INTERVIEW
I was interviewed by a college student who is considering a career as a writer.
Hello Dana, this is John Smith. I would like to know if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions about being an author. One of my classes is requiring us to do research on two careers and to interview people in those careers. One of mine, as stated before, is Author and I have been told that you have published two books I thought you would be the perfect person for the author interview.
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The questions are as follows:
1. How did you get into this field?
I have loved to write since I was about 8 years old. When I was 10, I wrote a book (it was never published) about a family with 26 kids, all twins or triplets. I continued to write on my own, without publishing anything. When I was in college, I took a course called "The Novel Experience" and our goal was to write a novel - however, the teacher discouraged me by saying I'd never be able to complete anything, so I began to focus on TV production, which I also love, and after college, I wrote several more books, including two poetry books, that have not yet been published.
In 2003, I heard about National Novel Writing Month, November, and decided to join and write a novel. When I finished it, I searched online for a publisher and my book was accepted and published by Publish America. Every year since then, I have completed a novel in November and then had it published.
2. What do you like most and least about this job?
I love to write! But I'm not really making any money at it. I'm a writer and not a marketing person, so I haven't been able to sell many books.
3. What sorts of changes are occurring in this occupation?
One big change has been the flood of digital publishing. More people can get books published, because they can publish a smaller amount of copies at a time, but the new publishers, like the ones who have published my books, don't do much advertising and marketing, so that is left to the author or an agent. (I don't have an agent.) Another change is the way a lot of writers are presenting their stories or novels - on the Internet, and e-books, rather than traditional published books. I prefer to have a book in my hand, because I don't carry a computer where ever I go (and I don't have an iPhone) and I would much rather read a book printed on paper than read from a screen.
4. How does this job affect your lifestyle? (dress, leisure time, home life, vacations, social life, ect.)
I love this job, but when I am writing or editing a book, it takes all of my leisure time, especially since this is my 2nd job. I often have a story line or characters in my head, even when I am not writing. Also, when I hear catchy phrases or see specific types of characters or settings, those might show up in my books. I like to be productive. If one of my books would really take off, then my lifestyle might be more affected.
5. How do people find out about openings in this line of work?
I think if you want to be a writer or an author, you need to start writing. Taking a job at a newspaper or magazine would be helpful, either as a writer or a copy editor. If you want to write books, write, write, write! Then you need to sell yourself as an author. There are millions of openings in this field - but it's like you have your own business, and you have to work hard.
6. What is the employment outlook for this occupation?
It's hard work to support yourself as a writer, because in addition to writing, and being good at writing, you need to sell in order to make money, and the sales part is a whole business in itself. If you want to write articles for magazines, there are many magazines that will accept stories and even pay for them, but that becomes hard work too, finding the right magazine, having your work accepted.
7. What preparation is required to get into this line of work?
I think it is important to read a lot, and be good at spelling, grammar and communication. Sometimes I read very popular books where the grammar is terrible - but the author gets the message to the reader and readers are not always as critical as teachers when it comes to reading stories. I don't write that way. As an author, I don't want to just have books published, I want my sentences to be grammatically correct, I want my use of words to be correct, and I want to get a message to my readers that isn't clouded by unclear writing. Write and write and write, and don't be discouraged by anyone who reads it- lots of people can read and criticize, but how many people actually go to through the effort of writing a complete novel or story, from beginning to end, and polish it so it says exactly what the author wants to say?
Good organizational skills and self-discipline are also important, if you want to complete your projects and be a successful writer.
If you love to write, then write! Don't write for anyone else - write because you have something inside of you that you want to share with the world. Write because it is your passion, and you may not make a lot of money, but you will love what you do.
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Thank you for answering these questions for me
Sincerely,
John Smith
