Writing for a living

[Christmas Tree 4669]

Does anyone have any knowledge of how hard / easy it is to get into and whether there is much money to be made for the average joe with a half decent book. I have always wanted to write childrens stories (think gruffalo), but have never really looked into it.

 

Anyone else have a dream job that is not impossible but seems so improbable that they don't go for it.

[Jimbo 172]

I've always liked the idea of writing, I looked into doing creative writing classes etc and even began drafting a novel but thus far it's not really got going at all, I've got all the good intentions but so far I lack the creative spark or inspiration to push it further.

[Renton 21037]

I'd love to be a writer. I mean a proper one, not just rewriting other people's work which I do now. Deep down I know I'm not good enough though and never will be.

[SloopJohn 0]

most people want to write a book.

 

it's one of those widespread unfulfilled wishes.

[Guest alex]

Does anyone have any knowledge of how hard / easy it is to get into and whether there is much money to be made for the average joe with a half decent book. I have always wanted to write childrens stories (think gruffalo), but have never really looked into it.

 

Anyone else have a dream job that is not impossible but seems so improbable that they don't go for it.

Being good at it's the hard part.

[snakehips 0]

I imagine Jimbo would end up being a 21st Century D.H. Lawrence if he wrote a book!

[Ayatollah Hermione 13760]

Does anyone have any knowledge of how hard / easy it is to get into and whether there is much money to be made for the average joe with a half decent book. I have always wanted to write childrens stories (think gruffalo), but have never really looked into it.

 

Anyone else have a dream job that is not impossible but seems so improbable that they don't go for it.

Being good at it's the hard part.

 

Pretty much. You can write and write and write and improve but if you're not any good to start with, it'll never be published. I'd say just get it down on paper and then, maybe someone else here can help you with the specifics. Even if it doesn't get anywhere, you'll have fulfilled an ambition of writing it.

[Renton 21037]

A mate of mine wrote a book once while he was on the dole. It was an 800 page epic. He wanted me to proof read it and provide feedback. It was the worst piece of turgid crap I've ever laid eyes on. I made it to page 6 before giving up and telling him not to give up his day job (which was nothing, obviously). Needless to say he couldn't find a publisher.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

I'd love to be a writer. I mean a proper one, not just rewriting other people's work which I do now. Deep down I know I'm not good enough though and never will be.

 

You cant say that man! There are all sorts of different levels of writing. You might not be Shakespeare but you may be a mills and boon or whatever interests you.

 

I have always liked a good kids bedtime story but have lately become so frustrated at how many stories are just bland and quickly lose a childs imagination . Yet some tucker is getting paid for just that.

[Guest alex]

I'd imagine kids books of the type you're on about are as much about the illustrations as they are the stories themselves. Not that the stories and characters aren't crucial but don't they tend to collaborations between writers and illustrators. Absolutely no idea how one goes about getting into that btw, sorry.

[Guest Stevie]

Does anyone have any knowledge of how hard / easy it is to get into and whether there is much money to be made for the average joe with a half decent book. I have always wanted to write childrens stories (think gruffalo), but have never really looked into it.

 

Anyone else have a dream job that is not impossible but seems so improbable that they don't go for it.

Everyone here would probably say their dream job as a bairn was to be a footballer, but you need so much luck, focus and dedication. It isn't all about talent, I bet there are people in this forum with more natural ability than some professional footballers, you just need everything to click in to place, not just in football but in any job where there are infinitely fewer opportunities than people willing to do it.

 

My ambition was to be a journalist of sorts, I don't think that could ever happen now, I'd need to go and get a degree for one, and fuck that, but good luck in whatever dream you chase.

[Guest alex]

I appreciate it's not the same as being chief football correspondent for the Daily Telegraph but loads of people on here could do Lee Ryder's job imo. The same people probably already earn more than he does though.

[Douggy B 0]

My dream job as a boy was a dustbin man.

 

Purely because it looked like fun riding on the back of the lorry.

 

Thank god I didn't follow through with that.

[snakehips 0]

I appreciate it's not the same as being chief football correspondent for the Daily Telegraph but loads of people on here could do Lee Ryder's job imo. The same people probably already earn more than he does though.

