Unlocking the secrets of Writing As A Career

Long hours of nothingness with not a word on the screen or pages when the deadline is near is the most feared as well as the most recurring event in a writer's life. The computer screen glares at your blood-shot eyes for even the slightest reciprocation of creative love, but all it sees is an anxious editor or, if you are at home, a bored spouse looking over you. Those are the daunting challenges that a writer has to come to terms with. Needless to say, there are not many people in the country who have the audacity to tread this uncertain and a rather haphazard path, but those who did dare have not returned dissatisfied. Allow me to walk you through the maze of taking up writing as career and to alleviate some, if not all, of your fears.

Following Is A List Of Some Career Options Involving The Art Of Writing:

Self-publishing

Many writers began as a blogger and still maintain a blog of their own. Chances are that if your blog is interesting and accurate (interesting alone may not suffice), publishers will either pick up your article for republishing or even better, pick you as a guest contributor. With websites, such as Scribd, you can self-publish and distribute your book/e-book online. While most self-published books/e-books have been dealing with self-improvement topics, you could choose to stray away from the mainstream by breaking into other categories, such as science fiction.

Freelancer

Freelancing is typically associated with service. It entails flexible workload and non-committal to any one employer or independent provision of services, which spreads out your reach across multiple companies, increasing the probability of landing more work. Freelance writing is mostly common in journalism and screenplay. However, freelance writers usually begin with little office experience, so publishers might be initially reluctant to source work from them. Therefore, establishing yourself as a credible freelance writer with a significant track-record might take you a while.

Novels

The genre could be anything, but the writing style usually follows a creative flair and a certain structure. You may choose to write a novel, a memoir, a collection of short stories, a travelogue, or an anthology of your best opinion pieces that have been published by dailies previously. This is by far the hardest (and costlier than the rest) and will test your patience till you are on the verge of giving up. What will help you during this phase is a mentor or a fellowship guiding you through the writing process, providing feedback on your work, and developing your skills. Writing fellowships and workshops take place regularly around the world.

Comics

Mention this category and you will most likely face a bunch of perplexed well-wishers looking at you with sympathy, in the ardent hope that you “grow up,” and yet, Tintin, Chacha Chowdhury, Spider Man, Archie, and the Hulk have become household names and shaped a world of their own despite being fictional characters. Truth is that generations have grown up reading (and collecting) comic books, and this habit is not withering away anytime soon according to estimates available online. If there is one thing that makes us all nostalgic, it would be a comic book that we would read – under the table – in class, and then trade it for another during the break. Creators of online memes may find this category interesting.

Journalist

Journalism involves plenty of roles, such as the reporter who collects information from sources, the staff writer who writes the article in the proper grammar and style, and the editor who checks for linguistic as well as content accuracy, among many other different roles. Since journalism is crucial in shaping public opinions on a mass scale, it also involves numerous principles for a free, fair, and accurate reporting. Online journalism is becoming increasingly popular. World Pulse, a social media enterprise based in USA, picks up articles focused on women's rights from around the world and delivers them to influential media outlets, such as the Huffington Post and United Nations Women's Reporting Network. In Bangladesh, traditional print media still reigns and numerous papers and magazines are joining the scene.

Copywriter

Copywriting, like journalism, involves multiple roles, such as crafting direct mail, creating taglines, writing jingle lyrics, and preparing social media content. Broadly, copywriting is the act of writing for the purpose of advertising or other marketing activities. If you believe you can do much better than lifting up foreign songs to advertise a product or a service (we are tired of cringe-worthy jingles and taglines), then this might be the best fit for you. While almost anyone can craft a message within 140 characters, the process of creating one that disrupts the noise, reaches the target audience, and communicates the desired information is complex and requires careful thought. The shorter your word limit, the harder it is to fully express yourself.

Scriptwriter

Picture Hollywood, Bollywood, and Sir Ananta Jalil while you read this category. Mass media is a powerful mean of establishing a nation's identity and culture in the global scene. In Bangladesh, this concept is gaining momentum only recently, which means the time is ripe for aspiring scriptwriters. Films and television programs are in dire need of good scripts. Owing to the arduous storytelling and imaginative processes of script-writing, it ranks close to book-writing in terms of difficulty, investment, and overall risks, but it is also more rewarding when a script combined with great direction wins accolades from the masses as well as international critics.

Publishing houses are constantly seeking out new talent. The industry can be a profitable one if writers nurture the talent. While the writing career may not make you a millionaire overnight (which line of career does?), there are other benefits, such as the opportunity to travel and meet new people, which might interest you.

Here are certain steps you can take to venture into writing:
1. Have a regular routine for writing as well as reading.
2. A strong passion for writing is not necessary initially, but you must possess the basic interest for writing (or even public speaking because writing lets your opinions to be heard).
3. Follow websites, such as World Pulse and Commonwealth Writers, which provide regular updates and opportunities pertaining to writing.
4. Follow other writers and take lessons from their struggles and routes to success.
5. Learn constantly and explore new genres. If you are into environmental reporting, take an active interest in fashion and entertainment, and you might just surprise yourself and your editor for being an all-rounder!
6. Take the help of a mentor or writing fellowships to hone your skills.