's life is the one for you.

Key Takeaways

• Flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere and at any time
• Therapeutic benefits of writing for self-reflection and emotional release
• Limitations of artistic freedom due to external and personal factors
• Importance of finding unique storytelling perspectives to stand out in the writing industry

Flexibility and Freedom

You'll have the ability to work from anywhere and at any time, giving you the flexibility and freedom to create your own schedule as a writer. As a writer, you aren't bound by the traditional office hours or location constraints.

Whether you prefer to write in the comfort of your own home, at a cozy coffee shop, or even while traveling the world, the choice is entirely yours. This flexibility allows you to structure your work around your personal life and commitments.

Need to run errands in the morning? No problem. You can simply adjust your writing schedule accordingly. Want to take a break and spend quality time with your loved ones? Go ahead and do it, knowing that you can always come back to your writing whenever you're ready.

This freedom also extends to the type of writing projects you take on. You have the freedom to choose the topics that interest you, the clients or publications you want to work with, and the deadlines that suit your pace. This level of autonomy and control over your work is truly empowering and can enhance your overall job satisfaction.

Creative Expression

When it comes to creative expression, being a writer can provide therapeutic benefits by allowing you to pour your emotions onto the page and find solace in the act of writing.

However, it's important to recognize that there are limitations to artistic freedom, as writing often involves adhering to certain guidelines and market demands.

To truly stand out, you must strive to find unique storytelling perspectives that captivate readers and bring fresh ideas to the table.

Therapeutic Benefits of Writing

You can experience a sense of emotional release and personal growth through writing, making it a therapeutic form of creative expression. Writing has the power to heal and transform, allowing you to tap into your deepest emotions and thoughts.

Here are some therapeutic benefits of writing:

• Self-Reflection: Writing allows you to explore your feelings and thoughts, gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences.
• Emotional Release: Putting your emotions into words can provide a cathartic release, helping you process and let go of negative emotions.
• Stress Reduction: Writing can serve as a stress-relief tool, providing a healthy outlet for your worries and anxieties.
• Self-Discovery: Through writing, you can uncover hidden talents, passions, and insights about yourself, leading to personal growth and self-discovery.

Limitations of Artistic Freedom

Can you truly express yourself without any restrictions as a writer, or are there limitations to your artistic freedom? As a writer, you have the power to convey your thoughts, emotions, and ideas through your words. However, there are certain limitations that can hinder your creative expression. These limitations can arise from external factors such as societal norms, censorship, and commercial demands. Additionally, personal limitations such as self-doubt, fear of criticism, and lack of confidence can also restrict your artistic freedom. To better understand these limitations, let's take a look at the table below:

These limitations can often challenge your creativity and force you to compromise your artistic vision. However, it is important to find ways to navigate through these obstacles and continue to express yourself authentically as a writer.

Finding Unique Storytelling Perspectives

With a little imagination and a willingness to think outside the box, you can uncover unique storytelling perspectives that will elevate your creative expression as a writer. Here are some ways to find those perspectives:

• Explore different genres : Try writing in a genre you haven't explored before. Whether it's science fiction, historical fiction, or even poetry, experimenting with different genres can open up new storytelling possibilities.
• Draw inspiration from personal experiences : Take a look at your own life and the people around you. Your unique experiences and interactions can provide a fresh and authentic perspective that readers will appreciate.
• Research and learn : Dive into topics that intrigue you. By researching and learning about different subjects, you'll gain a deeper understanding that can add richness and depth to your storytelling.
• Experiment with narrative techniques : Play around with different narrative techniques, such as using multiple perspectives, nonlinear storytelling, or even incorporating multimedia elements. These techniques can bring a fresh and innovative approach to your writing.

Potential for Recognition and Success

Are you dreaming of fame and fortune as a writer? While there's certainly potential for recognition and success in the writing world, it's important to consider the trade-offs.

Achieving creative fulfillment may mean sacrificing stability, and the demands of a writing career can have a significant impact on your personal life.

Fame and Fortune

As a writer, you can achieve fame and fortune by consistently producing captivating stories. Your words have the power to captivate readers and transport them to different worlds. With each story you write, you have the potential to gain recognition and success.

Here are some ways in which fame and fortune can come your way:

• Book deals : Your exceptional storytelling abilities may attract the attention of publishers who offer you book deals, ensuring your work reaches a wider audience.
• Awards and accolades : Your talent may be recognized through prestigious literary awards, bringing you fame and acclaim.
• Movie adaptations : Your stories may catch the eye of filmmakers, leading to movie adaptations that not only bring your work to life but also open doors to financial success.
• Fanbase and royalties : A loyal fanbase can drive the sales of your books, resulting in steady royalties and financial stability.

In the world of writing, fame and fortune are within your grasp if you consistently produce captivating stories that resonate with readers.

Creative Fulfillment Vs. Stability

You can have both creative fulfillment and stability in your writing career, but it requires careful balance and perseverance.

When it comes to creative fulfillment, writing allows you to express yourself, explore your imagination, and bring your ideas to life. It's a rewarding and fulfilling experience to see your words resonate with readers and evoke emotions.

On the other hand, stability in your writing career provides financial security and a sense of certainty. It allows you to focus on your craft without constantly worrying about making ends meet.

However, achieving both creative fulfillment and stability requires finding the right balance. You may need to take on freelance work or explore different writing opportunities to ensure a steady income while still pursuing your creative projects.

It may take time and effort, but with perseverance, you can have both creative fulfillment and stability in your writing career.

Impact on Personal Life?

Achieving recognition and success as a writer can greatly impact your personal life, opening doors to new opportunities and shaping your identity. Consider the following:

• Increased visibility : As your work gains recognition, you become more visible in the literary world, attracting a wider audience and potential collaborators.
• Enhanced self-esteem : The acknowledgment of your talent and hard work can boost your self-confidence, validating your choice to pursue a writing career.
• Networking opportunities : Recognition and success allow you to connect with other writers, agents, and publishers, expanding your professional network and creating new possibilities for collaboration.
• Financial stability : With success comes the potential for financial security, allowing you to focus more on your writing and pursue opportunities that may have been out of reach before.

Personal Growth and Exploration

One of the biggest advantages of being a writer is that it allows you to embark on a journey of personal growth and exploration. As a writer, you have the freedom to delve into new topics, research different subjects, and challenge your own beliefs and perspectives. This process of self-discovery can be incredibly rewarding and can lead to personal growth in various areas of your life.

Impact and Influence on Others

Being a writer can have a profound impact on others, and it all starts with the power of words. As a writer, you have the ability to shape opinions, inspire change, and touch the hearts of people from all walks of life. Your words have the potential to create a ripple effect that can resonate with readers long after they've finished reading your work.

Here are some ways in which your writing can make a difference:

• Spreading awareness: Through your writing, you can bring attention to important social issues and shed light on topics that are often overlooked. By raising awareness, you can inspire others to take action and make a positive impact in their communities.
• Offering comfort and solace: Your words have the power to provide comfort to those in need. Whether it's through a heartfelt poem, a relatable story, or a self-help book, your writing can be a source of solace for those going through difficult times.
• Challenging perspectives: As a writer, you have the ability to challenge the status quo and challenge people's beliefs. By presenting alternative viewpoints and thought-provoking arguments, you can encourage readers to question their own beliefs and expand their horizons.
• Inspiring personal growth: Your writing can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and self-reflection. By sharing your own experiences and lessons learned, you can inspire others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and transformation.

Challenges and Obstacles

Navigating the ever-changing publishing industry can be one of the biggest challenges for aspiring writers. The landscape of the publishing world is constantly evolving, with new technologies and platforms emerging at a rapid pace. As a writer, you must adapt to these changes and stay current with industry trends to remain competitive.

In addition to the ever-changing publishing industry, writers also face a variety of other challenges and obstacles. These can include:

Writer's block can be a frustrating hurdle to overcome. It can leave you feeling uninspired and unable to produce quality work. Similarly, a lack of motivation can make it difficult to stay focused and productive.

Rejection from publishers is another common obstacle. It can be disheartening to receive numerous rejection letters, but it's important to persevere and continue submitting your work. Financial instability is also a challenge for many writers, as it can be difficult to make a steady income from writing alone.

Balancing creativity and deadlines can be a delicate dance. Meeting deadlines is crucial, but it can sometimes stifle creativity. Finding the right balance between the two is key to producing your best work.

Finally, self-doubt can plague even the most talented writers. Overcoming the fear of failure and believing in your abilities is essential for success in the writing industry.

Despite these challenges and obstacles, being a writer can be incredibly rewarding. The joy of creating something meaningful and connecting with readers makes it all worthwhile.

Financial and Job Security

If you want to pursue a career as a writer, financial and job security may be a concern for you. While being a writer can offer flexibility and creativity, it often comes with a certain level of uncertainty. Here are some pros and cons to consider when it comes to financial and job security in the writing industry:

• *Potential for high earnings*: Successful writers can earn a substantial income through book sales, freelance work, and royalties.
• *Flexibility*: As a writer, you have the freedom to work from anywhere and set your own schedule.
• *Diverse opportunities*: The writing industry encompasses various genres and mediums, providing a wide range of potential career paths.
• *Passion-driven work*: If you have a deep love for writing, pursuing a career in this field can bring immense satisfaction.
• *Income fluctuations*: Writers often face irregular income streams, with periods of feast and famine.
• *Job instability*: Securing long-term contracts and stable employment can be challenging, especially for freelance writers.
• *Competition*: The writing industry is highly competitive, with many talented individuals vying for limited opportunities.
• *Financial uncertainty*: Benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans may not be readily available, requiring careful financial planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can being a writer impact my mental and emotional well-being.

Being a writer can impact your mental and emotional well-being in various ways. The creative process can be fulfilling and therapeutic, but it can also be challenging and lead to self-doubt. Overall, it's a journey of self-discovery.

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About the Writing Profession?

Thinking about becoming a writer? Don't let misconceptions hold you back. Many people think writing is a lonely and unprofitable profession, but the truth is, it can be rewarding and financially viable.

Can Being a Writer Help Me Develop a Strong Sense of Empathy and Understanding Towards Others?

Being a writer can help you develop a strong sense of empathy and understanding towards others. Through writing, you explore different perspectives and dive into the depths of human emotions, allowing you to connect with others on a deeper level.

How Does Being a Writer Contribute to the Preservation of Culture and History?

Being a writer allows you to contribute to the preservation of culture and history by capturing stories and experiences. Your words have the power to immortalize and pass down knowledge, ensuring that our heritage is never forgotten.

What Are Some Effective Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block and Maintaining Motivation?

Feeling stuck? Try this: imagine your mind as a garden. When writer's block strikes, tend to it. Pull out weeds of doubt, water the seeds of inspiration, and let your creativity bloom. Stay motivated by nurturing your writer's soul.

Related posts:

• Statistics About Writing
• Pros and Cons of Cursive Writing
• Pros and Cons of Short Stories
• What Is a Real Estate Novelist
• Pros and Cons of Chalk Couture
• Pros and Cons of Kindle
• Pros and Cons of Procreate
• Pros and Cons of Imovie
• Pros and Cons of Being an Actor
• Pros and Cons of Being Self Employed
• Pros and Cons of Being a Musician
• Pros and Cons of Being an Independent Artist
• Pros and Cons of Being an Artist
• TESUP Atlas 7 KW and 168 kWh/Day Max. Vertical Wind Turbine Review
• Pros and Cons of Microsoft Word
• Pros and Cons of Dyslexia
• Pros and Cons of Marketing Career
• Pros and Cons of Patreon
• Pros and Cons of Front End Developer
• Ariens IKON XD 52 inch 23 HP Zero Turn Mower Review

Jordon Layne

7 Great Things About Being a Writer (and Seven More That Suck)

Bestselling thriller writer

Being a professional writer is a strange and wonderful thing -- kind of a combination of philosopher and hobo. It permits experiences that a fortunate few will ever get to have, and many more that would make most normal people wonder why on earth someone would purposefully subject themselves to such emotional torment. In light of this incredible cross-section of joy and despair, inspiration and rage, and coffee and even more coffee, here are seven great things about being a writer, and seven more that make us wish we'd all just gone to law school like our parents wanted.

Great The very first time you get paid for your work Proof that someone feels your contributions are actually worth something beyond a mildly pleasant, "Oh, good for you!" If you're lucky, you'll get paid in actual currency. The first time I was paid to write, I wasn't paid in money, per se, but with a gift certificate to a restaurant from an online zine which had accepted a short story of mine. If I recall, the gift certificate didn't quite cover dinner for me and my-then girlfriend, but the feeling of being about to knock about $50 of the check was incredible.

Not So Great: The first rejection(s) In college, I wrote a novel. It wasn't very good. It was a hammy coming-of-age story (originality alert!) about a college freshman who finds himself (of course) with the help of some kooky friends, a terrific girl, and a couple of plot twists that could be seen from orbit. At the time I knew the publishing industry as well as I knew the shrimping industry, so I wrote about a dozen queries to agents and editors and received, I believe, three rejections in total. I never heard from the others. Each letter (remember letters?) felt like a punch to the gut, and I remember thinking (like any writer who didn't know a lick of the craft yet) that these troglodytes didn't recognize my clear genius. Here's the thing: they were all totally right to reject me.

Great Landing an agent After the calamity that was my coming-of-age novel, I wrote another. I sent it to half a dozen agents -- three offered representation. To me, this was like going out to a bar and having Gisele and Scarlett Johanson hit on you at the same time while Bob Sugar raised a glass in your honor. One agent gave me editorial feedback, I signed with him, and he's been my agent for about eight years now.

Not So Great The reactions when you tell people you're an aspiring writer If you're John Grisham or J.K. Rowling or E.L. James, I'm sure they're thrilled for you and are glad you can finally buy a round. When you're 23, most people picture you at a cafe in Brooklyn wearing the same hooded sweatshirt for the fourth straight day, staring at a computer screen with the intensity of a Roman general while drinking enough coffee to cure narcolepsy. Writing, at first, is never glamorous, and when I first started writing seriously I hated talking about it and only opened up with serious prodding. I didn't want to think of myself as a writer until I'd actually been (legitimately) published. And I've never lived in Brooklyn.

Great Your first book contract or byline I got the call at my office when a publisher had made an offer on The Mark. Working in a cubicle within earshot of 20 or so people was the only thing that prevented me from whipping out my awful version of the Electric Slide. I got the final call from my agent that we'd accepted the negotiations at dinner with my mother and sister. Not only was I proud of myself for keeping at my writing (I wrote two books that were rejected before my first sold), but it was validation that I was actually good at something I truly loved.

Not So Great When your cover sucks Book writers have all been there. That breathlessly excited email from your editor containing an attachment, informing you that this is the concept that everyone at your publisher absolutely loves . (Nobody's ever gotten an email that says, "Here's your cover. Meh.") And then you open it and you're about as enthusiastic as Michael Bluth when George Michael starts dating Ann (aka Egg, Bland, Yam, etc). This can't be it, can it? If you're lucky, they'll go back to the drawing board. If not, your final cover looks like one of these .

Great Fan mail When someone takes the time to find your email address (or snail mail your publisher!) and sends you a note saying how much they like your work, it's that fine line between serenity and bliss and a great cup of coffee.

Not So Great Hate mail When someone takes the time to find your email address (or snail mail your publisher) and sends you a note saying how much you suck. One time I got a package containing a tattered copy of my third book along with a handwritten note. In the note, the reader told me how much he disliked my work, and that he'd actually taken the time to re-edit it for me. The copy of my book was filled with red pencil markings, as this clearly sane person had taken hours upon hours to re-edit every page of my book for content, grammar and characterization. To a writer, this is like going up to a stranger and telling them that a) they could use some plastic surgery, and b) that you'd like to perform it yourself.

Great Meeting readers Similar to the above, but includes the warmth of a handshake, maybe an autograph or picture, leaving you with the same smile you give the people who enjoy your work. Considering the majority of writing is done in solitude, the personal connection means everything.

Not So Great Meeting crazy people Writers, for the most part, appreciate everyone who takes the time to read them. Then there are those who assume everything you write was written just for them . They spend 20 minutes telling you their life story at a conference or bar, ask you to meet them alone for a drink when you're in town for an event (not creepy at all), and send angry follow-ups declaring that you've sold out and don't care about your readers when you take more than two days to respond to their four-page emails. One time I got an email from a reader saying she was looking forward to meeting me at a book fair. I responded pleasantly. She asked if I would like to stay at her place. I declined. She told me that I should reconsider because she looks, "like one of the Olsen twins." Not a selling point.

