I'VE GOT A DREAM!
Career Research Paper: Author
WHAT I KNOW
From a young age, I have been obsessed with all aspects of creative arts. Singing, acting, dancing, you name it, I loved it, and I still have a passion for it to this day. Within this scope lies the career choice I have decided to research: creative writing. Ever since I could talk I have been making up fantastical, purely fictional stories. Many of these plots transformed into “games” that my cousins and I would play together. Looking back, my stories were quite complex for my age, though they all followed the same formula. I would be the hero, one of my cousins was the sidekick, and another one was the villain. There would always be an obstacle we needed to overcome to reach our final destination, and the villain would be required to “hypnotize” one of us (me) to do her bidding for some added flair. I am fairly certain that most of these stories were inspired by Barbie and Disney movies since I was a “sponge” in elementary school; I would sop up every personality trait and plotline that came my way. (Due to this, my parents needed to be cautious about what they let me read and watch, but I digress.)
As I matured and the stories became more complex, I started writing them down. This began on a fanfiction website called “Wattpad” where I would write fictional stories about Broadway actors, and this helped me become a better writer in years to come. Recently, I have graduated from writing about real people to writing about cartoon characters (which is much less violating). My stories moved from Wattpad to Tumblr and Archive of our Own (another, cooler, fanfiction website.) This was where my love for writing truly blossomed. During the 2020-2021 period of Coronavirus, there was nothing else to do but keep up an online presence, and I took this to the next level. Through my roleplay account, my (forever unfinished) comic project, and my writing headquarters on Discord, I was writing 24/7. With one look at my Ao3 account, the average viewer could tell that this was my coping mechanism. My finest work on Archive was a fourteen-chapter, finished fanfiction entitled “Encased in Lies.” The rest of my stories, unfortunately, were not as lucky (I never completed another multi-chapter work).
So, this brings me to where I am in 2022. I am still writing, not as much as I used to, and the creative juices are still flowing. With this newfound passion, I have set my sights on becoming an author in the future. Be it part-time or full-time, I would love to get my stories out into the world. I know that this job takes perseverance, motivation, (the ability to complete more than one novel), and a tough skin for criticism, but I am willing and ready to try. Being an author is not a walk in the park, there are obstacles both in the writing process and in the real world to consider, but through my immersive, two-year hobby I think I have already experienced a lot of what writing has to offer. This career choice might not become a reality for me, and that’s okay. I will still continue to write even if it’s in a small circle of friends. However, getting published someday would be a dream come true, and I would love to learn more about this profession and how I can succeed in the writing world.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
With any job, it is vital that one knows what they are going into before they begin. Any writer, novelist, or author reserves the right to formulate their own way of drawing inspiration and writing their stories, but there are some key technical elements that are very important to know before the creative process starts. First of all, if I am going to be a writer, I must know the educational requirements that I need to fulfill. Since I am about to go to college, I can structure my classes around this profession and ensure that I have enough schooling to take me where I want to go career-wise. Secondly, I must know the job description of an author and what the job entails. As I stated before, I do not want to go into a profession without knowing anything, so, in my research, I must make sure that I know exactly what kind of job I am pursuing. Along with this question comes the topic of an average salary. I must be able to make a living with this job and support my family in the future. Furthermore, it is possible that knowing the salary may turn me away from pursuing writing as a career. I know that writing, along with all creative careers, is a risky profession, and I might have to take a job on the side if necessary.
Along with technical questions, I also have some questions in the creative realm. For starters, I would love to know about the best ways to world-build a story. This is something that I personally struggle with in the creative process, and if there are any techniques I can utilize before jumping into writing I would thoroughly appreciate it. In the same vein, I would love to know about the different ways that authors build their characters. A story cannot move without strong, grounded, original characters and I want to know the best way to develop some of my own. Finally, I want to know how authors pick their genres. Most authors, with a few exceptions, only stick to one genre such as fantasy, sci-fi, nonfiction, romance novels, or something else entirely. If I want to write in the future, I would want to know which genre is most suitable for me, my writing style, and my readers.
With these creative and technical questions in mind, I hope to discover what it truly means to be an author and decide if this profession is right for me.
FINDINGS
An ‘author,’ as I have come to find out, is an umbrella term synonymous with ‘writer.’ Traditionally, when one thinks of an author they think of someone who writes novels or a book series. But as forms of entertainment develop and grow, more opportunities arise for creative writers. Authors will usually work on books, magazines, movies, plays, journals, and television scripts (Betterteam). They are required to have phenomenal writing skills and creativity, along with strong self-motivation (Betterteam). Authors of novels, screenwriters, and playwrights may have drastically different ways of expressing their work, but at the end of the day, they are all still writers who have studied and worked hard to get their stories out into the world.