 

I was just about to mention that chap. If he can do it, anyone can do it.

[snakehips 0]

My dream job as a boy was a dustbin man.

 

Purely because it looked like fun riding on the back of the lorry.

 

Thank god I didn't follow through with that.

 

Must be a 'southern/northern' thing. It was always considered a canny job up here to be working the bins.

[Big Onion 0]

A lad I used to play football with wrote poetry. I was an avid lit' student at the time and thought his stuff was awful.

 

He's now (20 years later) had loads of stuff published and is fairly well known in littererchewer circles

 

I still think it's fairly pap like.

[Guest alex]

Did HTT ever finish his book on NUFC btw?

[Renton 21037]

I'd love to be a writer. I mean a proper one, not just rewriting other people's work which I do now. Deep down I know I'm not good enough though and never will be.

 

You cant say that man! There are all sorts of different levels of writing. You might not be Shakespeare but you may be a mills and boon or whatever interests you.

 

I have always liked a good kids bedtime story but have lately become so frustrated at how many stories are just bland and quickly lose a childs imagination . Yet some tucker is getting paid for just that.

 

I reckon writing kids books is probably an awful lot harder than it would first appear. Plus its competitive. If you have a genuinely good idea though, go for it.

 

I was actually a good creative writer as a kid, but now I have no spark at all. More realistically instead of fiction I'd like to write popularist books about science, maybe in a Bill Bryson style, but there are dozens of people out there already doing a far better job than I could. So now I'm concentrating on editing, which I reckon I might be quite good at, hopefully.

[snakehips 0]

A lad I used to play football with wrote poetry. I was an avid lit' student at the time and thought his stuff was awful.

 

He's now (20 years later) had loads of stuff published and is fairly well known in littererchewer circles

 

I still think it's fairly pap like.

 

*clears throat*

 

*strikes 'the pose'*

 

*adopts the Jonny Gielgud voice*

 

 

 

On yonder hill, stood a cow.

It must have shifted, caus it's not there now.

[Renton 21037]

A lad I used to play football with wrote poetry. I was an avid lit' student at the time and thought his stuff was awful.

 

He's now (20 years later) had loads of stuff published and is fairly well known in littererchewer circles

 

I still think it's fairly pap like.

 

*clears throat*

 

*strikes 'the pose'*

 

*adopts the Jonny Gielgud voice*

 

 

 

On yonder hill, stood a cow.

It must have shifted, caus it's not there now.

 

 

Profound!

[Guest alex]

Short stories are probably the place to start imo. Less of a commitment than a novel and more natural than poetry. You'll get some idea if you're any good without the pain of having your novel taken to bits. I don't think there's much money in it unless you're very successful though.

[Renton 21037]

Short stories are probably the place to start imo. Less of a commitment than a novel and more natural than poetry. You'll get some idea if you're any good without the pain of having your novel taken to bits. I don't think there's much money in it unless you're very successful though.

 

Definitely. Grow a thick skin too.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

I'd imagine kids books of the type you're on about are as much about the illustrations as they are the stories themselves. Not that the stories and characters aren't crucial but don't they tend to collaborations between writers and illustrators. Absolutely no idea how one goes about getting into that btw, sorry.

 

 

This is very true and I believe can make a big difference when the book lands on a publishers desk.

[Big Onion 0]

A lad I used to play football with wrote poetry. I was an avid lit' student at the time and thought his stuff was awful.

 

He's now (20 years later) had loads of stuff published and is fairly well known in littererchewer circles

 

I still think it's fairly pap like.

 

*clears throat*

 

*strikes 'the pose'*

 

*adopts the Jonny Gielgud voice*

 

 

 

On yonder hill, stood a cow.

It must have shifted, caus it's not there now.

 

 

Gielgud was an awful reader mind - he was accused of 'singing', much to his annoyance. Richard Burton was the boyo

 

I came across some of my own pathetic attempts a couple of years ago, cringed, and quickly got rid of the evidence

[Christmas Tree 4669]

My dream job as a boy was a dustbin man.

 

Purely because it looked like fun riding on the back of the lorry.

 

Thank god I didn't follow through with that.

 

Must be a 'southern/northern' thing. It was always considered a canny job up here to be working the bins.

 

And is again!