Great When people come to your event Even if it's a launch with friends and family and other people you've guilted/berated into coming, it's like a second birthday party with memories that will last forever. Or at least until your sixth glass of wine.

Not So Great When nobody comes to your event And you sit there alone, in a bookstore or elsewhere, awkwardly chatting with the proprietor who trying desperately to make eye contact with everyone who wanders by as though that will make them feel sorry for you and inspire them to buy 36 copies for their entire extended family. I once made the mistake of doing a signing at my old college bookstore. On a Thursday night. Sadly I forgot that, when I was in college, I'd rather be tearing open up a brand new case of PBR instead of waiting to get a book signed.

Great Stumbling upon a great idea That 'lightbulb' moment when an idea invades your brain and you know , beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is what you're meant to write about next.

Not So Great When everyone thinks they've come across your next great idea We've all been there. A family dinner, drinks with friends, and someone (it's only one if you're lucky) insists that they've got the greatest story the world has ever known and that it is your duty to drop everything and write about it. ("My dry cleaner lost one of my shirts -- you should use that in your next book!") And if you resist, you're either ungrateful or obtuse. Which is why every writer has perfected the 'nod and smile and tell them you'll look into it'.

Writers: what else do you love or hate about the job?

Jason Pinter is the bestselling author of five thrillers (the most recent of which are The Fury and The Darkness ), as well as the ebook exclusive FAKING LIFE , which have nearly 1.5 million copies in print in nearly 20 countries. His first novel for young readers, Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy! , was published in November 2011. Visit him at www.jasonpinter.com or follow him on Twitter .

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

It's another trump-biden showdown — and we need your help, the future of democracy is at stake, your loyalty means the world to us.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?

HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.

It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.

But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in books.

The Pros and Cons of Creative Writing

Lots of people do some creative writing from time to time, and lots more are thinking about getting involved. Creative writing has some incredibly exciting aspects that draw legions of practitioners but it has some downsides too! 

The pros and cons of creative writing for poets, playwrights , screenwriters, and authors include creative fulfilment, financial reward, and making a celebrated contribution in your field. Downsides include financial uncertainty, and the difficulty of having work produced professionally.

Below we’ll examine different areas of creative writing , and the pros and cons of each, to help you decide whether you want to get involved in some creative projects, and which field is best for you!

What are the Pros and Cons of Writing a Play?

The pros and cons of playwrighting include being part of an incredible and excited community of theatre makers. Theatre brings you into close contact with fans, and playwrights also typically receive 10% of box office. The cons include the incredible difficulty of breaking in.

Writing plays can be incredibly exhilarating. Writing in any field can be lonely at first as you craft the world by yourself.

But in the theatre world, as a writer you are likely to have your work go through rounds of development, as it is performed by actors, and you receive feedback from directors and producers.

Being part of this community can be one of the most special and exhilarating experiences a writer can have.

Then there is the high of seeing your work performed and brought to life, as well as the powerful experience of coming into close contact with an audience that has enjoyed your work.

Receiving 10% of box office sales can also be a wonderful thing (and sometimes not so much).

If your play gets up on Broadway or the West End, then 10% of total box office take is likely to be a large sum.

People are shocked when they discover how much you can actually make as a playwright at the big end of town.

Folks tend to assume that playwrights are on the lowly rates stage actors usually receive – but it’s not true!

One of the biggest cons to being a playwright is how difficult is it to break in.

Being a playwright usually requires a very intimate knowledge of theatre , and access to huge amounts of resources to workshop and develop your talent.

Only the very few get this chance.

It’s also true that there are scarce jobs going for playwrights .

Not many new works are produced in the major theatre markets each year, and even fewer of those new works are written by first time writers – so the chance of breaking in during any particular year is low.

Don’t let that dissuade you though – talent and hard work will rise to the top – as long as you can make the right contacts, and be in the right place at the right time (just like with any job).

What are the Pros and Cons of Writing a Novel?

The pros and cons of writing a novel include that novelists can sell large numbers of copies, and receive big pay checks. Their works are also frequently adapted for film and TV. Cons include loneliness, and the fact that your first novel will likely be written without a book deal.

Genre writers in particular stand a reasonable chance of having their work traditionally published , finding an audience, and seeing a good return on investment.

Remember you can also self publish , and genre writers perform better in this market too.

As with any artform, the number of people who are making a full time living from writing novels is not large. But genre fiction gives you your best chance.

Remember that romance fiction accounts for roughly 40% of all fiction sales, and the next biggest genre of Thriller / Mystery only sells approximately half this number.

Literary fiction, while potentially more artistically satisfying, sells far fewer copies.

The thrill of speaking with readers who have enjoyed your work is intoxicating. The thought that you can make a genuine difference in peoples’ lives is a huge plus to writing a novel .

Cons for novelists include the fact that writing fiction can be a lonely and isolating experience. It helps if you have a partner or circle of friends (or writing group!) who you can regularly share your work with and get feedback as you write .

But generally, you are making thousands of decisions by yourself, and then revealing those decisions after potentially years of work to a market / agent / editor / publisher that may not be interested in your product.

While some artistic works are written on commission, your first novel is likely to be written without anyone’s knowledge or blessing.

It can be hard to carve out the time to work in this way – and this is a big con of trying to get started in the fiction world!

The Pros and Cons of Writing a Poem

One of the biggest pros to writing a poem is that it doesn’t take very long. It can also be extremely satisfying to get your feelings and ideas down on the page in a way that captures them concisely. Cons include that finding an audience can be tough, and getting paid even tougher.

Have you ever had an urge to write a poem , and just jotted one down that you are happy with?

Writing poetry that you actually like yourself is only a wild fantasy for many writers, but when it does happen it can be one of the most satisfying creative experiences around.

It doesn’t take long to write a short poem, and that means you don’t have to sink huge amounts of time and money into writing one.

This means that experimenting with poetry and finding out whether it’s the right form for you is so much easier than with other forms. Just give it a go!

If you want to write longer poems like epics (see video below), or poems with more complex rules like haikus or sonnets, then writing poetry can be a very satisfying intellectual challenge, as well as an emotional one.

In this way the pros of writing poems include the fact that it’s very challenging and satisfying to get right.

The cons of writing poems include that people are not always looking to spend money on poetry in the way they are happy to for a new release novel, or to see a film or play.

People take it for granted that they will get most of their poems for free online.

Poetry books tend not to sell very well, and even the best sellers don’t produce much money for publishers and authors.

Remember though that Shakespeare’s sonnets are one of the best selling pieces of literature of all time!

There are poets who publish their work online in places like Instagram, and sometimes these poets acquire huge audiences – and are able to sell large numbers of poems.

Rupi Kaur is a great example – check out her reading below.

The Pros and Cons of Writing a Screenplay

The pros and cons of writing a screenplay include the potential for a huge payday, and much fan adulation. Films are large and exciting undertakings, frequently requiring million dollar budgets. Cons include having to break in while writing spec scripts, and the high level of competition .

Writing screenplays can be thrilling.

There is huge energy and enthusiasm in the film community, for many reasons including the popularity of the form with audiences, the chance to have your imagination realised in the most complete way possible, and the fact that people in the industry actually get paid good wages.

Audiences rush out to see films all over the world, in a way that they just won’t to buy a new collection of poetry .

The film industry is hugely lucrative, with billions of dollar being made each year.

Films are made all over the world, and they also translate across cultures well, meaning that your film could become an international hit!

Seeing your imagination brought to life on the big screen can be one of the most satisfying elements of screenwriting .

If you write a play, your vision will be highly constrained by budget and what is physically possible in a theatre .

In film you can make anything happen! That’s thrilling.

Cons include the fact that there is huge competition to break in, and it’s so much about who you know.

Another way of saying this is that producers and directors usually work with writers for years on a single project, so it’s very important to them that they know and trust you.

This means you have to network, have a good reputation, and make friends with your potential co-workers!

The ideal situation for most screenwriters is to be commissioned to write a screenplay by a major production studio.

These are the people with access to big budget film making.

Unfortunately, you will probably have to write at least your first script on spec, which means ‘on speculation.’ Or speculating that someone will buy it after you have written it.

Unfortunately, very few scripts actually sell in this way, and yet it is one of the only ways to have your first film produced.

The Pros and Cons of Writing Nonfiction

The pros and cons of writing nonfiction include that it can be immensely intellectually satisfying as you explore real world stories and bring tales that you believe are important into the light. Cons include that it is potentially less creatively satisfying than fiction , and that breaking in is hard.

Nonfiction involves a huge amount of creativity, as arranging facts into a compelling narrative which hooks readers requires advanced story telling skills.

It can be hugely rewarding to land a story just right with a reader, in a way that highlights an issue you think is important.

Nonfiction writers can play an important role in society, bringing public attention to difficult issues, which can lead to reform or societal change for the better.

What better contribution to humanity can you make than by writing nonfiction that has such an impact?

Writing nonfiction can also be isolating, because you often have to research and write by yourself, which can take years.

Having a writing partner, a romantic partner who is interested in your work, or a good writing group can help to alleviate writers’ loneliness.

It can be hard to get started in nonfiction because you are unlikely to be commissioned to write a work of nonfiction until you have demonstrated that you can already do it, by doing it!

This means an investment of potentially years of unpaid labour hoping to recoup a reward at the end.

We hope this guide to the pros and cons of creative writing has been useful to you, and inspired you to set off confidently in the creative direction that is best for you!

Is Being a Screenwriter Worth It? An Inside Look at the Pros and Cons in 2023

Many aspiring writers and movie buffs dream of becoming a professional screenwriters one day. It seems like an ideal career – you get to use your creativity to craft stories for television and film, which could potentially be seen by millions of viewers.

However, like any coveted career in the entertainment industry, it is extremely competitive. For every blockbuster screenplay that makes it onto the big screen, there are thousands of rejections along the way. So is pursuing the screenwriter dream really worth it in the end?

In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons of being a professional screenwriter. What are the rewards and fulfillment that come from screenwriting success? But also, what are some harsh realities aspiring screenwriters need to be prepared for? Read on for an inside look at the screenwriting career path.

Table of Contents

Pros of Being a Screenwriter

Flexibility and freedom in your work.

One of the big pros of screenwriting as a career is the flexibility and freedom it offers. Screenwriters can work from home or anywhere they want, as long as they meet their deadlines. You don’t need to commute to an office or work standard 9-5 hours.

Many screenwriters work as freelancers, taking on projects from different producers or studios. This gives you variety in your work and the ability to set your own schedule. The freedom to be your own boss is appealing to many.

Fulfillment in Storytelling

For storytellers at heart, there’s immense creative fulfillment in bringing stories to life on screens. Screenwriters get to imagine vivid characters , engaging worlds , and compelling narratives . The ability to emotionally move audiences through plot, drama, or comedy is very rewarding.

Seeing their words come to life visually through skilled actors and directors is a dream come true for many screenwriters. The storytelling process from start to finish – from blank page to final cut – is an exhilarating experience.

Earning Potential

Unlike fiction authors or playwrights, screenwriters actually have solid earning potential, especially if they can break into writing for major Hollywood studios. The top echelon of professional screenwriters earn six to seven-figure paychecks.

To put the earnings in perspective, the average weekly income for a screenwriter is around 3,000 USD, which adds up to $156,000 a year. The top 10% of screenwriters earn over $208,000 annually. While not everyone reaches these highs, the opportunity is there.

Recognition and Prestige

Screenwriters behind highly acclaimed or commercially successful films often enjoy industry prestige and public recognition for their work. Quentin Tarantino , Aaron Sorkin , and Steven Zaillian are just a few contemporary screenwriters whose names have become well known.

Seeing your name on the big screen during the opening credits as “ Written by… ” is a hugely gratifying experience. Walking down the red carpet at a premiere or winning awards like the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay are amazing recognition of your talents.

Cons of Being a Screenwriter

The odds are stacked against you.

This is a reality check aspiring screenwriters need to be aware of. The film industry is incredibly competitive, with one estimate stating there is a 1 in 15,000 chance of selling your first screenplay. That is slimmer odds than many other creative fields.

One reason is there just aren’t that many films greenlit each year versus the thousands of unsolicited scripts studios receive. Most professional screenwriters struggle for years before they make any noteworthy sales. Be prepared to face constant rejection early on.

Irregular Income and Periods of Unemployment

Screenwriting can be a feast or famine career, especially in the early years. Earnings can fluctuate wildly depending on how many assignments or script sales you book. Periods of unemployment between paid gigs are common during the ups and downs.

Building connections and gaining a reputation for delivering high-quality scripts on deadline takes time. Have substantial savings set aside to cover dry periods. Many take side gigs in fields like advertising, technical writing, or tutoring to pay the bills.

Writing Goes Through Extensive Revisions

As a screenwriter, your precious written words will go through endless rounds of revision during pre-production and filming.

Scripts will get marked up by producers , studio execs , directors , and actors – everyone seems to have an opinion. Major plot points or characters sometimes get changed entirely.

This can require you to develop a very thick skin when others critique your writing. You need the ability to take feedback and make necessary changes to move the production forward. Letting go of some creative control is part of the process.

Stress of Deadlines and Details

Screenwriting isn’t all fun brainstorming dialogue and creating characters. There are intense deadlines to meet and detailed aspects like scene structure, stage direction, transitions, and more to perfect. Juggling revisions from multiple stakeholders adds extra stress.

Succeeding as a screenwriter requires organization, time management skills, and ability to work under pressure. Missing deadlines can seriously damage your reputation and career prospects.

Collaboration Not Solitary Work

Imagine yourself as a lone genius screenwriter banging out brilliant scripts in isolation. Now erase that fantasy! Screenwriting is highly collaborative – you’ll be working closely with producers , directors, actors, and execs during rewrites and production.

You must be able to handle criticism without taking it personally. Communication skills to articulate your creative vision while also compromising when needed are vital. If you prefer solo work, this could frustrate you.

Tips for Succeeding as a Screenwriter

If the prospect of the screenwriter career path excites you despite the challenges, then here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

Study Screenwriting Techniques Extensively

Great writing just flows naturally, right? Unfortunately not. Mastering screenplay format and structure requires in-depth study and practice.

Take courses and read books on screenwriting basics like format, plot structure , scene design , character development , and effective dialogue .

Read and analyze successful scripts. Attend workshops or seminars with working screenwriters to gain priceless insider knowledge and technical skills necessary in this field. Join a screenwriting group for feedback.

Network Tirelessly to Make Industry Connections

As in many careers, who you know will be just as important as what you know as an aspiring screenwriter. Attend film festivals , screenwriting expos , studio mixers , and any events where you can connect with producers, agents , directors, and other industry insiders.

Building your network takes time and effort. Follow up with contacts, offer your scriptwriting services, and seek informational interviews. Consider interning or working at an agency mailroom. Making the right connections could lead to your big break.

Build an Online Portfolio of Spec Scripts

Spec scripts are sample scripts you write independently, without being paid, to demonstrate your skills for the purpose of getting hired. Having 3-5 polished spec scripts in your portfolio showcases your abilities to producers and studios.

Post excerpts on your screenwriting website or filmmaking blogs to gain exposure. Enter reputable screenwriting contests that offer cash prizes but also provide invaluable visibility – winners often get representation and script deals.

Develop a Thick Skin to Rejections

Coping with rejection is part of the screenwriting career. As mentioned, even seasoned screenwriters still face frequent rejection after decades in the business! You need perseverance and a thick skin.

Bounce back quickly from disappointment. Enter new contests, perfect your scripts during re-writes, add fresh projects, and keep networking. Don’t get bitter or discouraged. With hard work and resilience, your big break will come.

Consider Adjacent Fields like Playwriting

Don’t abandon your screenwriting dreams if the Hollywood path seems unclear. You can still flex your writing skills in related fields. Many acclaimed screenwriters got their start in playwriting which has parallels including strong dialogue and compact dramatic writing.

The lower production costs for plays make them more feasible to produce. You can build writing credits and learn dramatic mechanics while continuing to work at breaking into film and TV.

Is Being a Screenwriter Worth It?

Despite the long odds and difficult journey, for storytellers with a passion for film and TV, pursuing screenwriting can absolutely be a fulfilling career. The ability to see your creative visions transformed into living, breathing films enjoyed by worldwide audiences makes hard work and uncertainty worthwhile for many.

Like any dream job, it requires dedication, sacrifice, perseverance through hard times, and belief in your talents even when others don’t. But for those willing to put in the sweat and sacrifice, reaching that Hollywood dream is not impossible. That blank page of yours could be the next great movie in the making.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do screenwriters make good money.

