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Topic: Journalism + Fiction writing?
| Author | Message |
| writer17 | Posted – 9/9/2008 7:54:43 PM | show profile Any way to combine interest and experience in journalism and fiction writing into a dream job? I have experience from my earlier days of college with journalism (newspapers). I wrote for the campus paper, did a few internships, etc. I am not pursuing that as a career however, because I disliked the stress and deadlines so much (and also was tired of writing obituaries or dry stories I was not interested in). Last semester I took a fiction writing course at college for fun - and it was fun! I wrote a short story from beginning to end for the first time in my life and really enjoyed it. Fiction writing was very different from journalism, really fed my creative side, etc. I obviously can't go out and become an author after writing one story - I do have bills to pay! Any way to take the skills I have in these fields and turn them into a job? I have been told I have talent in both areas, but dont' know what the next step is ..... Any thoughts? |
| ICB | Posted – 9/9/2008 8:11:01 PM | show profile lit mags? |
| Astera | Posted – 9/9/2008 10:30:48 PM | show profile I wish I had some better advice for you, but I had a really hard time combining my full-time writing job (marketing copywriting) with my personal fiction-writing project. At the end of the day, I would feel creatively drained, so it was tough to turn my attentions to fiction. I didn't really feel like writing anymore once I got home. But maybe you're different, and maybe you won't get burned out so easily. In that case, I would recommend trying to break into copywriting. The writing isn't so dry, and if you can get work writing for a marketing or advertising agency, you may be able to bring elements of fiction into your prose! (Kidding...mostly. I worked for a mortgage lender, and I got tired of writing sales letters telling people it was a great time to refinance when, clearly, it wasn't.) The other option is to find a job with relatively low stress that will provide you with a decent income so that you can turn your attention to your creative pursuits on your own time. I'll be watching this post with interest...I'd like to hear what others suggest. ------ www.adventuresofastera.blogspot.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/9/2008 11:52:23 PM | show profile There are certainly writing jobs that require a high level of creative writing ability -- humor columnist and advertising copywriter come to mind. But I don't know of any such job that is devoid of deadlines, stress, and (unless you are very lucky) projects that hardly cause the pulse to race with excitement. I've written magazine articles, a syndicated humor column, novels, scripts, and corporate material -- and I am still waiting to find that dream writing job too. |
| abqwriter | Posted – 9/10/2008 10:45:52 AM | show profile Some avenues I thought of which include fiction: Working for a literary agent Working for a publisher Working for a children's literary magazine Working for a college lit department Working as an assistant for a major author Working as a book reviewer for a newspaper, magazine, or online venue If you don't live in a large urban area with some of these options, you can still pursue the fiction angle while working in another line of a writing. Plenty of best-selling authors were still working a day job when they sold their first manuscript, and your writing experience will help to at least put your query closer to the top when you do start looking for an agent. |
| writer17 | Posted – 9/10/2008 9:58:35 PM | show profile thanks for the suggestions ... Astera - I am bummed out a little. I do have high hopes for my first "real job" and don't want to end up creatively drained. I have been told for years that I have potential/talent as a writer and don't want to end up in a job that leaves me exhausted and discouraged. I don't know if I could handle copy writing for marketing/advertising, or mortgages especially! I feel like I have to believe in or be passionate about something to want to write about it. I write better when I care - don't know if I can fake it. Feeling a little discouraged. :( dribbledrive1 - I will let go of the 'dream job' idea for a bit - too unrealistic I suppose. I do have bills to pay - that's the bottom line. I just hope my first post-college job uses my degree, skills, talents, etc. I want to feel challenged and fulfilled, is that asking too much? Getting this degree took a lot of time, $$, and hard work. I would hate to end up as a secretary or working in retail. abqwriter3 - Your suggestions I like the most are: working for a publisher (what publisher? where? doing what? how?), being an assistant to an author (never thought of that before! love the idea - how to pursue?); book reviewer (have considered this before - also not sure how to pursue/get paid to do so). However, I do NOT live near a large urban area. So that's a problem ... There may be good jobs I'm qualified for and would love SOMEWHERE I just don't know where they are and if it would be worthwhile relocating for them. Thank you all for your help and suggestions so far! |
| salsera | Posted – 9/11/2008 1:25:06 PM | show profile I have a fiction writing degree and also a journalism degree, and I'm STILL trying to figure out how to combine my passions, even though I graduated from college 10 years ago. Currently, I'm lucky enough to have a paid writing job, but I'm starting to want to focus on my fiction again instead of churning out non-fiction prose all day. At the moment, I'm thinking that I eventually want to teach writing at the college level. As people point out, there are a lot of ways to fuel your creative side and pay the bills. Good luck! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/11/2008 3:46:09 PM | show profile It sounds like you are just grappling with the same dilemma most people do when they want to turn creativity into commerce. Most professional writers I know how to write material about stuff they don't particularly care about, and that's especially true when they are starting out. It's better if you can write stuff you are passionate about (natch). But if you want to be paid for writing that isn't always possible. I produce lots of material and articles that don't really interest me. My personal work -- like fiction -- is something I have to do on a speculatively basis. You have to find your own path, of course, and balance money and creativity. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/11/2008 6:27:56 PM | show profile --working for a publisher (what publisher? where? doing what? how?), being an assistant to an author (never thought of that before! love the idea - how to pursue?); book reviewer (have considered this before - also not sure how to pursue/get paid to do so).-- 1. Publisher. You would look for an entry-level position, editorial assistant, most likely in New York. Low pay, lots of mundane chores, lots of dues paying. 2. Book Reviewer. Forget this one, unless you want to do it for fun. Doesn't pay. Many reviewers only get to keep the copy of the book they review. 3. Author's Assistant. Not that many author's have full-time assistants, actually. Tend to be the big names. Hard jobs to get. Some authors employ hourly help for typing and such. |