The educational requirements for an author are more similar to guidelines. It is recommended to have a Bachelor's degree in English, communications, or journalism (Occupational Outlook Handbook). Along with a college degree, it is also helpful to have previous experience as a writer paired with strong writing and editing skills. Another great stepping stone to gaining writing experience is internships. During a writing internship, a person learns from a professional writer and works alongside them, helping them with certain tasks. Some typical responsibilities would be copywriting, editing, writing small pieces, and conducting research (Zippia). Of course, none of these things are necessary to be a professional writer, as people have succeeded without degrees or internships, but they are helpful courses to take if I would want to make a career out of writing.
Once an author begins their writing career, there is the matter of payment. Salaries for authors can vary depending on the type of writing, the publishing method, and the genre (Indeed Editorial Team). As of 2021, the average salary of an author is $69,510 per year (Occupational Outlook Handbook). There are world-renowned writers who make much more than this sum, but they have likely worked tirelessly for years to get where they are. Even so, raising the quantity of money earned could result in a few tweaks. Firstly, an author must consider if their genre is profitable. Some genres sell better than others, such as murder mysteries and romance novels. Secondly, the way the book is presented is important. Hardcover books usually sell at a higher price than paperback, but they are more costly to manufacture. Paperbacks are less money to produce, but they may sell at a lower price resulting in less profit. Lastly, publishing multiple books at once can raise an author’s salary as opposed to publishing one book at a time (Indeed Editorial Team).
Beyond technicalities lies the heart and soul of writing: world-building. Especially in fantasy, world-building is essential to give a story life and provide the characters a place to grow and change. According to Master Class, there are some general guidelines to follow when creating a story. First of all, the story needs to have a starting place. It doesn’t matter if I choose to start building at the climax or even the end of the story, I just need to get an idea out there. It is also important to list all of the rules and laws of the world. As a writer, I must create a society and a legal system that works well to develop my characters and move the plot along. Maybe there is a particular rule in this world that prevents a character from reaching his ultimate goal. This becomes a conflict that can move the story and create tension as he tries to get around this obstacle. Another very important facet of worldbuilding is drawing ideas from other works already in existence. I do not want to copy anyone, of course, but inspiration from multiple stories compiled can create something entirely new.
Character building is another vital step in creating a story. Once the world is complete, I need to throw some characters in so the story can happen. Rick Meyer’s guide to character building gives some excellent insight into how to effectively build realistic and intriguing characters. He first recommends building characters by showing their actions. Instead of saying their attributes and characteristics outright, it is better to imply some of them so that my audience is more engaged with the story. On the other hand, it is important to describe the characters to make them feel more tangible and real to my readers. Maybe my character has a certain topic he likes to discuss or a particular phrase he says all the time. In order to bring him to life, I must articulate these elements into my character’s dialogue and overall demeanor. Outlining my character’s motivations from the start is also extremely helpful in the character-building process. The character needs to have a reason for what they are doing and an end goal to reach. Even menial characters need to have a purpose for their life or they become two-dimensional and unrealistic. Motivation is always necessary for the plot to move and for the character’s journey to begin.
As I mentioned before, genre has a huge impact on both writing and selling books. “Genre provides authors, and readers, with a roadmap…indicators will tell an audience what they are about to read” (Hansen). In order to properly choose a genre, I must consider a few key principles. First and foremost, I should write a story that I want to read myself. For example, my favorite genres to read and watch are science fiction and fantasy. Since I constantly invest myself in these fictional worlds, I feel I am well equipped to write these genres passionately. Along with this topic comes writing what I love (Bray). I have some favorite tropes that I enjoy writing such as betrayal, turned heroes, and found family. Since I value these topics in stories, I will find a way to incorporate them into the genre of my choice. The beauty of writing is that an author does not need to contain themself to just one genre, and as an aspiring author I am free to explore the many options I have. For every genre, however, it is important to consider the audience and what they expect from a book (Bray). If a person expects a romance based on the cover of my novel, for example, I cannot give them a thriller with no romantic tension, even if romance is a better seller. At the risk of being a sellout, however, I should not write what would make the most money for the sake of profit. As a creative writer, I should to write with passion, not with money in mind (Bray).
Unfortunately, it is difficult to start worldbuilding or pick a genre if I am not able to put words on a page. There is one antagonist of an author which always rears its ugly head in the worst times: writer’s block. This predicament comes from being stuck while writing a chapter and not knowing how to move forward. In a personal interview with author Susan Meissner, she described writer’s block in a creative and manageable way. “Writer’s block isn’t a wall, it’s a corner. Back out of it and see where you got stuck, then rework the story from there.” Ultimately, it is a spot in a story that prevents the plot from going further. If I was dealing with this issue in one of my stories, it makes logical sense that I made a wrong turn somewhere and I should retrace my steps. There are also practical tips for getting rid of writer’s block such as the Pomodoro technique. This method was made to enhance productivity and it recommends working nonstop for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break (Purdue University Global). There are also tips such as writing without editing and committing time to writing. All of these techniques are helpful for me as an aspiring writer to get started in my writing career and combat a lack of creativity.