Screenwriters have the potential to make good money, especially if they are able to sell scripts to major studios and have their movies produced. However, earnings can fluctuate wildly. The top 10% of screenwriters earn over $208,000 annually, but many earn much less, especially when starting out.

Is a script writer a good career?

Being a script writer can be a fulfilling creative career for those passionate about film and TV. However, it’s an extremely competitive field and success is not guaranteed. Writers need dedication and persistence to make it a viable long-term career. It’s good for those who can handle rejection and uncertainty.

Is it hard to get a job as a screenwriter?

Yes, breaking into screenwriting is very difficult. There is a lot of competition for a limited number of job openings. Most professional screenwriters struggle for years doing low-paying or unpaid jobs before selling their first script. Networking and building a portfolio of sample scripts is key.

How realistic is it to become a screenwriter?

It’s a highly competitive field, but with talent and hard work, it is realistic to break into screenwriting. The odds are stacked against you, but not impossible. Be prepared to write for many years before gaining success. Have a backup plan as income will be inconsistent.

How much will Netflix pay for a script?

For non-established writers, Netflix pays around $30,000 to purchase script rights. But for well-known or award-winning writers, Netflix has paid between $3-5 million to acquire scripts. Netflix is also now offering some writers salaries in the low six figures to produce content.

Why are screenwriters paid so little?

There is an oversupply of aspiring screenwriters compared to the limited number of films being produced. Most screenwriters are not well-known and have little negotiating leverage early in their careers. Writers are seen as replaceable. But pay increases substantially once writers have credits on successful films.

What degree do I need to be a screenwriter?

No specific degree is required. Many study film, creative writing, or English in college. However real-world screenwriting experience through internships, workshops, and writing original scripts is most important. Television writing experience can also lead to screenwriting.

What skills does a screenwriter need?

Key skills include excellent writing ability, creativity, imagination, knowledge of script formats, ability to work collaboratively, openness to feedback, perseverance, networking, and marketing abilities. Thick skin and coping strategies for rejection are crucial.

What course should I take to become a screenwriter?

Useful courses include those focused on screenwriting fundamentals, storytelling methods, script development, film analysis, and screenplay formatting. Both in-person and online courses from film schools, writers’ organizations, and industry professionals can provide a solid base.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Pros, Cons & How-Tos Of Starting Out As A Screenwriter

• Facebook Data not found. Please check your user ID. Twitter You currently have access to a subset of Twitter API v2 endpoints and limited v1.1 endpoints (e.g. media post, oauth) only. If you need access to this endpoint, you may need a different access level. You can learn more here: https://developer.twitter.com/en/portal/product Youtube 1.1K

Watching SPIDER-MAN 2 On The Big Screen For The First Time

CURL POWER: Strength In Unity

Horrific Inquiry: TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016)

THE BEAST: An Unnerving Collage of Henry James, Sci-Fi, and Angry Young Men

LIMBO: Out In The Open With Nowhere To Turn

FEMME: An Agressive Gay Revenge Film

HUMANE: Caitlin Joins The Cronenberg Family Business

STRESS POSITIONS & Interview With Theda Hammel & John Early

ISA TOP 25 SCREENWRITERS TO WATCH Interview With Kathryn Orwig

AMAR SINGH CHAMKILA: A Spiced Venture Of The Formulaic Music Biopics

TRAP Trailer

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE DEPARTED DIGITAL MOVIE!

Ryan Turpin is a journalist and screenwriter based in Helsinki,…

So, you want to be a screenwriter. And why not? In terms of income per word count, it’s arguably the most lucrative type of writing you could aspire to. If you also love storytelling and film – if you’re a creative at heart who is bursting with ideas – then writing for the big screen might seem like a no-brainer.

But hold up. There are two sides to every coin, and before you key in your first scene heading, you should probably hear about both. Following is a breakdown of the pros and cons you’re likely to encounter as a screenwriter, as well as a few tips on how to actually complete your first screenplay.

You might think “making money” should top this list, but it really doesn’t. Statistically speaking, you (just like all the rest of us) are very unlikely to ever make any money from writing screenplays. That doesn’t mean you can’t, or won’t, but saying that an income or career is a “pro” of screenwriting is like saying that becoming an Olympic athlete is a “pro” of getting a gym membership.

Could it happen? Yes. Should you count on it? Absolutely not. So what else is there? Actually, a lot.

You’ll Enjoy the Process

Screenwriting can be grueling and tedious, but it can also be wildly fun. A script is a world, and it’s yours to do what you want with. Characters, settings, and plot twists are at the whim of your imagination, and as the pages start to add up, it’s both empowering and exhilarating. At its best, screenwriting has a lot in common with other meditative activities – as you lose yourself in the work, the stressors and problems in your real life fade away.

You’ll Gain a Major Sense of Accomplishment

Writing even one screenplay is an achievement. How many people do you know personally who have done it, after all? It’s not just having an idea; it’s not just making up a story; it’s having the skill and the drive to actually turn it into 100 pages. Finishing a screenplay gives a sense of personal fulfillment that simply can’t be quantified, and the experience will always be with you.

You’ll Build Unique Skills

Even if you don’t break into the business; even if you hang up the typewriter ribbon after your first script; even if you don’t make it that far, learning the basics of how to read and write screenplays is a valuable asset that will stick with you and could open up other opportunities down the road. Whether your Oscar dreams get left behind or remain fully intact, it’s nice to have a skill set that also makes it possible for you to script an advertisement, music video, or other pieces of media. You’ll also get better at storytelling and writing in general, regardless of format.

In addition to the “hard skill” of writing, finishing a screenplay will help you level up in the “soft skills” department by schooling you in perseverance, patience, and humility. It’s possible to write a script quickly. More often, though, it takes months of dedication and plenty of grit. The beauty of it is that you can apply these lessons to so many other things in life.

You’ll [Possibly] Get to Watch Your Work Unfold on the Big Screen

Whether it’s paid or unpaid work; whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster, an Amazon Prime series, or a short that you filmed yourself; whether it’s an adaptation, a rewrite, or totally original – it’s hard to compare the feeling that comes when you watch someone immortalize the words that you wrote.

And whether you’re lucky enough to see your own script on a theater big screen, or you’re just sharing that short film with your friends on YouTube, there’s nothing quite like being able to have that experience with them in real-time. For example, while writing a novel is its own huge accomplishment, you can’t exactly read it  with people, sharing in the moment equally.

Simply put, if you manage to get any of your screenwriting produced – in any capacity – it’s basically guaranteed to be a unique and exhilarating experience.

Screenwriting also comes with some downsides. So does everything else, of course. Take running – great for your lungs, heart, and brain, but not so good for the knees. Learning the cons of something shouldn’t discourage you from it, just facilitate a healthy understanding of what you might be sacrificing in the process.

When it comes to screenwriting, here are some potential downsides to consider:

Your Confidence Will Take a Hit

The first thing you’ll probably realize about writing for the screen is that it’s difficult. Frankly, if it seems easy, chances are that your script isn’t very good. But it’s not only formatting (the nuances of which can take years to master) and structural aspects (ditto) that you’ll need to learn. You’ll also need to learn to take criticism.

If you want to write, print, and bind a script, then stick it on a shelf and just look at it from time to time, this might not apply. If you want to do anything else with your story (like enter it in a contest or use it to market yourself as a screenwriter), then the first step is to see what other people think about it. The problem is that there is no such thing as an objectively good or bad screenplay, and plenty of Oscar-nominated screenplays have received terrible feedback before ever being produced. The lesson is that it doesn’t matter what you write, someone will think it’s awful. And when they tell you as much, it might sting.

Meanwhile, if your ambition loses steam or changes course, and you never become a paid screenwriter, you might be very tempted to feel like a failure. In reality, it was the result of a complex matrix of decisions and circumstances – but it’s much easier for a simple word like “failure” to seep into the subconscious.

You Will Feel Incredibly Frustrated

Making up characters and plots sounds easy, and for some people, it is. But even for those gifted with a natural ability to tell stories, making one work as a movie script can be challenging. Communicating character development to the audience through subtext, embedding believable drama into every scene, using simple sentences to convey deep emotions – even experienced screenwriters wrestle with these problems on a constant basis.

Beyond the frustration involved in the process itself, trying to “make it” as a professional screenwriter is a minefield of frustrations and grievances. Whether you’re negotiating a page-one rewrite, endlessly pitching loglines, or just trying to learn what those things even mean, screenwriting is nothing if not rife with conflict for the screenwriter (both internal and external).

You Will See Movies Differently

Becoming “disillusioned” and “disenchanted” aren’t exactly the same, and as a screenwriter, both will happen to you in the context of film. By the word’s broadest definition, movies are illusions. They transport us to another place and time, teasing us with the idea that it’s reality. Becoming familiar with the basics of screenwriting is like seeing behind the wizard’s curtain. Once you know the typical function and placement of inciting events, set pieces, plot reversals, and other screenwriting staples, then movies will begin to deconstruct themselves in real-time as you watch.

On the one hand, it can be fun to have a little “insider awareness.” On the other, you may find that it’s nearly impossible for a story to grab and hold you with the same strength as you were previously accustomed to.

How to Complete Your First Screenplay

This has not been an exhaustive list of screenwriting’s pros and cons – not to mention that each may be interpreted uniquely by different writers. It should, at least, have given some insight into the fact that once you’ve written your first “FADE IN,” there’s probably no going back.

Assuming that you’ve now typed those words, or plan to, here are a few tips and tricks that will hopefully help you make it all the way to “THE END.”

Write Every Day

Entrepreneur Tim Ferris may not have written any screenplays, but he’s authored five books and thousands of blog posts, and has some sage advice on how to keep the content pouring out: every day, write “two crappy pages.” When it does come to movie scripts, they should be rewritten. They are expected to be rewritten. Hence, there’s very little point to letting perfectionism have any place in your first draft – and certainly not the first draft of your first screenplay.

Every day possible, sit down and continue the story you have. It doesn’t have to be great. It doesn’t even have to be good. Nothing you write at this point is permanent, and in fact, it might be that writing scenes you aren’t happy with is the very thing that will clue you in to what would be better.

If you can’t do it every day, don’t fret. As long as you’re trying, then you’ll probably still get 10 or more pages written every week. Obviously, the worst thing you can do in terms of finishing a screenplay is to not write anything at all.

Keep Lists of Ideas

It’s possible that you have one story you want to tell, and once it’s told, you’re not interested in writing more movies. But more than likely, the act of starting one screenplay will end up giving you ideas for a dozen others. This is a great thing – as long as you don’t quit the one you’re working on to start a new one. If you do, it’s all too easy to end up in a cycle of second-guessing.

There might come a time down the road when you’re a paid writer, and project-hopping is part of your day-to-day routine. For those just starting out, it can be counterproductive.

The same phenomenon can occur within a single script. You may have one plan for your characters, but find yourself distracted by daydreams about alternative plotlines. There’s not anything wrong with that unless it means none of them get written.

When you’re tempted to switch horses mid-stream, counter it by writing down your thoughts on a list. It’s a good idea to keep a list of ideas for your current screenplay, ideas for future screenplays, and any other categories of distracting thoughts.

Avoid Other Screenwriters

How-to books and websites are a great screenwriting resource. So are videos, seminars, and working screenwriters. The problem is that when you start paying attention to them, it can be hard to stop. YouTube and Reddit, in particular, are bursting with fantastic information for budding writers – and when you are stuck on a question or problem, then they are both excellent places to turn to.

Once you deviate from that specific aim, though, it’s a steep, slippery slope into time-wasting. The subheading of the Reddit screenwriting forum, for instance, reads “Where Writers Go to Blatantly Avoid Writing.” Spend much time there, and you’ll find yourself reading other screenplays, learning screenwriting trivia, and occasionally digressing into political arguments – but doing very little writing.

These sites are packed with so much material that it’s impossible to soak it all in, much less incorporate it into one project, making it a far better idea to just stay off of them. Once you’ve learned the most fundamental aspects of structure and formatting, you’ve got everything you need to knock out your first draft.

It’s All Subjective

The only wrong way to pursue a career in screenwriting is to not write any screenplays – and there’s no wrong way to write a screenplay. Demonstrating that exact point, however, is the fact that some writers would disagree.

The bottom line is that it’s all subjective, and that includes the pros, cons, and how-tos. No one can tell you whether or not the screenwriting journey is for you, and they certainly can’t walk it in your shoes. Hopefully, there was still some helpful perspective for you in this guide. What do you think? What are the best and worst aspects of writing screenplays? What tips helped you get through your first ever draft?

Does content like this matter to you?

Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.

Ryan Turpin is a journalist and screenwriter based in Helsinki, Finland.

Interview With Screenwriter Alessandro Camon For THE LISTENER

Interview With Table Read My Screenplay Winners Steve Coy and John Ferraro

ISA TOP 25 SCREENWRITERS TO WATCH Interview With Kim Hornsby

Slamdance Film Festival 2024: Interview with writer/director Omar S. Kamara for AFRICAN GIANTS

• Write for Us
• Become a Patron
• Comment Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Staff Login

© 2023 Film Inquiry. All Rights Reserved.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Being a Book Editor

Being a book editor can be a rewarding career, but it’s not without its challenges. Discover the pros and cons of this profession in our comprehensive guide.

If you have a passion for literature and a keen eye for detail, a career as a book editor may be a dream come true. However, like any job, there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider before pursuing this path. In this guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of being a book editor, so you can make an informed decision about your future career.

Helping Authors Bring Their Stories to Life.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a book editor is the opportunity to work closely with authors and help them bring their stories to life. As an editor, you’ll have the chance to provide feedback, suggest improvements, and help authors refine their work. Seeing a manuscript evolve from a rough draft to a polished, published book can be incredibly satisfying. Plus, you’ll get to read some amazing stories before anyone else!

Opportunities for Growth and Advancement.

One of the biggest pros of being a book editor is the potential for growth and advancement within the industry. As editors gain experience and build their networks, they may have the opportunity to take on more senior roles within their publishing house or even start their own editing business. Additionally, editors who specialize in a particular genre or subject matter may become highly sought after by authors and publishers, leading to increased job security and higher pay. For those who are passionate about the written word, being a book editor can be a fulfilling and lucrative career path.

Dealing with Difficult Authors and Tight Deadlines.

While being a book editor can be a fulfilling career, it’s not without its challenges. One of the biggest downsides is dealing with difficult authors. Some authors may be resistant to feedback or unwilling to make changes to their work, which can make the editing process frustrating. Additionally, editors often have to work under tight deadlines, which can be stressful and lead to long hours. However, for those who are passionate about literature and enjoy working with authors, the rewards of being a book editor can outweigh the challenges.

The Emotional Toll of Rejecting Manuscripts.

One of the biggest challenges of being a book editor is the emotional toll of rejecting manuscripts. While it’s important to maintain high standards and only publish the best work, it can be difficult to tell an author that their book isn’t quite ready for publication. Rejection can be devastating for writers, and editors may feel guilty or responsible for causing that pain. Additionally, editors may receive backlash from authors who disagree with their feedback or decision to reject their work. It’s important for editors to have strong communication skills and empathy to navigate these difficult situations.

The Struggle to Stay Relevant in a Changing Industry.

One of the biggest challenges facing book editors today is the rapidly changing publishing industry. With the rise of self-publishing and digital platforms, traditional publishing houses are facing increased competition. This means that editors must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in order to remain relevant and competitive. Additionally, the demand for diverse voices and perspectives in literature means that editors must be open to working with a wide range of authors and subject matter. It’s a tough job, but for those who are passionate about the written word, it can be incredibly rewarding.

• You get to work with talented writers and help bring their stories to life.
• You have the opportunity to read and discover new and exciting books before they are published.
• You can make a positive impact on a writer’s career by helping them improve their writing.
• You have a job that allows you to work remotely and on your own schedule.
• You may have to work long hours and tight deadlines, which can be stressful.
• You may have to read manuscripts that are poorly written or not interesting to you.
• You may need to give feedback that is difficult for the writer to hear, which can be uncomfortable.
• You may have to deal with difficult authors who are resistant to your suggestions.
• Unfortunately, the publishing industry is not immune to discrimination and bias, which can make it harder for some writers to get published.
• The pay for editors can vary widely depending on the company and the type of work they do.
• The job market for book editors can be competitive, making it difficult to find steady work.
• The industry is constantly evolving, which means editors need to stay up-to-date on trends and changes in the market.

If you are aiming to be a book editor, then these things are what you should know about before pursuing a career in this industry. 

