Seven Things I’ve Learned In My First Six Months Of Being A Full-Time Writer

I’ve been a writer for a long time. I tried to write novels on and off in my twenties, and returned to it when I discovered the joys of writing historical fiction in my forties. I was fortunate to have six historical novels published by the big 5 from 2005-2012. When my publishing career went the way of so many mid-list authors after that, I continued to write.

All the time, though, I had a full-time job (which was a good thing, because writing historical novels doesn’t pay the bills—except in extraordinary circumstances). I had planned to continue having a full-time job for another five years, at which time I would be able to retire with full social security benefits and a decent 401k. Then, I thought, I’d be ready to devote my life to writing full time.

Funny how plans have a way of crashing around one’s ears. My somewhat tedious but well-paid day job ended abruptly on June 24, 2019. The company I worked for ceased operations on June 30. I had a little bit of severance (they did as well as they could by all their employees), and almost nothing saved. What was I going to do?

After a few months of not even getting an interview for the jobs I applied to (too senior, not directly qualified, read: too old) I made a decision.

I decided to “wear the hat.”

I imagine there are women writers out there who, like me, suffer terribly from Imposter Syndrome, and who are accustomed to undervaluing their own skills. But necessity can push us to overcome those tendencies. It’s been a true education for me, and it still continues, but here are the top seven things I’ve learned about myself and the world since I stopped looking for a job and started owning the fact that I could work with words full time as a career—wearing the hat as a full-time writer.

• Other people see me as more successful and impressive than I see myself.

I know, classic imposter syndrome. I grew up believing it wasn’t ladylike to talk about my own accomplishments. Now, I have to get used to shouting them everywhere, because, you know, I’ve got to sell my books and get editing and book coaching clients. And, surprise surprise, people are impressed.

• I have skills I didn’t know I had.

It turns out that, not only can I write, but I’m also good at helping other people with their writing. I have done some editing and enjoyed it, but I also started a wonderful book-coaching course that’s helping me take it further. More about that in a moment.

• I’m working harder and longer hours now than I ever did when I had a day job.

The one exception is probably the year I co-founded a tech startup (big mistake, but I learned a lot). I’m working so hard now in part because—in my panic to find a way to earn a living and get myself out into the writing universe—I overloaded myself with things to do and learn. I not only write and edit and coach, I teach workshops, I do interior book layout, I’m learning about book marketing and trying to apply it to my own book launches, I’m ghostwriting a YA manuscript, launching two books within 6 weeks of each other etc. etc.—and trying to write my own future books.

• It’s possible to find support, camaraderie, and encouragement in my own community.

I know that where I live is fairly bursting with writers (the 5-college area of Western Massachusetts). But until about two years ago, I worked outside of that community, not really knowing how to connect with them. Since then, I have made true friendships and connections with many talented writers, published and not-yet-published or not-even-interested-in-publishing. I’ve learned so much from so many of them, and it amazes me that these riches were always here. It just required the courage to reach for them and lay myself open.

• It’s OK to invest in myself.

This has been scary. My financial future is by no means certain. But I’ve decided it’s all right for me to spend a few thousand of my scarce dollars honing skills and gaining insight that will help me with a real career as a writing professional. I definitely spent money on one or two things I probably shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t have known for certain until I did. It’s hard when you’re trying to break back into a difficult publishing world after a seven-year hiatus. Mostly, though, the courses I’ve taken have opened my eyes in one way or another to some aspect of marketing or publicity that I hadn’t been aware of, so, on balance—useful.

My biggest self-investment has been the book coaching course. And it’s worth. Every. Penny. Not only is it helping me develop skills I can use to nurture other writers, but I’ve found so much of the insight about the mechanics of storytelling helpful in my own writing.

•  Looking for the good in other writers’ work is constructive and inspiring.

One of the reasons I’d stayed out of the world of writers in this area is that I had heard about a popular approach to feedback that is based on only commenting about what works. How could that be helpful? I thought. But I finally went to a few of those sessions, where writers write together and then share new writing. To my surprise, focusing on what worked made me, as a listener, have to listen better. It also focused me more on the substance of the writing rather than the mechanics.

• The publishing world is changing, and I can change with it.

For five years after my most recent mainstream-published novel, I pounded on the door of publishers who only looked at my lackluster sales before deciding not to take a chance on my manuscripts. My long-suffering agent tried to get me to write what he thought he could sell, but I just couldn’t do it. We parted ways amicably. 

But I still had stories to tell: some I’d written long ago, others I was just beginning. I confess, I was a little snobbish about self- and hybrid-publishing at first. It’s a hazard when you’ve hit the lottery, as it were, and gotten through the gatekeepers and been published. But perhaps like many others, I decided that I wanted to have my books out there more than I wanted that gold star of validation. 

I’ve actually enjoyed having more control over the entire process and being able to use my own skill as a marketer to try to find readers. It’s difficult though: no nationwide salesforce, or publicists with deep contacts within what’s left of the book-reviewing world. But there are resources out there to help, some within the bounds of reason. Amy Philips Bruno, with her Virtual Book Tours for historical fiction, for instance. And if you can afford it, BookBub promotions etc. 

Of course, among these resources is the ever-supportive Barbara Bos and Women Writers, Women’s books. She has created one of the best online writing communities that connect us all and help us feel less alone in this strange, solitary pursuit.

Thank you, Barbara!

—

Susanne Dunlap is the author of nine historical novels for adults and teens. Her young adult historical novel, The Musician’s Daughter, was a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Children’s Book of the Year. It was also nominated for the Missouri Gateway Readers Prize and the Utah Book Award. Her YA novel In the Shadow of the Lamp was an Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award nominee, and her adult historical novel, Listen to the Wind was a quarterfinalist for the BookLife prize and a Distinguished Favorite in the NY Big Book Awards.

Find out more about her on her website https://www.susanne.susanne-dunlap.com/

Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/susanne_dunlap

Follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SusanneDunlapAuthor/

 

THE SPIRIT OF FIRE, Susanne Dunlap

The eagerly anticipated sequel to Listen to the Wind

“A complex, absorbing, and dramatic start to a planned series.” –Kirkus Reviews

Azemar—now a knight and Baron of Montpezat—has rescued his childhood friend, Azalais, from the Castel de Belascon, where she was forced to disguise as a noblewoman and become the wife of the baron.

But the captivating trobairitz Jordane de la Moux d’Aniort and her damozel Johana have escaped with them, putting them all in grave peril. Will Jordane’s conflicting goal of reuniting with the rebel Raimon de Berenger thwart Azemar and Azalais’s quest to solve the mystery of their origins, which they believe lies within the heretic fortress of Montsegur?

When a cryptic note leads them to the Templar stronghold at Mas Deu, Azemar undergoes brutal trials, and discovers that his ultimate purpose could lead him to betray the very people he wants to protect. And their altered route leads Azalais into the path of her old enemy, the Dominican monk, Fraire Martin. Full of surprising twists and turns, dangerous adventures, and true love, The Spirit of Fire continues the Orphans of Tolosa Trilogy.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

 

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips