P
Poeta Perdido
Guest
Who isn't asking this question, really?
Honestly, I think the first step is setting up realistic expectations. Finding a job that utilizes your writing some is better than one that does not at all. Most companies allow a little wiggle room once you get in and have proven your skill. Small businesses love multi-talented employees and large businesses often create positions to supplement their actual marketing departments/agencies. While you'll probably spend your time on something less directly related to writing, you will be building other marketable skills. Eventually, you can use this experience to find a more satisfying position.
The above is basically what I did. I worked for a college just about a year in a position that was responsible for a variety of things, including social media for the department. I made friends with the marketing team proper and was able to contribute to the college's blog and newsletter in that time too. After a year I took a social media manager position for a small cannabis business. That role expanded to all marketing, including a blog, newsletter, marketing plans, and events as more stores opened. Now all that may not be great pieces of fiction, but writing is a much greater part of my work than it was a few years ago and the income is above average for an American my age. I still write after work too.
Decide what field is enough to make you feel fulfilled and will get you to your dream. Social Media could work for you too, but so could freelancing for a few newspapers (web or print), writing copy for websites, working as an associate editor for a publisher, or finding a marketing assistant job. Getting the experience is going to open up doors to you that'll get you closer to your ideal writing-work life. I'm open to giving advice over PM if you have specific questions too.
Honestly, I think the first step is setting up realistic expectations. Finding a job that utilizes your writing some is better than one that does not at all. Most companies allow a little wiggle room once you get in and have proven your skill. Small businesses love multi-talented employees and large businesses often create positions to supplement their actual marketing departments/agencies. While you'll probably spend your time on something less directly related to writing, you will be building other marketable skills. Eventually, you can use this experience to find a more satisfying position.
The above is basically what I did. I worked for a college just about a year in a position that was responsible for a variety of things, including social media for the department. I made friends with the marketing team proper and was able to contribute to the college's blog and newsletter in that time too. After a year I took a social media manager position for a small cannabis business. That role expanded to all marketing, including a blog, newsletter, marketing plans, and events as more stores opened. Now all that may not be great pieces of fiction, but writing is a much greater part of my work than it was a few years ago and the income is above average for an American my age. I still write after work too.
Decide what field is enough to make you feel fulfilled and will get you to your dream. Social Media could work for you too, but so could freelancing for a few newspapers (web or print), writing copy for websites, working as an associate editor for a publisher, or finding a marketing assistant job. Getting the experience is going to open up doors to you that'll get you closer to your ideal writing-work life. I'm open to giving advice over PM if you have specific questions too.