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Writers' Treasure

Effective writing advice for aspiring writers

• Becoming a Technical Writer: The Good, the Bad, and the Remote
• Technical Writing
• Web Writing

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

When looking to start a career as a technical writer, understanding the general overview of what the job entails and how much you will be making is widely helpful. The best way to create a career that truly fits your lifestyle is to understand the demands of that career field.

This article will discuss some of the important aspects of technical writing, how it differentiates from traditional writing, and some of the pros and cons of choosing the career path.

What is technical writing?

Technical writing is a specific type of copywriting that focuses on written technical information and documentation. For example, the technical writer will write manuals, user guides, and documentation for technical devices or software users. They will also write technical training material for employees or specific technical writers.

The technical writer aims to communicate with specific audiences so they can use specialized equipment efficiently and effectively while using minimal resources possible. This usually means providing proper technical manuals for users who need guidelines to operate machinery or other technical devices not typically used in daily life. However, technical writing can also be for basic software programs used amongst employees of a business.

In recent decades, technical writing jobs have become more specialized, evolving with the technology the profession supports. The type of clients they typically service will depend on their specialization; however, they can include:

• IT Equipment and Services
• Engineering and Architectural Services
• Local and Federal Government
• Manufacturing and Supply Chain
• Manufacturing

How does being a technical writer compare to traditional writing?

Although technical writing and traditional writing are both types of content generation, the two careers can be quite different. This is because technical writers write technical manuals, while people who write traditionally work on fiction or nonfiction copywriting. In addition, technical writers usually have to work with complex resource materials that don’t rely on standard language rules or sentence structure. Because of this case, technical writers have to be very familiar with the equipment, products, or services they are writing about.

Traditional writing, on the other hand, does not require as much previous knowledge of the topic. For this reason, a person who writes traditionally can complete their writing assignment within a relatively short amount of time. For example, a traditional writer can complete a piece of copywriting in only a couple of hours, which technical writing can be extensive. Not only that, but many conventional writers often have the freedom to choose their topic. This can differ considerably from technical writing, which generally has specific guidelines concerning how documents and manuals need to be drafted.

Pros of becoming a technical writer

The idea of writing for a living can be daunting, but the benefits are many. Due to the increasing demand for technical writing skills, technical writers are often in demand and can be compensated considerably higher than traditional writers . Additionally, as technology continues to advance, technical writing jobs will continue to expand. This helps to create increased job security and creates more opportunities for career advancement when choosing to become a technical writer.

Another significant benefit of technical writing is flexibility — especially when it comes to autonomy and location. Many technical writing jobs offer remote and freelance opportunities that allow employees to work from anywhere in the world. This freedom enables writers to enjoy a more flexible schedule and can often reduce stress and increase productivity.

For technical writers, the opportunity to write about topics they are passionate about is another significant benefit. This can help keep writers engaged in what they do and offer writers the chance to learn new things in their field of expertise. Technical writing provides a level of creativity that is not often found in other professions.

Cons of becoming a technical writer

Being a technical writer can be an extremely rewarding profession, but it can certainly have its cons. Becoming a technical writer can involve working long hours in front of a computer screen, staring at technical manuals, resources, and code. Technical writers must constantly research new technologies, and the time commitment for this can be quite extensive.

The main con associated with technical writing has to do with restrictions placed on levels of creativity. Technical writing can feel cold and monotonous at times since the writing requires a particular style or format must be followed. There can also be strict guidelines and limitations on how much the writer gets to say. Technical writing, done right, is all about getting straight to the point and stating things as directly as possible. For writers looking to explore their creativity telling stories or marketing for a brand, technical writing may not be the best career path.

The benefits of becoming a technical writer are many. The freedom to work remotely, such as when you’re traveling , the ability to learn about new technologies, and advance in your career in writing are all great reasons to pursue the career path. While technical writing can be monotonous at times, it offers plenty of creative opportunities along the way with job security and remote working flexibility that many other professions will never have.

About the author : Indiana Lee lives in the Northwest and has a passion for the environment and wellness. She draws her inspiration from nature and makes sure to explore the outdoors regularly with her two dogs. Indiana has experience in owning and operating her own business. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @indianalee3 .

Share this:

Further reading:.

• The Big Picture of a Novel — Part II
• Creative Writing vs. Technical Writing
• Eight professional secrets of self-editing that make you a great writer
• How to pick out a character for your novel
• Four Top-Notch Ways to Polish Your Writing Skills with Creative Writing

2 thoughts on “Becoming a Technical Writer: The Good, the Bad, and the Remote”

Technical writing and fiction writing are both disciplined types of writing in that they require skill to pull off; you must be creative to write fiction.

• Pingback: How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer in the Technical Writing Niche - The Harbor Collection

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Related Post

The power of touch typing in writing the power of touch typing in writing.

We would all like writing to get easier, right?

When your writing medium is the keyboard (typing) , though, it gets difficult. Imagine you are hunting and pecking your way across the keyboard with two fingers but then you spot a typo. You correct it. Then you laboriously continue to hunt and peck again. Once again you make mistakes. Then you correct mistakes. While you are correcting the mistakes, your focus is lost and you have to think again for a while, before continuing and in some cases losing your state of concentration.

It’s annoying without a doubt.

It’s because of this reason many writers continue to use the pen and paper for writing. It’s easier, faster for them, and is more creatively-oriented (you can’t press backspace, editing with red pen feels more familiar and effective in some cases etc.)

But be that as it may, there is no denying that writing using pen and paper is inconvenient in this day and age. So what can we do to make typing less annoying, and maybe, even fun?

I’m sure you guessed what I was going to say: the answer is simple. Learn touch typing. (more…)

• Pen and Paper vs. Computer – Which Do You Use?
• Proofreading: Catching Contextual Spelling Errors
• Editing and Proof Reading – Busting the Myths
• Creative Writing Skills: Do You Have Them All?
• Common Mistakes Made by Creative Writers

Three benefits of becoming a full-time freelance writer Three benefits of becoming a full-time freelance writer

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to  read the guest article guidelines.

Freelancing is nothing new, but for years many people have used it as a “side hustle” or a way to make extra cash to supplement a full-time job. More recently, however — especially throughout the pandemic — more people have started freelancing as a full-time career. There are over 4,500 freelance copywriters in the U.S. alone, and that number is likely to grow as more people make the shift from a traditional full-time career.

Making the decision to become a full-time freelance writer is a big step, and it looks different for everyone. Maybe you’re contemplating quitting your current job, or maybe you’ve been freelancing on the side for a while and you want to make the leap. If you’re still on the fence about full-time freelancing, it’s important to understand the benefits that come with it.

Let’s take a closer look at some of those benefits and how they can have a positive impact on your life as a freelancer.

• How to go full-time as a freelance writer
• How to Retain Customers as a Freelance Writer
• How to market yourself as a freelance writer

The #1 writing advice: write the truth The #1 writing advice: write the truth

First off, this isn’t your typical  Writers’ Treasure  article. It’s even more brilliantly readable, and it has a completely different subject and tone. It’s not theoretical, and it’s not applicable to creative writers . But for all other kinds of writing, it’s the truest advice I’ve ever written.

Interested? Let’s start the session then.

It’s 2015, and although writers have improved the quality of their writing a lot, other aspects of it have fallen by the wayside.

You might be able to avoid the common mistakes and learn to write frequently. But in the end, none of that matters if you’re making not just a technical mistake, but also a moral and ethical one.

As in, you don’t write the truth.

(more…)

• How to Master Clarity in Writing
• How to write great scenes: tips and tools

The Best & Worst Things About Being a Freelance Travel Writer

Every vocation has its pros and cons. and this certainly applies to travel writing..

However, the pros for successful travel writers far outweigh any disadvantages. I had some fun writing down the shortcomings of travel writing and then dreaming up the benefits.

Here’s my take on the plusses and drawbacks of travel writing:

The Cons of Being a Travel Writer

• Forget about financial stability: You’ll find it difficult to make enough money to pay the bills when you’re starting out. No steady paychecks here.
• No medical benefits, health insurance, 401K, etc.
• You must be really good at marketing to continually sell your work.
• Apart from press trips and the occasional conference or workshop, you’re working alone.
• Some of your friends will be jealous of your successes and never-ending travel schedule
• People do not understand what you do. They’ll think you’re a goof off or some kind of nomadic hippie. One of my friends asked me to coach his daughter’s rowing team because he thought travel writing is like being retired.
• You’ll send out plenty of query letters and will only hear back from a few of the editors.
• Most editors don’t provide feedback on your writing, so it’s hard to know if your travel writing is up to snuff.
• When you’re successful, aspiring travel writers will ask you for free advice—tons of it!

The Pros of Being a Travel Writer

• Freedom! You control your own work hours. You can work when you want to. (The reality is that you’ll probably work longer hours than when you were an employee.)
• You are location independent: You can work from home or wherever you like. You can actually be one of those digital nomads.
• You can take vacations when you want to, and where you want to, for free.
• No boss! (except yourself)
• A wide variety of daily work tasks
• Work that continually challenges and interests you.
• You’re doing something you love and will be highly motivated
• If you’re a creative, you’ll love freelancing
• You’ll always be traveling with a purpose. (But, it can be hard to relax completely when you’re traveling.)
• Seeing your stories in print & receiving the paychecks is a double reward for each published story
• When you’re traveling, you’ll discover places and nooks and crannies that few other travelers ever discover, because you’re sharply attuned to looking for those unique little places.
• You know a lot more about your destinations and foreign cultures than most people.
• Your job satisfaction rating is super high. What could be better than traveling the world for free (or low cost) and getting paid for it?
• Roy Stevenson
• Travel Blogging
• Travel Journalism
• Travel Writing

Related Articles:

I think this Con is actually a Pro ;-) “Apart from press trips and the occasional conference or workshop, you’re working alone.”

I have some extroverted writers amongst my close friends, and they do struggle with this aspect….a few love to go hang out in coffee shops (or other free wifi locations) just to be around people as they write, but of course that’s not possible right now and may not be for a while. However, I’m an introvert, so I totally agree with you – I LOVE the peace and solitude of working alone!!

Sorry, Commenting is automatically closed on all Posts older than two years.

Some links on this page do earn us a small amount of money if you click on them and make a purchase. Not much, maybe enough for a cup of coffee or a beer, but we would never recommend any item if we didn't believe in it's value to you. Plus, every little bit helps keep this site going and helps us continue to provide you with great information.  We appreciate your support!

All material on this site is subject to Copyright © 2008 - 2019. All Rights Reserved. No reprint/republication of any materials from this site without written permission from TWE.

Is a Copywriting Career Right for You? Exploring the Pros and Cons

Are you a creative wordsmith with a passion for persuasion? Do you find yourself effortlessly captivating others through your carefully crafted sentences? If so, you might be considering a career in copywriting. As a copywriter, you have the power to influence and engage audiences with your words. But before you dive headfirst into this profession, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons to determine if it's truly the right path for you.

In this article, we'll explore the exciting aspects of a copywriting career, as well as the potential drawbacks. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's uncover whether copywriting is your destined calling or a road better left unexplored.

What is a Copywriting Career?

Definition and role.

In the world of copywriting, professionals utilize their writing prowess and creativity to craft compelling and persuasive content. Their primary goal is to capture the attention of the target audience and influence their behavior, whether it's through advertising, marketing, or other forms of promotional material. The role of a copywriter involves:

• Writing engaging and persuasive copy for various mediums such as websites, advertisements, brochures, and social media.
• Conducting research to understand the target audience and incorporating appropriate tone and messaging.
• Collaborating with clients, marketing teams, and designers to ensure the message is effectively conveyed.
• Adhering to brand guidelines and maintaining consistency in the brand voice.
• Continuously adapting to new trends, consumer preferences, and evolving communication platforms.

A copywriting career requires a strong command of language, creativity, and the ability to adapt to different industries and target markets.

Skills and Qualifications

To excel in a copywriting career, certain skills and qualifications are valuable assets. Strong written communication skills are essential, as copywriters need to convey messages effectively and persuasively. A solid grasp of grammar, syntax, and storytelling techniques is crucial in crafting engaging content .

Additionally, research skills are important for understanding target audiences and market trends. Familiarity with SEO principles and digital marketing strategies can enhance copy's visibility and impact. Being able to adapt to different tones and styles is also advantageous, as copywriters often work across various industries and projects. Successful copywriters have a keen eye for detail and the ability to meet tight deadlines while maintaining creativity and quality.

Pros of a Copywriting Career

Creative expression and writing skills.

Creative expression and strong writing skills are fundamental to success in a copywriting career. Copywriters wield words as their artistic tools, crafting engaging and persuasive content across various mediums. They shape narratives that captivate audiences, creating a connection between brands and consumers. For instance, a copywriter may evoke emotions through storytelling in a social media campaign or use clever wordplay in a catchy tagline for a product launch.

Effective copywriting requires the ability to communicate ideas concisely and compellingly, tailoring the message to resonate with different target audiences . It is the art of transforming mundane information into captivating stories that drive action and leave a lasting impression.

Flexible Work Opportunities

Flexible work opportunities are a major advantage of pursuing a copywriting career. As a copywriter, you have the flexibility to choose your working hours and even work from the comfort of your own home. This means you can create your own schedule and balance your professional and personal commitments effectively. Many copywriters also have the option to work as freelancers, allowing them to take on multiple clients and projects simultaneously.

This flexibility enables copywriters to explore various industries and work on diverse projects, from crafting website content to creating social media ads, giving them the opportunity to expand their skills and experiences.

Variety of Industries and Projects

In a copywriting career, one of the appealing aspects is the broad range of industries and projects you can work on. Whether it's fashion, technology, health, or finance, copywriters have the opportunity to delve into various sectors. This variety allows for continuous learning and exposure to different subject matters, keeping the work interesting and dynamic.

For instance, you could write product descriptions for an e- commerce store in the morning and craft engaging blog posts for a travel company in the afternoon. The diverse nature of copywriting opens doors to exploring new fields and honing your skills in different areas, making it an exciting and ever-evolving profession.

Potential for High Income

One of the major advantages of a copywriting career is the potential for high income. Copywriters who excel in their craft and establish a strong reputation can command higher rates for their services. With the right skills and experience, copywriters have the opportunity to work on lucrative projects for well-known brands, agencies, or even embark on freelancing journeys. This can lead to substantial financial rewards and a comfortable lifestyle. For instance:

• Successful copywriters can earn significant fees for writing sales letters, landing pages, or ad campaigns.
• Projects that require specialized knowledge, such as technical or medical copywriting, often pay premium rates.
• Working with clients in high-demand industries like technology, finance, or fashion can lead to well-paying assignments.

However, building a profitable copywriting career takes time, effort, and continuous improvement in skills and market knowledge.

Cons of a Copywriting Career

Competition and market saturation.

The copywriting field is highly competitive, with many talented individuals vying for the same projects. The influx of freelance platforms and agencies has increased the number of copywriters in the market. Standing out from the crowd requires a unique voice and exceptional writing skills. However, this competitiveness can also lead to market saturation, where clients have numerous options to choose from, making it challenging for newcomers to land high-paying gigs. Building a strong portfolio, developing a niche expertise, and networking within the industry can help you navigate this competitive landscape and secure desirable opportunities. Emphasize your unique selling points to differentiate yourself and attract potential clients.

Tight Deadlines and Pressure

Tight Deadlines and Pressure in a Copywriting Career:

• Copywriters often face tight deadlines and high-pressure situations due to the fast-paced nature of the industry.
• Clients may require quick turnarounds for their marketing campaigns or product launches, putting copywriters under time constraints.
• Meeting deadlines while maintaining the quality of work can be demanding and stressful.
• Copywriters must manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and work efficiently to meet client expectations.
• Handling pressure and staying calm under tight deadlines is essential for success in a copywriting career.
• Examples of coping strategies include setting realistic deadlines, breaking down projects into manageable tasks, and maintaining good communication with clients to manage expectations.

Uncertain and Inconsistent Income

One challenge of a copywriting career is the uncertainty and inconsistency of income. Freelance copywriters often face fluctuating workloads and payment schedules, making it difficult to predict their monthly earnings. This can create financial stress and make budgeting more challenging. For instance, a copywriter may have a busy month with several high-paying projects, followed by a period of few or no clients.

To manage this, it's crucial for copywriters to establish a financial buffer and have a proactive approach to marketing their services to maintain a steady flow of clients. Diversifying income streams by offering additional services or seeking retainer contracts can also help stabilize earnings.