INTERVIEW
Susan Meissner is a freelance novelist who is known for her historical fiction novels. Her passion for writing has been prevalent to her from a very young age. She attended Point Loma Nazarene University, and before deciding on writing as a career, she experimented with journalism and learned a specific set of skills that assisted her later in novel writing. She recommends majoring in writing with a minor in something that would contribute to the genre I want to write. If she could go back in time and start off differently, she would have chosen to start writing at an earlier age and also get a degree to be an author. She waited many years to write her first novel for two reasons. Firstly, she was afraid of starting a book and then never finishing, and secondly, she was afraid of finishing a book with no one wanting to read it. Though the process was delayed, she eventually wrote her first novel in her 30s and has been writing for a total of 31 years. She discovered her preferred genre when her historical fiction books received much more attention and praise than others in the fictional genre. She has now written over twenty historical fiction novels and is still writing to this day.
Mrs. Meissner enjoys her career choice because it taps into her biggest strengths. She believes it is very fulfilling to be doing something that she loves as an occupation, even though there is still a level of stress. She appreciates her field because she can write from home, she is her own boss, she can set her own hours, she can pace herself in whichever way she chooses, and she has an abundance of resources at her disposal. As a historical fiction writer, she constantly needs to reference events in history to make her stories as accurate and authentic as possible. Due to today’s technology, she has access to electronic records of newspapers from various eras at her fingertips. This allows her to write realistically about what happened in whatever era her story resides, and it eliminates any “guessing game” in order to figure out certain details.
In typical fashion, however, the pros attach quite a few cons. One of the downsides of writing is, in her words, “unfair criticism.” A difference between other professions and art-based ones is putting your heart and soul into the work you create. If a harsh critic comes along to tear you down, it hurts more and feels more personal. There is also the matter of publishing. Mrs. Meissner as a freelance writer mentioned that she could not control whether or not her story is published, and there are many instances where she did not know what would happen with her story. From a narrative standpoint, she reflected on how difficult it is to revisit moments of pain, death, and war. At the end of the day, though, her story is “king” and she has to do what’s best for her readers and the tale she is telling. She has to serve the work to the best of her ability, even if this means reflecting and writing about harsh moments of history.
As stated before, being a writer is a risky business, as are most jobs in the creative industry. The average yearly salary can vary depending on the book, publisher, and the year it comes out. Some writers can debut with six figures, while others are not able to break even. The average writer needs to wait and explore the market. Mrs. Meissner was a part-time writer with another job for ten years before she made writing her full-time career. She relied on her husband’s salary as well as her own in order to pay her mortgage and other bills. Because she writes for a living now, she has to format her day to enhance her productivity. She treats her writing days as workdays, getting fully dressed and ready as if she was going to work. She limits herself to 2000 words maximum in a day, and when she is not writing she is researching her next book or ensuring that her current one is accurate. She takes the weekends off to recharge, but on the whole, she spends about 35 to 40 hours a week writing.
Mrs. Meissner gave some excellent advice concerning preparation for a career in writing. The first step is to find out which style of writing is the most appealing to me. The second step is to research all forms of writing and grade them on a scale of what I am most passionate about. Thirdly, once I have chosen my genre and format of writing, I should never stop learning. There are endless things to know about any profession, and in order to master my skill, I should never give up or cut myself off from the knowledge I need to continually succeed. One of my biggest takeaways from this interview was a quote from Mrs. Meissner, “Anything that shapes a generation is worth writing about.” As the world changes and society with it, there will be a new generation who needs a fantastical, fictional world, some solid moral lessons, and Jesus at the center of it all. If I choose to pursue writing in the future, I hope to write exactly what my generation needs.
WHAT I LEARNED
After researching this profession and interviewing a full-time author, I have decided that I do not want to pursue novel writing as a full-time career. All of the aspects of the job are fantastic except for the pay. When it comes down to it, I am not sure if I could make a steady income on full-time writing. However, I would still love to write a novel or book series at some time in my life. I have a very creative mind and writing stories is one of my favorite pastimes. Being a screenwriter for a movie or show (preferably a cartoon) would also be a lot of fun if I got the chance, but it is not easy to get into the entertainment industry. Nevertheless, I would still like to try.
There are a few other occupations in the realm of entertainment that I am interested in such as a director, a voice actor, a stage actor, and a singer. Ideally, I would like to put all of my interests and talents to good use, but I am still not completely sure of what I want to pursue in the future. What I know currently is that I am going into college with a music major and possibly a creative writing minor. My interests may change in the future, but for now, I am excited to develop my interests and hopefully turn them into a career! Being an author in some aspect is still not off the table, and I hope to become more efficient in my writing in years to come.