\tThen there is the writing itself: Jerry Pournelle points out that an aspiring writer should plan on throwing away about a million words. This is not masochism, but simply the nature of learning how to write. It is one thing to have read extensively, it is another thing to start putting into practice what you\u2019ve seen. It will take awhile to get to the place with your writing that anyone else will want to read what you\u2019ve put down. Or enjoy it.<\/p>\n
\tTo be a successful writer, you\u2019ll also need to develop self-discipline, along with drive, determination, and perseverance. Most writers face constant rejection of their work, especially at the beginning of their careers. It can take years of work before you start seeing any payoff and if you are easily discouraged, if you don\u2019t believe in yourself, then you simply won\u2019t make it. Steel yourself to long years of struggling with nothing but a stack of form letters from editors telling you \u201cno.\u201d Also, if you have dreams of becoming rich from writing, you should abandon that immediately. Very few authors ever become wealthy; most struggle on the edge of bankruptcy instead. You have to decide to write because it is something you need to do, not because you imagine it is a road to financial well-being.<\/p>\n
\tDue to the years of, well, failure that you\u2019ll likely have to endure, it is important that you either have a day job (or night job) to keep a roof over your head and power going to your computer\u2014or else that you have a patient and loving spouse who is gainfully employed and who is willing to support your odd career choice. Tied to this, you need to be willing to put up with the derision or even hostility of acquaintances and relatives who will not think your choice is a good one, since it is clearly not a wise choice, if wise is defined as \u201clikely to lead to making money on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tOnce you do start finding publication, you\u2019ll still have to endure rejection. Just because you\u2019ve sold one book doesn\u2019t mean other editors will be accept your next effort. Additionally, those who criticized your path will not be that impressed by the fact that you sold a book, especially when they learn how much you actually got paid for it. Although the popular belief that authors are wealthy people may work to your advantage for awhile, once your relatives see that you\u2019re still driving the same five year old car and have yet to move to the Hamptons, they\u2019ll start to suspect the truth.<\/p>\n
\tAlso, even if you manage to sell a book to a major New York publisher, the equivalent of landing a spot on a major league baseball team, your friends and relatives will not be as impressed about it as you are. People will not like you more or pay attention to you more just because you published a book. Since, you\u2019re not a major league baseball player, after all.<\/p>\n
\tFinally, being a writer requires recognizing that writing is no different than doing any other sort of job. You have to get up in the morning and start working, cranking out the text. Waiting for inspiration or the muse might be the fodder of movies and bad TV, but is not a part of a working writer\u2019s experience. If you wait for inspiration you won\u2019t get much written. If you\u2019re a writer, you write, much in the same way that a ditch digger digs.<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/nettelhorst.com\/blog1\/wp-content\/plugins\/send-to-kindle\/media\/white-15.png\")
Send to Kindle<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One of the keys to becoming a writer is first to be a reader. I don\u2019t think I would have ever thought of writing for a living if I hadn\u2019t been an avid reader. My mom would read stories to … Continue reading