Constant Need to Stay Updated

In a fast-paced and evolving industry like copywriting, staying up-to-date with current trends, techniques, and consumer preferences is crucial. Copywriters need to adapt their writing styles to suit new platforms, technologies, and target audiences. This means regularly researching industry news, reading marketing publications, and attending relevant webinars or workshops.

For example, understanding the shift towards video content and optimizing copy for voice search are vital skills for today's copywriter.

Additionally, keeping an eye on successful copywriting campaigns across different industries can provide inspiration and insights for improving one's own work. To thrive in a copywriting career, a willingness to continuously learn and stay informed is essential.

Is a Copywriting Career Right for You?

Evaluating your writing skills and creativity.

• Assess your ability to craft persuasive and engaging content.
• Consider the range of writing styles you can confidently adapt to.
• Review your portfolio, including blog posts, social media captions, or previous copywriting work.
• Seek constructive feedback from peers or industry professionals.
• Experiment with different writing exercises or prompts to gauge your creativity.
• Look for opportunities to improve your storytelling techniques and ability to evoke emotions through words.
• Keep in mind that continuous learning and honing your skills will be necessary throughout your copywriting career.

Desire for Flexibility and Independence

One of the appealing aspects of a copywriting career is the opportunity for flexibility and independence. As a copywriter, you have the freedom to choose your own schedule, work remotely, and even take on freelance projects. This flexibility allows you to create a work-life balance that suits your needs and preferences. Whether you prefer working early mornings or late nights, you have the freedom to organize your time accordingly.

Additionally, being your own boss gives you the independence to choose projects that align with your interests and passions. You can work on a variety of projects spanning different industries, giving you the chance to constantly learn and grow in your career.

Comfort with Pressure and Deadlines

Comfort with pressure and deadlines is vital in a copywriting career. Copywriters often face tight timelines and high-pressure situations when delivering projects. Being able to handle these demands without becoming overwhelmed is crucial.

For example, when working on a product launch, a copywriter must adhere to strict deadlines to ensure the marketing materials are ready in time.

Additionally, clients may have last-minute requests or changes that require quick turnarounds. Copywriters who can thrive in fast-paced environments and deliver quality work under pressure are more likely to succeed in their careers. It is important to develop effective time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines consistently.

Adaptability and Willingness to Learn

Adaptability and willingness to learn are vital traits for a successful copywriting career. The field of copywriting is constantly evolving, with new technologies and trends shaping the industry. Copywriters must be open to learning and adapting their writing styles to meet the demands of different clients and target audiences.

For example, understanding the nuances of writing for social media platforms versus traditional print media requires a willingness to learn new strategies and adapt accordingly.

Additionally, staying updated on emerging marketing techniques and tools, such as SEO optimization or data analytics, is crucial for staying competitive in the industry. The ability to quickly grasp new concepts and apply them in practical ways is essential for growth and success in a copywriting career.

Considering a career in copywriting? This article explores the pros and cons of pursuing this creative profession. Copywriting offers the opportunity to work with words, be creative, and have a flexible schedule. It can also be financially rewarding if you establish a solid client base. On the downside, copywriting can be highly competitive and require a lot of self-motivation. It may also involve long hours, tight deadlines, and constant revisions.

Alot Careers > Explore Careers

Pros and Cons of Being a Copywriter

Copywriting is quite a different type of writing than other forms. It’s essentially creating marketing or advertising content for companies. While some people think it could be a quick and easy profession to get into, it isn’t for everyone. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of being a copywriter.

Pro: Copywriting is often a freelance position, which means flexibility.

One of the great things about copywriting is that you can work for a company directly, or you can freelance. While a corporate position can offer a lot more stability in your career, freelancing provides more flexibility. You can work from home, which means your potential net of customers is much larger, because you don’t have to commit yourself to a single business. You can also adjust your hours accordingly—if you don’t want to work full time, only want to work once a month, or suddenly decide to take a year long sabbatical, you can do those things.

Con: When you work freelance, there’s no one around to make sure you get paid.

Because of the aforementioned flexibility, being a freelance copywriter can be a great position for someone with a family—as long as you have a stable source of supplemental income. The unfortunate aspect of this is that you aren’t guaranteed work. A company can lay you off if there isn’t enough work for their employees, although there are often benefits and a grace period that allows you to seek alternative employment. As a freelance copywriter, you have to be prepared to find new projects one right after the other—and that isn’t always going to happen.

Pro: You get to be creative and inquisitive.

Copywriting is a form of writing itself. You get to utilize the creativity that comes with all forms of writing, but you also have to enjoy doing research and learning new things. You aren’t writing from your own point of view, you have to be able to express what the company wants. You also have to understand your audience in a different way from someone who’s writing novels or even technical manuals.

Con: You have to keep yourself motivated and be quite disciplined.

Particularly as a freelance copywriter, you have to be able to make yourself work. This isn’t always easy, especially if you work from home. If you don’t have the dedication to keep yourself on task, (freelance) copywriting may not be a good choice for you.

Pro: It can be a lot of fun, with an array of different projects.

Copywriting provides variety. Even working for a single company, you’re often assigned to different products. Whether you’re writing jingles or designing billboards, it’s important to create new and innovative techniques. One of the great things about copywriting is that it seldom gets boring.

Con: It can be an extremely stressful job.

On the other hand, copywriting is not for people with a tendency to become stressed. You may be working with heads of departments or companies who are obnoxiously egotistical bosses. When you have a project deadline coming up, you may have to put in a lot of long hours. Not everyone is comfortable selling themselves, but if you want to find jobs, you have to. For naturally reserved individuals, this can be the hardest part. But what’s perhaps that hardest part for everyone, is that if the work just isn’t there, you’re going to have a lot of trouble making money.

Read these next…

Trending Articles

Build fast custom applications from leading enterprise service providers, what are permanent dentures, turn raw data into actionable insights with data management solutions.

• Collaborators
• Testimonials

The 6 Pros (and 5 Cons) of being a Freelance Writer

Most of us want a carefree, flexible lifestyle that allows us to work when and where we want, or even not work when we want! Freelance work may be the solution, but as with all choices, it comes with its share of both pros and cons…

Flexibility

This may just be my number one ‘pro’ for working in a freelance capacity. Working as a freelance writer can provide you with a flexible lifestyle to give priority and time to things other than work. This may be family, children, volunteer work, study, other types of paid work, or creative side projects. Whatever your passion, you can usually fit it around your work in a much easier way when you have the flexibility of freelance work. Not to mention getting to those dentist and doctor appointments during the week and catching up with other freelancing friends for coffee while everyone else is in the office! The flexibility of freelance also frees up your weekends for more pleasurable activities.

Along with flexibility in work and lifestyle, a wide variety of work, companies to write for, styles of writing and an extensive range of subject matter is a huge pro for maintaining interest in, and passion for, communication work. In just some of my work as a freelance writer, I have interviewed academics and medical specialists, written blogs on bitcoin and block chain, web copy about medical marijuana, articles on economics, developed client communications about mergers and much more. Compared to working in-house and writing the same types of publications year after year for the same organisation, freelance writing can open up your world and you may find yourself writing about things you never knew existed and developing new areas of expertise — a bonus for your ongoing self-education!

Working as a freelance writer often means working from home. While this is not always the case — some clients prefer you to be based in-house while you work for them — most times, you will be based at home to work. This can save not only money, but lots of time at either end of the day; not having to commute to work in any way, shape or form frees up the hours at home and allows you to multitask while you work, or get some small chores done around the house. It can even mean staying in your PJs all day and watching the telly at lunchtime (although you might want to get dressed and go out for a coffee!).

A potentially better income

I say potentially, because it often depends on the client, the job and the project as to what is a ‘reasonable’ rate to charge. This can also fluctuate depending on whether you are quoting an hourly, daily, by piece or by project rate, or whether the client has a set rate. Generally, however, you are likely to be able to charge much more per hour as a freelance writer than you would expect to receive in full-time employment as a communication specialist, copywriter or content producer. Kate of KateTooncopywriter.com.au provides freelance writers with a range of information about the business of freelance writing, including rates and best practice in setting rates. That said, there are also cons to the financial aspect of this style of work, which I will come to shortly!

Peace and quiet

Ah the sound of silence…or the occasional suburban leaf blower. Working from home can allow a greater level of concentration without the distraction of colleagues’ loud voices, coughs and colds, desk-side interruptions and other noise hazards to be found in an open plan office. You also have many more options and variety of choice in where you can write from — take your laptop to the beach on a nice day or sit in your favourite coffee shop for a couple of hours. You can even sit out in the garden or on the balcony for a change in perspective or work while you travel to a meeting. Working from a laptop offers you loads of freedom and ability to change your work location.

As with peace and quiet, the only way to ensure that no one is looking over your shoulder when you are working on sensitive documents is to make sure you are working where no one can see them. This can be difficult in an open plan office where people walk past all day — not to mention ensuring no documents are left up on screen when you leave your desk to make a cup of tea. Working from home can offer much more privacy; however, it is also vital to ensure your home computer or laptop is virus and malware free and that any external WiFi source you use is protected and secure. The onus is on you to make sure your software is up to date and virus protected so that you can safeguard your clients’ intellectual property.

Irregular work

Oh the joys of the hustle. Everyone knows that searching for a job is, well, a full-time job. When you are a freelance writer, or any type of freelancer, you will be looking for jobs, networking, searching, applying, and building your online presence 100 per cent of the time you are not engaged on a project or contract. The saving grace in this situation can be repeat business — a client who likes your work enough to hire you for other jobs. Word-of-mouth is also vital in this occupation, as is social media, a strong LinkedIn presence, and the ability to network. Sites such as Commtract can be a fantastic option to provide freelance writers with an avenue for pitching for jobs you may otherwise not find out about. But in short, the hustle never ends!

Insecure income

Going hand-in-hand with the ups and downs of freelance jobs and short-term contracts, is the insecurity of income that it entails. Lack of holiday and sick leave, no superannuation unless you are good at self-funding your super, and of course, living on your savings ‘between jobs’, all adds up to a rather insecure and sometimes anxiety-inducing lifestyle. Before embarking on a freelance life, I would recommend having some savings in the bank, another form of investment or passive income, or a very supportive partner!

Lack of social interaction

There are days when the only face-to-face human interaction you might have is with your local cafe’s barista. Some days will go by where I haven’t said a single word to anyone but myself. For people who enjoy the office water cooler conversation, a freelance lifestyle may not be for you. However, if you like peace, solitude and your own company for much of the day, you can thrive — as long as you’re able to stay off Netflix as well! For those who do like a little company, this is where having a pet can be of great benefit — and you don’t have to worry about leaving him or her at home alone while you work. Another great option is to join an online community of fellow freelance writers such as Rachel’s List and any associated Facebook pages. This can be a great way to get good industry information, tips and support, and even freelance job leads.

Responsibility for all work and business expenses

From insurances to IT hardware and software to conferences, membership fees and courses, to the internet, phone and the electricity to run them: every work expense you have, you incur yourself. For this reason, you become very particular about the courses you do, the memberships you keep, the insurances you need, and what you can expect to get out of them. A little research into the best options and deals goes along way. Some ‘hidden’ expenses to think about as a freelance writer include professional indemnity, income, and accident/illness insurance. When you are a sole trader, these expenses can really take a toll on your credit card. On the plus side, all those business expenses are tax deductable and will reduce your pre-tax income. And as a freelancer, this can be a lifesaver at tax time. Top tip: if you rent, you may be able to claim part of your rent as a home office business expense. Check out the ATO’s page on allowable business deductions for more information.

Loneliness, boredom and procrastination

All that lack of social interaction and sitting alone in front of your laptop at home can lead down a dark path…to spending hours on Facebook and online shopping sites. If you find yourself lost in the latest Netflix series or binge-watching cat videos on YouTube, the smart thing may be to switch off the computer and go outside for some fresh air and a new perspective. Going for a walk in the park or down the beach can do wonders for the brain and will most likely reinvigorate you to get back to the work, or the search for work. Freelancer Alex Haslam also has these great tips on staying motivated, creating a workspace and most importantly, minimising distractions, when you work from home.

Blog about technical writing

Start a new career or improve your tech writing skills

Pros and cons of working as a technical writer

Are you thinking of becoming a tech writer? Yeah, this job has a lot of advantages and positive challenges! 💪🏼 However, when considering a career switch, you should also take a look at some drawbacks of a given job. In this article, I’ll try to be as objective as possible and walk you through all the pros and cons of being a technical writer .

Table of Contents

Pros of being a tech writer

Let’s start with the positive aspects of this job. Please remember that though I try to be objective, all the advantages below are based on my personal experience. A lot depends on the company you work for and other factors.

International work environment

Many software companies operate globally. That’s why when working as a technical writer for such a company, you have plenty of opportunities to:

• Meet people from around the world.
• Learn about different cultures.
• Travel abroad.
• Practice foreign languages.

All that can enormously broaden your horizons. However, when you consider this career, ask yourself the question of whether you feel good in such an environment. I must admit that I love it. Though it may sometimes be a bit stressful (I’ll never forget my first business trip alone by plane 😅), all my best memories are related to traveling abroad or communicating with coworkers from different counties.

Working in IT

I think it’s fair to say that the IT world is one of the fastest-growing and most exciting industries you can work for. That’s why it provides the opportunity of a stable employment. The demand for people in this industry is huge and still growing.

What’s also related to this advantage is the topic of finances. Although more and more people consider a career in IT, let’s be honest – not all people have the right skills and interests to do jobs related to technology. That’s why the demand for the right people will be still pretty high in the future, which creates a solid ground for salary negotiations.

Working in scrum

Scrum makes your daily work well-organized and predictable. If the company has successfully implemented agile or scrum methodologies, the teams work smoothly and everyone knows what to do and how to plan their tasks.

Possibility of remote or hybrid work

Especially after the pandemic, a lot of companies have opened up for the possibility of a hybrid or remote work. For me, this is a huge advantage, because I’m living on the outskirts of a city and communicating had always been a nightmare for me. Now it feels great that I can work from anywhere I want 😊.

Interesting people

There’s a widespread opinion that people in IT are withdrawn, introverted, and generally nerds. That’s all just a stereotype. I’ve worked in three industries so far – BPO, marketing, and IT – and in my opinion, the ratio of introverted and extroverted people in IT is just the same as everywhere else. As for nerds… they are the most interesting people of all! Especially, if you’re also a nerd 🤓 😆.

Constant changes

There’s one thing you can be always sure of in the world of IT – it is a constant and inevitable change. Sure, it can be an advantage as well as a disadvantage. It’s somehow a part of human nature that we aren’t fond of changes. However, I think that this is one of the most exciting things about IT. Everything we – people who work in IT – do, contributes to these changes, so it’s crucial that you are eager to embrace them.

Sounds exciting? It is, but don’t be surprised when you read below about this aspect as a disadvantage. It’s just important to be aware of how one thing can have a positive as well as a negative influence on your daily work.

It’s fair to say that there are not many technical writers on the job market. Especially the good ones. Why is that? I think it’s because this job requires a rare combination of soft and hard skills. If you’re a developer, people can forgive you if you’re a little bit shy or withdrawn. For technical writers, however, being able to communicate in an efficient way is an extremely important part of their job. As for the hard skills, tech writers must also have an unusual mix of language and technical skills, which not very often goes together.

Cons of being a tech writer

Similarly to advantages, please bear in mind that all these disadvantages below are based on my personal experience.

I also want to stress that the situations I describe in this section may or may not occur and some of them are purely hypothetical. Moreover, remember that they don’t result from anyone’s bad intentions and for most of them the best remedy is patience and good attitute.

While it can be exciting to work in a dynamically changing environment, it also poses some challenges. If a product is developed incrementaly, it can be updated all the time, which means that you will have to update the documentation accordingly. It’s not uncommon that you write something one day and a couple of days later you have to update it.

Changes that you have to get used to may also be related to software that you use in your daily work, the company’s structure and hierarchy, and so on. Basically, if you don’t like changes, this job might be difficult for you.

The position of tech writers

Tech writers’ function in a team is not as obvious as developers, testers, scrum masters, or product owners/managers. That’s why it might happen that your colleagues don’t clearly understand your role or sometimes that your role is underappreciated. This can result in situations, for example, when people forget to invite you to a meeting or include you in an information loop. Basically, all this means that you have to somehow build your strong position and be watchful for problems that might result from underestimating your function.

