Five Things I’ve Learned About Being a Less-Than-Published Writer

Being a less-than-published writer (as in, someone who is quietly working away with a goal of some level of public success) is hard. When you’re still waiting for your ‘break’ to happen, it can start to feel like it might never happen. But it’s not all woe and pass me the gin. Here are five things I’ve learnt along the way about being a less-than-published writer:

1. You need to take ownership

Picture the scene:

A NETWORKING EVENT IN A LARGE CITY

The room is filled with people drinking cheap glasses of warm wine. The WRITER shuffles around awkwardly until they find a conversation to join.

WRITER: Umm, so, hi.

ACCOMPLISHED PERSON: Hello, nice to meet you. What do you do?

WRITER: I, umm, I’m a writer. Well, I write a bit. I’d like to be, umm, (whispers, barely audible) published one day.

ACCOMPLISHED PERSON: Ooh. So, what do you write?

Don’t mistake advice for some kind of miracle cure

WRITER: Umm, fiction. I’ve written… sorry. It’s, umm, a novel about, well, it’s hard to explain really… It’s about stuff. It’s a bit rubbish.

ACCOMPLISHED PERSON: That’s-

WRITER: (Fleeing the scene) Don’t look me in the eyes!

…You get my drift.

Ownership (or just confidently labelling yourself as a writer) is crucial but it’s one of the hardest things to do when you haven’t got that elusive credit yet. Someone once told me that they thought it was pretentious for unpublished writers to call themselves writers. Sigh.

For me, the only qualification you need to be a writer is to write, regularly and with purpose. By owning the name, you’re taking yourself and what you do seriously. (No-one else will if you don’t.)

You will never be 100% confident in your work and that’s totally normal. Remember, when people ask about your writing they’re not asking you to reflect on the quality, they’re just interested. So relax and share your enthusiasm!

2. Writing advice isn’t everything

Yes, I’m aware of the irony in this one but let’s skim over that! There’s writing advice everywhere, from ‘how to’ books to click-bait articles and workshops, short courses and degrees. Frankly, the pressure to do everything (not to mention the potentially conflicting advice) can mess with your head.

All of these things can definitely have a place in your development as a writer, but don’t mistake them for some kind of miracle cure. Sometimes you just need to push through and write, then seek extra support or a new challenge when you really need it.

3. The smaller and bigger picture is a constant juggling act

Whatever your goal, the important thing to remember is that it will need constant juggling. As your writing progresses make sure you take stock of your ambitions. Is this still what you want? And if so, what are you doing to get there? If you only write when inspiration strikes, your pace will be glacial.

If you only write when inspiration strikes, your pace will be glacial

When I started writing a first draft of a novel, the thought of an entire book stretching ahead of me was both exciting and terrifying. But rather than getting swallowed up in the fear, I broke it down and committed to a manageable word count each week until it was finished. It got the job done much faster and I finally reached a really important goal on my writing journey.

4. It’s okay not to write every single day

I’ve heard lots of professional writers admit they don’t write every day and it’s their job, so give yourself a break. Sometimes it can be helpful to have a daily word count to finish something or get into the habit of writing regularly, but this might not be realistic in the long term.

Try to enjoy the process of writing and embrace the freedom of working to your own deadlines.If you’re really struggling, try switching to a new project or, if you can, take yourself away for a few days to focus on writing. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done with a change of scene.

5. Never compare your first draft with someone else’s finished draft

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. I saw this brilliant statement on Twitter, so I can’t take credit for it, but I should probably tattoo it on my brain. How many times have you read a book, watched a play or a film and felt your heart and stomach drop as a voice in your head wails ‘there’s no point even trying’? We all do it, but it’s pointless.

This is not a level playing field

This is not a level playing field; not only are you comparing your first or early draft with something that’s been through a knee-trembling amount of work, but you’re also likely to be comparing yourself with someone who has a lot more experience than you. Someone who was once a less-than-published writer and felt the same way that you do now (and probably still feels the same way now!).

Ultimately, writing can be really hard, but staying positive, trusting your own instincts and taking yourself seriously are important. Whether your end goal is to be published or not, just keep writing, support other writers around you and be more than a little kind to yourself.

Find more writing tips, encouragement and ideas in our Five Things series.