It is interesting to me that we ask a question about the writing life that we do not ask about other professions. For example, we do not say, “What are your odds of making it as an investment banker? As an elementary-school teacher? As a chemist?”
In those, and most professions, we assume that an interest in pursuing the career implies a probably proclivity for it and a reasonable chance for success. Not so with writing. The truth is, when you want a writing career and are willing to do the work to get it, the odds work with you, not against you. This is a simple metaphysical law.
Julia Cameron, The Right To Write
The key statement above: “and are willing to do the work to get it.”
Of course, it helps to have the tools to do the job (know enough words *heh* and how to string them together effectively) and some talent, but as Jerry Pournelle (and the guy’s been writing for a living for over half my life) says, in order to become a writer, you must write. A lot. And more.
🙂
And keep doing it. It was Spider Robinson (I think, but don’t put money on it :-)) who said in a 2000 collection of his work that the title story of the collection had been submitted and turned down multiple times–thirteen times!–before he resubmitted it–unchanged–to the first person, Ben Bova, he’d submitted it to… and it was published.
Times–in a short year or so–had changed and what had been unpublishable had become publishable not because it wasn’t a good story to begin with but simply because… times had changed. As Spider erecounts it, Bova told him,
“Spider, that was an election year—remember? And then you expect me to buy a story where the alien villains are basically giant killer farts, named `Musky’?” He shook his head emphatically. “Nixon that.”
*heh*
Good story, BTW. And Spider’s proven himself consistently readable (and publishable) for over 35 years now. HAd already been published at the time of the story’s forst rejections(s), and knew what a good story (and good writing) was. It wasn’t the story, it was the timing. The key? Keep on writing, keep on submitting material, keep on getting better at what you want to do.
But then, those same kinds of things help in other fields of endeavor, too, it’s just that in many fields they do not matter as much. Investment banker? Not so much. WalMart checker? Not at all (hardly :-)). Musician, writer, graphic artist, darned near anything creative? Essential.
Talent–and even ability–will only carry an artist so far. After that, it’s sheer hard work, grit and tireless effort to continualy be better, to persevere, to make the dream happen.
Of course, what the dream is depends on the individual. And that’s another comment–maybe an essay or blogpost–all its own.
Nice perspective, which is the key. As a part-time musician, the salary I would consider a successfully salary as a musician is vastly different from what an investment banker would consider as successful (if one uses salary as the ruler).
I agree. My fella, also a musician, told me a story about the guitar instructor that he had when he was a teen. This man had been able to support his family during the depression by teaching guitar. Now, my fella, performs and also teaches guitar…and he does very well. He tried to do this a few times over the years but it didn’t quite stick. SOmething happened in the stars about 5 years ago…and he has been thriving with his dream profession ever since. brilliant indeedy!!!!