Asking more than twice

Because IT industry is a very hectic world, your coworkers might often have plenty of tasks on their plates. In many cases, issues related to documentation are often pushed down the priority list. For you, on the other hand, some tasks might be pretty high in your backlog, but completing them requires some input from your coworkers. This can result in situations when you have to ask someone for something not once or twice, but many times 😅. Don’t be discouraged, just be patient 😇.

One tech writer for many teams

There’s a reason why recruiters write in job offers “good at multitasking and prioritizing”. In many companies one tech writer is assigned to a couple of agile teams or a team of tech writers documents for all teams. In both these setups, you have to be well-organized and agile. Let’s be honest: it might be a bit stressful, especially if every team develops a different product.

Additionally, this may cause some problems with a sense of belonging to a team. I sometimes say that being in every team means that you are actually in none of them. Although there are some advantages (for example, participating in many social binding activities 😅 🍽), it may be difficult especially for people who are used to being a part of a team. Of course, I want to stress once more, that it all depends on the company you work for and in many cases, this might not be a problem at all.

Struggle with shyness

Being a tech writer requires communicating with many people on a daily basis. If you are a shy person (like me), working in this job might come with a constant battle with your shyness and introvertism. However, if you’re ready to learn to be more open and less shy, this might be a great opportunity for your personal growth.

Working under time pressure

Software releases are often very stressful. On a release day, the Murphy’s law that “ Anything that can go wrong will go wrong ” is frequently true. This means that you, as a tech writer, might sometimes need to work under time pressure and prioritize your tasks so that the most important goals are achieved.

“It just doesn’t work”

Documenting software, especially in an agile environment, means that you have to work with products that are not yet finished. This means that, for example, there might be plenty of bugs or you have to do some additional things to even use this software before the official release. Sometimes things just don’t work and you have to ask for someone’s help. Remember that there’s nothing wrong in asking for help and it doesn’t mean that you are stupid or something. Quite on the contrary, if something doesn’t work for you, this might mean that you’ve come across a bug that has to be reported and fixed.

Not obvious career path

Some people treat tech writing or testing as a back door to becoming a developer. I’ll be honest with you: usually there are no shortcuts. Programming is not a piece of cake and you can’t learn it without an enormous amount of learning and hard work. However, if you want to become a tester, especially a manual tester, tech writing can be a good place to start.

Ready to become a tech writer?

Are you ready to become a tech writer after reading this article? Great! Now read about the steps that you can take to embark on this exciting journey.

Follow my Facebook page to get notified about new content.

Do you have some questions? Write to me directly on Facebook or LinkedIn .

Recommended Articles

5 quick tips on finding a job in technical writing.

How to prepare a technical writer’s resume?

Use Excel in your daily work

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Additional menu

The Creative Penn

Writing, self-publishing, book marketing, making a living with your writing

How Writing Work For Hire Books Led To Becoming An Indie Author With Aubre Andrus

posted on May 13, 2024

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:09 — 56.1MB)

Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More

How can you blend ‘work for hire', ghostwriting, and being an indie author into a successful hybrid career writing books for children? Aubre Andrus gives her tips.

In the intro, Countdown Pages on FindawayVoices by Spotify; the impact of AI narrated audiobooks on Audible [ Bloomberg ]; Ideas for short fiction anthologies and Kevin J. Anderson's Kickstarter ; Penguin Random House launches internal ChatGPT tool for employees [ Publishers Lunch ]; 2024 is the year AI at work gets real [ Microsoft ].

Plus, reasons for the new theme music, licensed from AudioJungle for 10m downloads (the podcast is up to 9.7 million with the old tune); and planning for my Kickstarter launch for Spear of Destiny .

This podcast is sponsored by  Kobo Writing Life , which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the  Kobo Writing Life podcast  for interviews with successful indie authors.

This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at  Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  

Aubre Andrus is an award-winning children's author with more than 50 books, as well as being a ghostwriter and former American Girl magazine editor. Her books, The Look Up Series, feature women in STEM careers.

You can listen above or on  your favorite podcast app  or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. 

• The background of the American Girl brand
• Pros and cons of work for hire and ghostwriting
• Work for hire best practices to make it worth the money
• Differences in work for hire contracts and payment models
• How to seek out work for hire projects
• Using lessons learned from past projects in your own series
• Creative control over content and marketing a self-published author
• Marketing self-published children's books

You can find Aubre at AubreAndrus.com .

Transcript of Interview with Aubre Andrus

Joanna: Aubre Andrus is an award-winning children's author with more than 50 books, as well as being a ghostwriter and former American Girl Magazine editor. Her books, The Look Up Series, center around women in STEM careers. So welcome to the show. Aubre.

Aubre: Thank you so much for having me.

Joanna: I'm excited to talk about this today. So first up—

Tell us a bit more about you, how you got into writing children's books originally, and how you started out in work for hire.

Aubre: So I started at a kids' magazine right out of college. If anyone is familiar, the company was American Girl. So they publish magazines, books, and also have an extensive doll collection that's very popular in the US.

So while I was working at the magazine, I noticed the book department next door and all the wonderful books they were creating that I had also read as a child. I learned that they were developing all of their concepts in house, and then just hiring authors to execute those ideas.

I also learned that a lot of them were former magazine editors. So it was interesting to me that one day, perhaps, I could leave the magazine and then pitch myself to become one of these authors. So that is what I did.

It was interesting because American Girl was based in Middleton, Wisconsin, in the US. That's very much in the Midwest, not near New York City publishing. So we're very much an island separate from any other type of children's publishing, like the industry.

So even though I got my foot in the door in publishing books, I was still kind of stuck. Like, uh oh, is there any way I can expand this anymore? Do other publishers in New York do this also? I had no idea.

I just started networking at children's book conferences, and frankly, just blindly reaching out to people and saying, “Hey, do you offer any work for hire projects? I've done a couple. I'm interested in doing more.” So I was able to slowly build up that work for hire career.

Joanna: I have a few questions about this. So first of all, I have been in of the American Girls stores in New York. So I am aware of this, but I know some listeners won't be. So can you maybe just talk a bit about that?

I was just fascinated. It did seem to be more modern as in it wasn't just really old school stuff, there were more modern female role models, I guess. I mean, that's what the worry is with these older IP brands, is that they have an old, outdated version of what women are.

Talk about how these IP brands work, and if people don't even know what American Girl is.

Aubre: So it started as kind of like an heirloom doll company from a former teacher and textbook author. So she was really like an educational entrepreneur. So she was sort of not interested in Barbie for her nieces, and she was trying to create something better, in her mind's eye.

So she developed this line of three dolls that were historical characters that then also had a series of six books that accompanied them. It basically was teaching girls what it was like to be a girl back in time.

You know, so what was it like to grow up during World War Two? What was like to grow up as an immigrant coming to the US for the first time? Then it kind of expanded from there, the historical doll collection.

Then it really ballooned into just creating contemporary content for girls. That's what I was a part of at the magazine, which was just like a lifestyle magazine for 8- to 12-year-old girls.

Similar to at the time there was Nickelodeon Magazine, Disney Magazine, Highlights Magazine, like in that same vein, but specifically targeted about girlhood and for girls in that 8 to 12 age range.

Then from there spun the contemporary line of books, and a lot of like crafts, and activity, and recipe, and slumber parties, and just anything that kind of celebrates that girlhood from ages 8 to 12. Then the dolls also then became more contemporary, a line of dolls that looked like you.

Joanna: Like customized content.

Aubre: Yes, and that's really where the company stands today. The historical characters, I think maybe girls today aren't as interested in them, but there is the line of dolls that look like you and you can dress.

They have partnerships with Harry Potter and anything you can imagine, so it's quite a fun company. I loved it as a kid, so it was amazing for me to work there as a grown up.

Joanna: I mean, as business people, we have to think this way. I feel like so often because we are, and the listeners, we're authors first, we're books first, and I think we forget that there's so many other things .

Brands like American Girl, they're good examples. Even if no one is interested in that particular type of thing, the business model is great. I mean, obviously, Barbie does it so well as, as well. So I do like this idea of thinking further than just a book, even if, of course, we're not going to grow a whole empire like this.

You mentioned it was separate from New York publishing. Did you almost feel like sort of second rate? I don't want to use that word, but you know what I mean. Did you find that difficult?

Aubre: I did. I mean, we were so isolated from New York publishing. I think, you know, this isn't an offense to anyone who's working there, I think they would all agree. Some of them have gone on to work for more like New York City publishers, and it is more fast paced, and it's just different.

We sort of had our own little bubble and had our lovely little pace, and we were creating amazing stuff for kids. So I felt like I knew American Girl publishing, but I did not necessarily know children's book publishing. So it was a little intimidating to dive into that.

Joanna: Yes, and on that, I mean, you mentioned networking and going to conferences. I still remember how it felt as a newly self-published author, to feel kind of second rate, to feel looked down upon, to feel like I was a second-class citizen . I imagine you kind of felt that way when you were networking and at conferences.

How did you get through that mindset in order to meet people at these conferences?

Aubre: Well, I mean, I felt that way, that second rate way, in so many ways, because A, I had only done publishing in Middleton, Wisconsin, and then B, I was doing middle grade, which at the time was not hot, not sexy. Everyone was doing YA.

Then I was also doing nonfiction, which also is not fiction, which is where most people want to be. Then also, I was doing work for hires, I wasn't even developing the concepts myself. So there were so many reasons why I felt like a second-rate author. Like, am I a real author? I don't know. So for a while there, I really second guessed myself. Then I just kind of had to get over it like that .

I started working with really amazing brands, like National Geographic Kids and Disney. I mean, these are amazing, and people would kill to have these opportunities . So I just really started embracing work for hire. I get to work on so many fun projects for really amazing brands and IP, and that's really cool. So, yes, I just had to kind of mindset shift.

Joanna: You gave yourself like a talking to and said, make the most of it.

Aubre: Yes.

Joanna: I do think it has to be a mindset shift if people feel that way. Like you mentioned, whether it's the type of publishing you do or whether it's the type of genre you're writing.

What's so funny, I think, with the self-publishing world, is that the romance writers in old school publishing were always looked down upon. People who wrote romance were considered sort of lesser in some way. Now, it's very clear, and it always has been true I think, but before it wasn't so known that they make so much money and they prop up basically the rest of the industry.

Aubre: Exactly. I mean, it blows my mind if anyone ever looks down upon romance. It is the industry, and they are so savvy . I actually keep quite an eye on the romance industry because they are just so smart and what they're doing works. So even though I'm writing books for kids, I'm always kind of peeking over there. Like, wow, they're creating these universes, they're doing this on TikTok. I'm always so impressed by the romance community.

Joanna: They are always ahead. Well done, romance writers listening. I always wish I could do it, but I can't.

Aubre: I'm thinking about it. I'm always like, hmm could I do that? I'm starting to read more in that genre because it is interesting.

Joanna: That's interesting. Okay, so let's come back to the work for hire because, of course, you mentioned some of the great brands you've been writing with. So I guess one thing is that that is an amazing experience.

What are some of the pros and cons of work for hire and ghostwriting?

Aubre: Well, for me, it was a great way to dip my toes into the water, instead of just jumping into the deep end, and slowly build up my skills as an author. I imagine some people who hit it big on their first novel, I mean probably are just absolutely drowning in the industry and don't feel very savvy.

I've really been able to build up a knowledge of different publishers, of different types of projects, discover what I'm good at, what I like . I've really just got a wide range of experience that has only made me a better author.

So after I left American Girl, I took a job in marketing, but I was freelance writing on the side. So compared to freelance writing—because then my dream was to eventually go freelance and just to be a freelance writer—I would have had to take on so many freelance writing projects that pay like two hundred bucks .

I mean, I still see some of these come across my social media feeds. So if they're paying $200 for an article, I mean, how many articles would you have to write and pitch to make a living?

So compared to freelance writing, this is fewer higher paying projects. I like that so much more. I get to control the workload. I can even take on some freelance projects outside of this field. In the past, I've dabbled in content marketing and social media to kind of balance my day.

I don't need to come up with the ideas, I just need to execute someone else's ideas. So it's a little bit, you know, I have felt that I was on a hamster wheel of content production, for sure, absolutely.

There is a hustle element to it of always trying to find the next gig, but I have to remind myself that I'm in control of my workload.

I can turn down a project, if it doesn't pay well, I can hold out for the higher paying project.

I do get a lot of the benefits of a traditional process. I get royalties, I've gone on book tours, I have fan mail, I do school visits, I've done book events . So really, I've gotten everything I wanted out of being a children's book author from these work for hire projects. Also, I see that most books don't earn out their advances.

So there is a balance to it, where I'm like, am I on a hamster wheel? Can I ever get over this hump? But at the same time, I feel like we're all kind of on a hamster wheel. Unless you really hit it big on one huge book project, like you're always going to have to keep pumping out books in a series or—

Joanna: Marketing the backlist.

Aubre: Exactly. I mean, marketing is exhausting as well. So in general, I've very much had a good experience with work for hire. I get my name on the cover and on the spine, depending on the project. I think it just really depends on the publishers you're working for and the relationships you establish. Then from there, you can put your own ideas, you know.

Then the cons would be like, maybe you're working on some projects that you're not as excited about. You can always say no, but you know, when you're getting your foot in the door, you might take on a few things that aren't exactly in your wheelhouse.

I always saw these projects as stepping stones to where I wanted to go , whether it was a stepping stone to get into a certain publisher, or just establish myself with an editor, or kind of wade into new waters.

I kind of slowly stepped into narrative nonfiction and eventually started doing narrative nonfiction novels. Now I'm doing a lot of short story fiction, and I hope that leads to a fiction novel. So there's these ways to slowly build up your skills through work for hire.

Joanna: Yes, I mean, I think some people will be like, yes, but you said they're not your ideas. You're basically writing someone else's ideas, and that, to me, seems one of the biggest issues. So I have co-written a few fiction projects and nonfiction. The fiction, I found extremely hard because I don't play well with others. I was like, I do not want to write anything that is not what I feel is me. So how do you get over that?

I mean, tell us how the process works. If you take one of these projects on, do you get given story beats? Is there anything you can do that's individual or—

Do you just flesh out what someone else has written as an outline?

Aubre: Well, I can speak to my experience in the nonfiction children's book world, and that is often I'm just given like a title . So I really can run with it. You know, I get a lot of control and a lot of the responsibilities put on me to flesh out a project.

I have also done ghostwriting for fiction, so I think it just depends on the project. I agree with you that fiction is much harder. I have a place where I want the story to go, and it might not be the place where what we would call the author—which is the person who came up with the idea, you would be the ghostwriter—where they want it to go.

So you've got to look at it more like, this is my client, and I am trying to make my client happy. On those type of projects, I don't want my name on them. I want my name on the paycheck, I don't want my name on the book.

I think that's how I get over it. I'm just like, this is not mine. I am helping them do theirs, this is their thing, and that is what it is .

In the kids' nonfiction, I've had a ton of fun and a ton of agency to do what I want with the project. They're looking for my expertise to really bring this to life.

Joanna: So the other thing I've learned about people, like yourself, is you have to be incredibly professional, and you have to work to deadline, and you have to do a whole load of things that, frankly, some authors can't do. So tell us about the level of professionalism and your best practices.

How do you get these projects done in a timely manner that make it worth the money?

Aubre: Yes, so most of the projects have pretty quick deadlines, like the writing portion is really just going to be like three months. So I'm a fast writer, my background is in journalism.

So at this point in my career, I just know what I need to do to get this project done. Get your butt in the chair, get the outline, just start writing . I might start at the middle of the book, the beginning of the book, the end of the book, whatever is like hitting me in that moment so that I can get it done.

If some idea is flowing, I'm going to run with it. I'm not going to necessarily write the book from beginning to end because, again, I'm doing a lot of nonfiction. So that has helped me make these projects worth it. Also, maybe not like over researching , because I know, especially with a journalism background, I could easily fall into that rabbit hole.

For the most part, I've had very few projects where I'm like, ugh, that was not worth my time. Those were mostly like kids' craft and science experiment books. Those just take more time because you have to test the crafts, test the science experiments, maybe something didn't work and you have to scrap that whole page or that chapter, do it again. So again, I've just kind of learned that if I'm going to take on a project like that it has to pay quite high.

If I'm going to take on an early reader for National Geographic or something, those are really fun and quick to write and they pay well. So there's such a wide range in the kids' publishing world.

I have friends who do a lot of work for hire fiction, and they are just excellent at it. They love developing story and just pumping it out, like that's their favorite part of the process. They're just going through the process and can just do it as fast as they can. I'm not super fast with fiction, which is why I haven't taken as many fiction projects. I do really well with short stories where I have some constraints, but not the idea of a whole fiction project that is work for hire .

