The hardest part of any career seems to be “breaking in.” We’ve all said it at the start of our job search: “I can’t get a job without experience, but how am I supposed to get experience without a job?” Christina Katz turns the usual advice to writers to “Aim high” on its head, and finds a better way to break in:
What has become apparent to me in the process is that my writing success actually has had more to do with the economics of willingness, and less to do with my impossible dreams of eventual greatness.
She built a career by being willing to write to the market that suited her level of ability. As she gained experience, she gained ability, and worked up to better and better things.
This is a principle that has worked for me in many areas of life — by being willing to take on new projects in low-risk situations, I’ve built up my skills and contacts, and bigger and better things have developed from there.
Filed under: authors, markets, writing Tagged: | Christina Katz, Writers on the Rise, writing advice
Elizabeth,
I, too, found Christina’s words of wisdom to be a nice change from the too-often-used writer’s advice to grind away year after year after year. I’ve been writing professionally for years but in a pretty self-involved field, and I’m slowly starting to branch out into other areas. As I continue to work on my book, I will take steps to gain some clips and to make myself known to potential readers.
I liked Christina’s advice, and I appreciate you taking a minute to share her advice with your readers.
Thanks,
John