Committed Writer or Dabbler?

Hey guys, I wanted to kick this whole thing off by welcoming you to the ranks. (Though I’m sure some of you have been at this even longer than I, so some could probably welcome me to the ranks.)

Any-hoo, whether your writing is just an outlet, or you’re looking to be published, you are a writer. But there’s a difference—did you catch it?

Writers fall into two major categories: those who Commit and those who Dabble. Both would argue they’re writers, but the differences are key.

Dabblers weave tales for themselves. To them, writing is an expression, an outpouring the world may never see. Perhaps they want to keep it that way. Or maybe they want to share their words, find a voice through writing, but they’re nervous. What if people don’t like it? Basically, they fill journals and blog for a few friends and family, but their writing is a hobby.

Then there are the Committed—they write for others. Their voice matters, and they want people to hear their stories. They want to impact their audience, and they’ll go the distance. Every day, rain or shine, doesn’t matter how they feel. They don’t quit writing.

What kind of writer are YOU? I, personally, am a Committed Spec-Fic writer. Of course, I’m a teenager, and that makes it challenging as I learn the system. But I’m up to it.

If you’re Committed, you’ll find a lot of great resources on this blog, and not just resources but community. If you’re looking to share with others, your stories, then most likely you’re already a committed writer.

Perhaps you wish you were.

Dabblers, to effectively commit, these tips are your best friends:

Set a time. Write every day. Many writers don’t understand how important this is. It may sound like overkill, and there will be days it’s a chore, but this tip can often keep you from drifting back into Dabbledom. The more you write, the better your writing will be. In King Julian’s words, “See how that works?” Even if you’re not working on a manuscript, devoting ten to thirty minutes a day to writing will be quite the asset. What you put in it is what you get out of it.

Know your audience. So many writers transitioning from Dabbler to Committed get caught by this guy. For their whole writing career, their audience has been themselves. But without knowing your audience, how can you choose what to write about and how best to communicate it? For this blog in particular, knowing my audience was vital.

Learn the industry. Look, I love shortcuts as much as the next guy, but there are none in the writing industry. It’s imperative that you know what you’re doing. Follow great blogs. Friend your favorite authors on social media. Get information by going to a writer’s conference. For fellow Spec-Fic writers, a highly recommended conference is Realm Makers. A conference is where you’ll make connections, gain opportunities, and most importantly, better your craft.

So who’s with me? Comment and let me know you’re in this for the long haul.

And then find me on Facebook or Google +. Thanks to Sarah Horrigan and BK for the (unaltered) images. And beautiful thanks to King Julien, because he’s my BFF.