I think, for me, it's good because you are given some characters and a loose outline and an idea. So it's more almost like a writing prompt. You know, like I'm almost getting paid to execute a writing prompt.

So it kind of just depends on if that's something that sounds exciting to you or not. Like, for me, I work good under deadlines, I work good when I have a little prompt and a format. You're often given a title and the page count.

Usually it's part of a series because this is work for hire. So I wrote something for American Girl, it was A Smart Girl's Guide: Travel , and they have a whole Smart Girl's Guide series.

Joanna: So you get a style guide?

Aubre: Yes, like I know what these other books look like, I know kind of how they're divided up. I've read a lot of them. I'm just familiar with it, so it just comes faster.

Joanna: I've met quite a lot of writers who have written in the Star Wars universe, or The X Files. All of these franchises, they do have the book of the TV show or the film. You know, Doctor Who, or that kind of thing. So I feel like this is quite common. It's funny, it's kind of common, but not talked about that much.

Aubre: Well, exactly, which is why I wanted to talk about it.

Joanna: It's so interesting. You said earlier that you do get royalties. Now, I thought this was one of the biggest issues, certainly with some of the worlds and universes that people have written in, is that they do not get royalties. Often work for hire is—whatever's in the contract, obviously—but usually it's: you write it, we pay you once, and you never see any other money. That is kind of the freelance model.

Does that just differ by contract?

I mean, even if you do get royalties, it must only be a small percentage.

Aubre: Yes, it just depends on the contract and depends on the publisher. So I've gotten them for multiple publishers. Then also some publishers decide, well, if we came up with the idea in-house and you executed, then it's a flat fee. If you come up with an idea and we run with it, then we'll give you royalties. So I've had that happen too.

So it just depends on the project, and the publisher, and the budget, and also on negotiating . Most people don't use an agent for work for hire projects because the pay is less. So it's not really financially worth an agent to go seek out these projects.

So when you establish these connections and relationships, you can learn a bit more depending on the publisher . There's certainly a lot of work for hire opportunities that pay royalties.

I mean, I just see like Disney Publishing coming out with a lot of different fiction series and working with big name authors. I have to assume that those are paying royalties. So there's all different levels of work for hire projects.

Joanna: Okay, so you said there's loads of work out there. So how would people get into it if they wanted to? Like I sometimes say to people, well, you can write a book for them, and one for you. You can use it as almost day job type money while you're building up your own stuff.

How would people get that kind of work?

Aubre: So I think particularly in the kids' book industry, it would be beneficial if you had some experience writing for kids.

Whether that be magazines, or your own stuff that you've created, or even if you have a teaching background, you've developed curriculum, or you've created programming and libraries. School teachers and librarians often become children's book authors.

Then I do a lot of networking at, as I said, children's book conferences. So very occasionally there'll be a panel about work for hire, but even if there's not, anytime you meet an editor you can just ask them. “Do you do any work for hire projects? Does your publishing house do any work for a prior projects?” You know, “Do you know an editor who does any work for hire projects?”

You can find a lot of this on LinkedIn too if you search for editors at various publishing houses . Not everybody fills out their LinkedIn, but if you are looking for keywords like “works with freelancers,” “hires freelancers,” like “develops concepts in house,” and then “finds writers to execute them.”

If you look, a lot of these editors work in the licensing division because this is who's in charge of the intellectual property and franchise and those types of projects.

There's so many TV shows, and if you've walked around a bookstore, you've seen this.

So many TV shows, movies, brands who then want to create a publishing program around that IP.

They reach out to a publisher, and the publisher acts as a consultant and helps them develop this program.

Usually, that means they're developing the concept in house, and then they're hiring a writer to execute it. So basically, LinkedIn and conferences is where I've done a lot of my networking. Then I have—I'm a little bit extra—so I have like flown to New York and set up meetings and gone out of my way to really get my face in front of some editors.

Joanna: Then I guess once you've done one or two things, then you know the right people.

Aubre: Yes, then it's much easier to spin those projects into further work.

Joanna: I just want to come back on another of the negative things here. So there's been some court cases around this type of stuff, so if you're writing in someone else's world, even if the contract is that you come up with your own ideas. Let's say you come up with a new character, but you write it into an American Girl world, you no longer have control of that character. That's usually the way it works.

If you've written it into their world, then they own it.

Aubre: Right. I feel like even in the traditional model of publishing, you're giving up the copyright as well. So I don't see it as too different than that way. Even if you pitched your project to a traditional publisher, and they signed you, they would own the copyright to that project, you know.

Joanna: Only if that's what the contract was, how long you assign the copyright to a publisher. Only if they ask for life of term of copyright, do they have it for term of copyright.

I think this is really important in terms of mixing IP. So it might be tempting. Like, I know people who get co-writing deals with bigger names, and then they kind of feel like they want to write a character from their series into someone else's world.

You just have to be so careful with this commingled IP because you don't know. I mean, the thing is that so many authors think, oh, well, my stuff isn't that valuable, and that other person's stuff is more valuable. That may not be where it is in like 20 years though.

Aubre: Right. I've never experienced that. Any fictional character writing that I've done has been in a pretty strict universe , like Disney Princess, you know, where there's very strict brand guidelines. I wouldn't even be allowed to necessarily create a new character. It would really be existing characters within the universe. So I haven't really confronted that.

Joanna: Okay. So it's interesting because, of course, you've done a lot, and you still do a lot of this writing in other universities, but you also have your own series, The Look Up Series.

Tell us more about that and why you're so passionate about STEAM.

I thought it was “STEM” and you used both, I think. Explain that if people don't know.

Aubre: So STEAM and STEM. STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. The A in STEAM is for art . So STEM has sort of naturally progressed into STEAM because, and as I've met many women in STEM and interviewed them, you really can't do a lot of these more scientific and technical fields without a creative mindset.

As a kid, I was always creative and thought that meant I'm an author, I'm an illustrator, that's where I am. I'm not a scientist, I'm not good at math. I t turns out that these more scientific and technical fields actually require you to be super creative when it comes to problem solving or anything. So I have a series called The Look Up Series, and it features real women in STEM. It's targeted for 8- to 12-year-olds, it's like a middle grade nonfiction series.

Each book features a really awesome career, really amazing woman, and sort of what she was like as a kid, what this career is like, how do you get into this career.

So for example, I have Dr. Maya, Ice Cream Scientist . So she's a real woman who is an ice cream scientist. So it's interesting to see how she has her PhD in food science, but she's also being very creative using flavor, and visuals, and ice cream.

It's this cool mix of science, and arts, and just helping kids get excited about really cool careers in science and technology and engineering , and also learning that just because they have maybe been pegged as creative or artsy, doesn't mean that they can't also land in these more scientific and technical fields.

These jobs are really in high demand, you know, as the next generation enters the workforce. We need people to be solving the world's biggest problems, which is often in these STEM fields. There's obviously a huge wage gap and gender gap when it comes to these careers, which is why I'm featuring women. I have diverse women on the cover, just so every kid can see themselves in these roles.

Joanna: What did you bring to your series, in terms of the lessons learned from all these other IP worlds you've worked in?

Aubre: So it was very important to me to, one, create a series. So I'd always been interested in self-publishing. I'd always been traditionally published, I've written more than 50 books for kids for like major publishers.

For many reasons, like we mentioned the content hamster wheel, we mentioned royalties, IP, all that, and I wanted to create my own thing and have more income potential. I also just wanted to write on a project that was purely me that I was super passionate about .

I certainly could have pitched this to a publisher, and I think I could have got some bites, but I really wanted to do it myself. It was a nice test of all of my publishing knowledge. So it was important to me to create a series, so there was more potential in marketing it and making an income . Then I really just got to learn everything.

I would say it's been both easier and harder than I thought . Easier, in that like none of the systems, or the technology, or the gatekeepers behind ads, or awards, or reviews, or whatever are complicated. Like you can definitely figure it out as an indie author.

What was harder for me was like the mindset and the investment, like you really have to cut out to be an entrepreneur. That means spending money on ads and maybe not turning a profit right away. That was really hard, and still is hard for me.

It's an investment, but it brings me back to the books I've written where, you know, a lot of my books are only marketed for couple of weeks. So the benefit is that I can continue to market this series, and it won't get pulled off the shelf. I can recover it, I can retitle it, I can kind of do whatever I need to do with this series.

Also, as we mentioned with American Girl, thinking beyond the book. I can create a web series, or I see a lot of indie children's book authors creating plushies or like little stuffed animals to accompany their books. So there's just like more potential because I chose to do this project on my own.

Then I was pregnant with my second daughter as I was creating the series. I was like birthing five books while also preparing to birth a child. So I created this whole series while I was pregnant with her. It was just like I felt more of a legacy to leave for them. I felt like it was a passion project , and it just felt good to do this project. So that was why I wanted to do it on my own.

Joanna: Yes.

A lot of it comes down to control when traditionally published authors go indie.

Most people say it's creative control, that's the main reason, because you don't have that. Once you've written something, even if you've got a lot of freedom in writing some of these things before, you weren't in control of anything else. You can't fix it later or change the cover, and like you said, there's no point in marketing those projects.

Aubre: Yes, if I'm not getting royalties on a book, what's my incentive to market it, and many books have been taken off the shelf.

So it just felt, as I said, just really good to be in creative control, know that my efforts are going to continue to help this series be a success , and also know that it was just aligned with my beliefs. It was just a project I was truly passionate about. It was funny how it kind of came to be because I was actually pulling onto the Disney campus for a project, I was meeting with my editor, and I passed the Disney Imagineering building.

I used to, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an Imagineer. They're like the engineers and artists that designed the theme park rides, and I had just completely forgot about it. I was like, oh my god, in another life, I would have been going into that building instead of this building. Like, you know, what was missing that I didn't become an Imagineer? So every project informs another project, I guess.

Joanna: Absolutely. Well, it's interesting, I mean, you did mention that you're an illustrator.

Did you illustrate these?

Aubre: Well, I wouldn't call myself an illustrator, but I was always very into art. So on these books, because my background is at American Girl and we were very until girl aesthetic, I decided to make little doodles on the cover.

So the covers have my doodles , which are not great because they're supposed to look like girl doodles. So I have made doodles for American Girl Magazine and some books, but I am not a formal illustrator.

Joanna: So you didn't hire someone separately to do that?

Aubre: I didn't. The books are nonfiction, so each book is sort of a combination of a biography and activity book. So I relied on the women I interviewed to provide a lot of photos from their childhood. Then combined with these doodles of mine, we were able to piece this project together without an illustrator, because frankly, it would have been quite expensive. I was funding this project myself and launching with five books from the jump.

So maybe one day, I'll be able to invest in an illustrator and add that to this project. I know my covers feature real women on them, like we did a little photoshoot . So that makes the series stand out a little bit, in a good way or bad way, in that it's a biography for kids, but it features a non-illustrated cover because these are real women. So it was just kind of a creative decision that I decided to give a try.

Joanna: Yes, because there is a series for girls that has real people, but a sort of cartoon version of them, isn't there? Like sort of Maya Angelou and people like that.

Aubre: Yes, most of them are illustrated. Even if they feature real people, the covers are illustrated.

Joanna: That's interesting. It's interesting that you have based this on, and you've got photos from, real people.

You must have had some proper contracts done to work with those people and use their image and their photos in your books.

Like that must have been a bit of a process.

Aubre: Yes, I did work with a lawyer to draft up some contracts . Also, I didn't want them to think I was like owning their story. Like they can go on and write more books about themselves if they would like.

I basically did the two-plus hour interview with each woman and then translated that into a biography, like a first-person biography. Then I combined it with knowledge of what the field is like, and you know, what this particular career is like.

There were also just questions like: What is college? What is a major? What is a PhD? Then I created some activities at the end so kids can feel like they are an ice cream scientist. We also have Amanda, Toy Engineer , and Angella, Beauty Chemist , and Tracey, Theme Park Designer . So I didn't get to become an Imagineer, but I did get to interview one. So I got part of what I wanted as a kid.

Joanna: That's very cool. I guess that contract with those women—

They understand that they're not getting royalties from the books.

Aubre: Correct. I did compensate them for their time , which is unheard of in a journalistic sense, but I felt that was important. I was really relying on their knowledge, and I think the women I work with are really passionate about getting other girls into STEM. So it was a passion project for them as well. They were very happy to be a part of it.

Joanna: I think all of that is so important. So if people are wanting to work with real people, in whatever situation, there should be communication of what everything is and contractual terms.

The point of a contract is it doesn't need to be confrontational in any way, it's more a case of just making sure everything's right for copyright and all of that.

In the self-publishing space, I get questions from people because people are bootstrapping, they're doing it themselves. But in these cases, it is very important to get all of those permissions and stuff up front.

Aubre: Yes, that's one of the reasons I didn't have an illustrator because of the legal fees.

Joanna: Yes, I get you. Although if people do use an illustrator, for example, then they also need a contract to make sure the copyright is assigne d, and all of that kind of thing. So publishing is a business, like it's a proper business.

Aubre: It is. Absolutely.

Joanna: You've learned that as well. So I do want to ask you about the marketing, because of course, when you're doing work for hire, the marketing is not really your job, but when you're self-publishing, it is your job.

How are you doing marketing for your own series?

Aubre: So I feel like I kind of have two customers. It's the kids' book world, so it's different. So I've got parents, but then I also have teachers and librarians.

So I'm on Amazon, I did KDP, I did print on demand to start with. Then I've also done a print run and have a direct-to-consumer site, thelookupseries.com, so I can offer discounts to teachers and librarians and discounts on bulk orders.

I went to the American Library Association Conference, and it was very clear to me very quickly that they don't have large budgets. You know, they are really tight in these schools and libraries. So it was important to me to be able to offer something off of Amazon where I could offer like a bulk discount.

Then I've got the Amazon business, relying on Amazon ads. I do a little bit of Facebook marketing where I'm offering a free activity download, kind of targeting Girl Scout troop leaders or teachers or anyone who has like a STEM space, like a makerspace in a library.

I've pulled a little activity from Amanda, Toy Engineer and from Tracey, Theme Park Designer , to capture email addresses and build up my email list. I have done the LA Times Festival of Books and some other children's book specific conferences.

My next step is I want to go to more STEM-focused conferences. I live in Los Angeles, and there are a lot of like STEM events for kids. Free one-day events where you can get a booth, and I think that would be a great place for me to be.

So I need to remind myself to step out of the children's publishing world a little bit. I'm very much like, oh, I'm going to go to the library conference and go to LA Times Festival of Books.

It's like, oh, there are other marketing opportunities besides book people . Like there are STEM people and people who are looking for science content for their kids. So I'm trying to be better about marketing on a more broader sense to those people as well.

Joanna: I think that's such a great idea, because let's face it, the children's book conferences are full of traditional publishers, but also all the other books are there. Whereas if you if you've got a booth, and then you're next to some science thing and some genetics thing, you're the only one with books , and that makes you stand out.

So I think that's so good for anyone who writes anything that has a theme, some kind of theme. It doesn't have to be nonfiction, I think you could still do it with fiction, as long as the theme aligns with that.

Aubre: Absolutely.

Joanna: Do you do any live events?

Going into schools or anything like that? Or is that just not scalable enough?

Aubre: I do. I'm looking at building that up more. COVID really took a hit on that. So I had a little momentum, and then it got squashed. Now I'm trying to maybe pick that up again. Now that I have done my own print run, and I can offer bulk discounts and that kind of thing, I feel better about investing some time into that.

So I have done some school visits, in particular, that are more like going into the auditorium for multiple grade levels , something a little bit bigger than just visiting one classroom. I do offer like a free 15-minute virtual visit on my website , just for individual classrooms. I just kind of see that as a volunteer thing I can offer. That's kind of where I'm at right now with that.

I do think it's important that you've done your own print run and are able to offer your books at a discount. If you're buying your author copies from Amazon, from KDP, like I don't know if the financials will start to work out for you.

Joanna: Oh, no, completely. A lot of kids' authors use Ingram Spark, and then the schools can order direct .

Aubre: Yes, so I do have that as well. I just have a little bit more of a royalty from my separate print run.

Joanna: Absolutely. Well, then how do you see your future?

How are you going to balance the work for hire with building your own brand and your own book series?

Aubre: I mean, I definitely focused solely on The Look Up Series for like six months as I was launching them, before I had my second daughter. Then coming back, I really hit the ground running on marketing those books, even more after my maternity leave.

