If you've ever worked at a grocery store (or probably any job for that matter) you were given a description of what you were going to do. For instance, you might have been told that your job was to bag groceries. Interestingly enough, you probably found out (as I did) that, in fact, your job was a whole bunch of duties that didn't make it into the job description. Interestingly enough, being a writer is the same way.
I've loved writing for as long as I can remember, but I had this idea that a writer just wrote things and then sent them off to an agent who took care of everything else. Through the years, I've learned a lot and though I'm not done with the whole learning process of what it takes to become a published author, I've got a much better idea of what my writing job truly entails.
Obviously you have to do the writing, but here are the other things you'll also be expected to handle if you take up writing for your job, with a more traditional write-then-publish approach:
Social media--If you love social media then you're in luck. It's okay to pick one or two platforms to engage on, you don't need to master every type of social media that exists. That's a rapidly-changing arena, and I'm sure many a writer has fallen into the trap of trying to know all about every social media site. The trick is to find a good balance, and figure out which platforms you feel comfortable using. Look for a site/app that helps you get the most from the time you invest.
Web design--It's handy to have your own website eventually. If you aren't comfortable with making your own, apparently you'd be expected to use your book advance (if you get a publishing deal) to have a website made. It's possible that some publishers may take care of that for you, but don't assume they will. Be prepared to use whatever money you have to hire a professional who can create a great website, or to even polish up the one you might have made yourself.
Marketing--This probably seems like it shouldn't be expected of the writer, after all, what do you end up paying a publisher for? They have their own avenues for marketing your book, but it's important to think of ways to promote your book that are in-line with the feel of your book, and with the times. Right now, for example, hosting a reading or signing means a lot of people possibly squished together in a smaller space. With COVID-19, that's probably not a great idea. Your marketing plan should reflect that you are taking any current issues into consideration. If you have a marketing plan, not only are you helping yourself be successful, you're also showing a prospective publisher that you're willing to put in effort to help ensure that your writing succeeds. You might even end up giving them ideas that they love and implement on their own.
Research--You'll do a surprising amount of research as a writer. There are things that you'll inevitably want to capture accurately in your writing, which will require research. Beyond that, you'll end up researching a host of other things such as agents, publishers, writing help, and lots of other information that you may need on your journey to publishing. You might research where your audience is most likely to find you, when the best times to post to social media are, or how to use nunchucks.
Reading--As important as it is to practice writing often, it's equally important to read a lot, especially within the genre you prefer to write. If you love and write fantasy, or sci-fi, make sure to read a lot within those genres. It'll give you a better idea of what publishers are looking for, and help you improve your own writing inner-ear so you can fine-tune your own writing. It can help you think of different ways to write sentences, but of course you should outright copy someone else's writing. It's okay to learn from it though.
Some of these may have surprised you, as they did me when I first found out the many different things that were required of me. If you want to be a writer, go into it to knowing there are a lot of things (probably ones I haven't even mentioned) that you'll be expected to do as parts of a writing "job".
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