Now I'm doing both, I'm balancing work for hire projects with The Look Up Series. It's actually really nice because with work for hire, like I mentioned, it can feel like you're on a treadmill and hustling your next gig. Now I feel like I can kind of calm down a bit and wait for the next good gig that I actually want.

I know I'm not wasting my time because I'm in the between because I'm working on The Look Up Series. I'm bringing in an income and building up my business for this more financially lucrative potential.

I'm not just like wasting my time waiting around for a project, and maybe taking a project that doesn't pay well or that I don't want to do. I just feel like I'm actually working on something that can last with The Look Up Series.

Joanna: Fantastic.

Where can people find you and your books online?

Aubre: So I'm at AubreAndrus.com . You can check out The Look Up Series at TheLookUpSeries.com .

If you want to learn a little bit more about work for hire, you can go to AubreAndrus.com/WFH. If you're interested, in particular, in like how to break into the children's book industry, you can learn a bit more about my background in that.

Joanna: Fantastic. Well, thanks so much for your time, Aubre. That was great.

Aubre: Thank you for having me. It was so nice to bring this to light. I know so many people who it's their life dream to become a children's book author. So that's why I like sharing this like secret backdoor, this other part of the industry that people don't really talk about.

It's just another skill in your toolkit, like as an author and a writer. If you ever have a goal to write for a TV show or something one day, writing in these IP, and these characters, and for these brands is just always like a really good skill to have.

Joanna: Yes. Well, thanks so much for your time.

Aubre: Thank you.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Connect with me on social media

Sign up for your free author blueprint.

Thanks for visiting The Creative Penn!

I'm a CEO who ran my company from a cruise ship for a month. It requires a lot of discipline, but I'd do it again.

• Tony Fernandes, CEO of UEGroup, managed his company from a cruise ship for 21 days.
• Fernandes experienced challenges with slow internet and communication but found workable solutions.
• Despite the hurdles, he finds value in being offline at times and plans to continue cruising.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tony Fernandes, a 60-year-old founder and CEO of UEGroup based in San Francisco, about his experience working remotely on a cruise ship. It's been edited for length and clarity.

My wife and I are in the post-kid, post-pet phase of our lives. Our kids have gone off to college and we had a beloved dog and house rabbits that have passed away. After they passed, that really opened up a window for us to travel — and we did — but extended travel is new for us.

In November, I embarked on a trip where I spent several weeks leading my company from a cruise ship with my wife. We ultimately circumnavigated the globe on two different cruises and with air travel. Leaving California, we went through Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

It's been a cool experience. But I found that while working on the ship , you do need some discipline — especially on a 21-day cruise.

You have to create a time for work and a time for play

We didn't realize it, but when we upgraded our internet, it upgraded our drinks package. So, it turned out we could get bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne for free.

We had a couple of lunches and dinners where we enjoyed Champagne , but we also developed a rhythm where we had work time and playtime. It wasn't rigid — but there were times when my wife, who does finance at UEGroup, and I knew we had to get things done.

Related stories

Working can set you apart from people who are on vacation. That doesn't mean you can't work in your bathing suit or have a beer before you start your work, but it puts you on a slightly different footing than some of the other people on the cruise.

Expect very slow internet service

One thing I didn't realize prior to the trip was that the cruise ship had only one satellite connection shared by thousands of people. The internet was oppressively slow at times.

For our next long trip, I'm looking into getting a data satellite phone so I can put an antenna on my patio facing the right direction for the satellite. I've still got to figure it out, but there were times when it was really important for us to communicate, and we couldn't.

We're now very mistrustful of statements the cruise lines make about the quality of their internet. For example, we upgraded our Internet, but it turned out the cruise line's definition of upgrading was that we could have more than one device, not that there was any better speed or reliability. You've got to read the fine print about how they define an upgrade.

I would also recommend asking what kind of download and upload speeds to expect.

Create a backup plan for meetings and other communication challenges

Internet access can be unpredictable even with research and planning ahead, so we had backup people for important meetings back at the office. If we weren't able to show up, there was someone prepared with the slide deck. I can't say it didn't create awkward moments at times — and it is one of the downsides — but you can plan for it the best you can.

When my wife was dealing with a bank and needed to get a two-factor authentication code without working SMS, there wasn't much she could do. So, that was a challenge as well.

At some points, I was forced to go ashore and buy SIM cards to leverage local cell service, but this requires research. Depending on the country there might only be one cellphone service that works there, or you might be able to get SIM card brands that work for a larger area.

Being offline can end up being a good thing

I find it hard to be offline, but because the connectivity was so bad sometimes, it just forced it to happen. We were in the middle of nowhere, and it wasn't going to change. In a way, being offline was good because I could just tune out.

My wife and I plan to cruise more in the future and even recently bought a home in Portugal near a cruise port that we're going to commute to using cruises as much as possible.

When we did the math, taking a cruise from California to Portugal was less than two business-class air travel tickets. Plus, you get meals, entertainment, and no jet lag — it seems like the way to go.

If you live or work on a cruise ship and would like to share your story, please email [email protected] .

Watch: Microsoft's chief brand officer, Kathleen Hall, says the company's employees are its best product testers

• Main content

The Pros and Cons of AI in Special Education

• Share article

Special education teachers fill out mountains of paperwork, customize lessons for students with a wide range of learning differences, and attend hours of bureaucratic meetings.

It’s easy to see why it would be tempting to outsource parts of that job to a robot.

While there may never be a special educator version of “Star Wars”’ protocol droid C-3PO, generative artificial tools—including ChatGPT and others developed with the large language models created by its founder, Open AI—can help special education teachers perform parts of their job more efficiently, allowing them to spend more time with their students, experts and educators say.

But those shortcuts come with plenty of cautions, they add.

Teachers need to review artificial intelligence’s suggestions carefully to ensure that they are right for specific students. Student data—including diagnoses of learning differences or cognitive disorders—need to be kept private.

Even special educators who have embraced the technology urge to proceed with care.

“I’m concerned about how AI is being presented right now to educators, that it’s this magical tool,” said Julie Tarasi, who teaches special education at Lakeview Middle School in the Park Hill school district near Kansas City, Mo., She recently completed a course in AI sponsored by the International Society for Technology in Education. “And I don’t think that the AI literacy aspect of it is necessarily being [shared] to the magnitude that it should be with teachers.”

Park Hill is cautiously experimenting with AI’s potential as a paperwork partner for educators and an assistive technology for some students in special education.

The district is on the vanguard. Only about 1 in 6 principals and district leaders—16 percent—said their schools or districts were piloting AI tools or using them in a limited manner with students in special education, according to a nationally representative EdWeek Research Center survey conducted in March and April.

AI tools may work best for teachers who already have a deep understanding of what works for students in special education, and of the tech itself, said Amanda Morin, a member of the advisory board for the learner-variability project at Digital Promise, a nonprofit organization that works on equity and technology issues in schools.

“If you feel really confident in your special education knowledge and experience and you have explored AI [in depth], I think those two can combine in a way that can really accelerate the way you serve students,” Morin said.

But “if you are a novice at either, it’s not going to serve your students well because you don’t know what you don’t know yet,” she added. “You may not even know if the tool is giving you a good answer.”

Here are some of the areas where Park Hill educators and other school and district leaders see AI’s promise for special education—and what caveats to look out for:

Promise: Reducing the paperwork burden.

Some special education teachers spend as many as eight hours a week writing student-behavior plans, progress reports, and other documentation.

“Inevitably, we’re gonna get stuck, we’re gonna struggle to word things,” Tarasi said. AI can be great for busting through writer’s block or finding a clearer, more objective way to describe a student’s behavior, she said.

What’s more, tools such as Magic School—an AI platform created for K-12 education—can help special education teachers craft the student learning goals that must be included in an individualized education program, or IEP.

“I can say ‘I need a reading goal to teach vowels and consonants to a student,’ and it will generate a goal,” said Tara Bachmann, Park Hill’s assistive-technology facilitator. “You can put the criteria you want in, but it makes it measurable, then my teachers can go in and insert the specifics about the student” without involving AI, Bachmann said.

These workarounds can cut the process of writing an IEP by up to 30 minutes, Bachmann said—giving teachers more time with students.

AI can also come to the rescue when a teacher needs to craft a polite, professional email to a parent after a stress-inducing encounter with their child.

Some Park Hill special education teachers use “Goblin,” a free tool aimed at helping neurodivergent people organize tasks, to take the “spice” out of those messages, Tarasi said.

A teacher could write “the most emotionally charged email. Then you hit a button called ‘formalize.’ And it makes it like incredibly professional,” Bachmann said. “Our teachers like it because they have a way to release the emotion but still communicate the message to the families.”

Caveat: Don’t share personally identifiable student information. Don’t blindly embrace AI’s suggestions.

Teachers must be extremely careful about privacy issues when using AI tools to write documents—from IEPs to emails—that contain sensitive student information, Tarasi said.

“If you wouldn’t put it on a billboard outside of the school, you should not be putting it into any sort of AI,” Tarasi said. “There’s no sense of guaranteed privacy.”

Tarasi advises her colleagues to “absolutely not put in names” when using generative AI to craft documents, she said. While including students’ approximate grade level may be OK in certain circumstances, inputting their exact age or mentioning a unique diagnosis is a no-no.

To be sure, if the information teachers put into AI is too vague, educators might not get accurate suggestions for their reports. That requires a balance.

“You need to be specific without being, without being pinpoint,” Tarasi said.

Caveat: AI works best for teachers who already understand special education

Another caution: Although AI tools can help teachers craft a report or customize a general education lesson for students in special education, teachers need to already have a deep understanding of their students to know whether to adopt its recommendations.

Relying solely on AI tools for lesson planning or writing reports “takes the individualized out of individualized education,” Morin said. “Because what [the technology] is doing is spitting out things that come up a lot” as opposed to carefully considering what’s best for a specific student, like a good teacher can.

Educators can tweak their prompts—the questions they ask AI—to get better, more specific advice, she added.

“A seasoned special educator would be able to say ‘So I have a student with ADHD, and they’re fidgety’ and get more individualized recommendations,” Morin said.

Promise: Making lessons more accessible.

Ensuring students in special education master the same course content as their peers can require teachers to spend hours simplifying the language of a text to an appropriate reading level.

Generative AI tools can accomplish that same task—often called “leveling a text"—in just minutes, said Josh Clark, the leader of the Landmark School , a private school in Massachusetts serving children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

“If you have a class of 30 kids in 9th grade, and they’re all reading about photosynthesis, then for one particular child, you can customize [the] reading level without calling them out and without anybody else knowing and without you, the teacher, spending hours,” Clark said. “I think that’s a super powerful way of allowing kids to access information they may not be able to otherwise.”

Similarly, in Park Hill, Bachmann has used Canva—a design tool with a version specifically geared toward K-12 schools and therefore age-appropriate for many students—to help a student with cerebral palsy create the same kind of black-and-white art his classmates were making.

Kristen Ponce, the district’s speech and language pathologist, has used Canva to provide visuals for students in special education as they work to be more specific in their communication.

Case-in-point: One of Ponce’s students loves to learn about animals, but he has a very clear idea of what he’s looking for, she said. If the student just says “bear,” Canva will pull up a picture of, for instance, a brown grizzly. But the student may have been thinking of a polar bear.

That gives Ponce the opportunity to tell him, “We need to use more words to explain what you’re trying to say here,” she said. “We were able to move from ‘bear’ to ‘white bear on ice.’”

Caveat: It’s not always appropriate to use AI as an accessibility tool.

Not every AI tool can be used with every student. For instance, there are age restrictions for tools like ChatGPT, which isn’t for children under 13 or those under 18 without parent permission, Bachmann said. (ChatGPT does not independently verify a user’s age.)

“I caution my staff about introducing it to children who are too young and remembering that and that we try to focus on what therapists and teachers can do collectively to make life easier for [students],” she said.

“Accessibility is great,” she said. But when a teacher is thinking about “unleashing a child freely on AI, there is caution to it.”

Promise: Using AI tools to help students in special education communicate.

Park Hill is just beginning to use AI tools to help students in special education express their ideas.

One recent example: A student with a traumatic brain injury that affected her language abilities made thank you cards for several of her teachers using Canva.

“She was able to generate personal messages to people like the school nurses,” Bachmann said. “To her physical therapist who has taken her to all kinds of events outside in the community. She said, ‘You are my favorite therapist.’ She got very personal.”

There may be similar opportunities for AI to help students in special education write more effectively.

Some students with learning and thinking differences have trouble organizing their thoughts or getting their point across.

“When we ask a child to write, we’re actually asking them to do a whole lot of tasks at once,” Clark said. Aspects of writing that might seem relatively simple to a traditional learner—word retrieval, grammar, punctuation, spelling—can be a real roadblock for some students in special education, he said.

“It’s a huge distraction,” Clark said. The student may “have great ideas, but they have difficulty coming through.”

Caveat: Students may miss out on the critical-thinking skills writing builds.

Having students with language-processing differences use AI tools to better express themselves holds potential, but if it is not done carefully, students may miss developing key skills, said Digital Promise’s Morin.

AI “can be a really positive adaptive tool, but I think you have to be really structured about how you’re doing it,” she said.

ChatGPT or a similar tool may be able to help a student with dyslexia or a similar learning difference “create better writing, which I think is different than writing better,” Morin said.

Since it’s likely that students will be able to use those tools in the professional world, it makes sense that they begin using them in school, she said.

But the tools available now may not adequately explain the rationale behind the changes they make to a student’s work or help students express themselves more clearly in the future.

“The process is just as important as the outcome, especially with kids who learn differently, right?” Morin said. “Your process matters.”

Clark agreed on the need for moving cautiously. His own school is trying what he described as “isolated experiments” in using AI to help students with language-processing differences express themselves better.

The school is concentrating, for now, on older students preparing to enter college. Presumably, many will be able to use AI to complete some postsecondary assignments. “How do we make sure it’s an equal playing field?” Clark said.

Sign Up for EdWeek Update

Edweek top school jobs.

Sign Up & Sign In

Being an older parent has its pros and cons. I'm financially stable, but my kids will get less time with their grandparents.

• I didn't worry too much about when I'd have kids when I was growing up.
• I got my career on track and was financially stable before my husband and I started our family.
• Being an older parent has its pros and cons, but in the end, it's the right thing for me.

I was never a child who wanted to play house or dolls, and being a mom wasn't something I ever really thought about early in life. It wasn't that I hated the idea; it was more like I was oblivious to it as an option for me personally. Because of this outlook, I spent much of my young adulthood pursuing other interests and not thinking about biological clocks ticking.

Then, I met and married my husband in my 30s, and we decided we wanted to try to have a baby. We were lucky that I was able to become pregnant easily, and we welcomed our first child just before my 35th birthday. We eventually ended up having three children over the course of the next five years, so our last child was born around my 40th birthday .

The upsides of being an older parent

One of the things I love most about being an older parent is how much of my life I lived on my own terms in my 20s and early to mid-30s. I spent months backpacking through Europe alone. I've lived all over the country, from Washington, DC, to San Francisco. I dedicated time to following a career path in the way I wanted, working for a small startup as one of the first 100 employees. That company was Yelp, and it went on to IPO and is still a huge success; because I had the time and energy to dedicate myself to the role, I feel an inordinate amount of pride in being part of that story.

Most important to me, though, is that I was financially and mentally more resilient and responsible when I became a mother than I would have personally been at an earlier age. As a child whose own parents were only 17 when I was born, this was hugely important to me.

The challenges of being an older parent

Being an older parent has many positive aspects, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of the challenges. One of the bigger ones is that our children will likely have less time with their grandparents . Unfortunately, two of their grandparents have died in the last few years, and my youngest two children likely won't remember those grandmothers.

I also think a lot about the fact that my husband and I won't have an "empty nest" until we are nearly 60. Sometimes, it feels like a long time to wait until we can once again take trips just for two or to have more space in our home for us.

Finally, playing with younger children gets more tiring the older you get. As I near 50, I find I have less and less desire to play games like "monster chase," which is a bummer for my youngest, who, like all small children, loves the thrill of being chased by a person they unequivocally trust.

I'm happy with my choice

At the end of the day, I'm glad I made the decision to become a mother, and I'm also glad that I waited until I was older . I believe that when you have children, you are giving up a huge portion of your time and energy to raise them, no matter when you do it.

In my case, I preferred to take the energy and inexperience of my youth for travel and work and then use the maturity and settledness of my older years to impact my parenting positively. While I can see the appeal of doing things the other way around, for me, waiting longer than average still feels like the right choice that has had the best outcome for our family.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.