Any writers out there?

[SallySunflower15]

I've always loved to write. I have some limited experience in copywriting and writing content for websites. And I've written various guest blog posts in the past on a range of things.

But I've never done anything more with it. I'm good with words but I lack inspiration, confidence and imagination. I really want to focus more on writing as a creative outlet and maybe even as a career.

But I really don't know where to begin. I live in a fairly remote area and the only courses local to me are night classes for creative writing which aren't on at the moment anyway.

Can anyone talk about how they got into writing as a career? What paths you went down? Did you do it for fun or did you have well planned progression route? I'm pretty clueless as you can probably tell!

What kind of writing career are you envisaging, though -- journalism? Novel-writing? Writing website content? The fact that you mention creative writing classes suggests you are thinking of novel writing, but that sounds a little arbitrary as an idea if you don't already write fiction and say you lack inspiration and imagination. No training needed.

I write novels, but like most writers of literary fiction, my writing income doesn't generate enough to live on, so I have a university post.

There's a creative writing board on here, incidentally, where you will encounter more writers and aspiring writers, traditionally- and self-published -- but it can be rather quiet.

I’m a writer and have written several novels but unfortunately making a career from it is difficult.

Most important thing is to read plenty and just write, write, write until you find your style and the kind of subject you enjoy and then build on that.

I should add I’ve been writing since childhood and it’s a way of relaxing for me.

I love the idea of novel writing but I know my own limitations and I don't think I have the skill or imagination to make a career from it. But creative writing on a smaller scale interests me. And I know I am capable of articles and copywriting segments.

Approach one

Get a portfolio together of the things you've already had published
Start pitching for work on sites like people per hour - the pay is appalling but it will build your clippings etc.
Start to pitch to companies you know, using your portfolio and contacts

Approach two
Think hard about what you're doing just now. What speciality do you have that can be developed into a niche? for example, I was an internal comms manager in financial services before I went freelance
Pitch yourself out within that niche - so in my first year I pretty much only worked for financial services firms. Don't forget agencies that may work for the firms within your specialities. They will pay less than going direct but it's an easier business development process.

For either approach, develop a skin like a lizard and a bucket full of confidence. And crack on.

I really haven't got a lot for a portfolio. I've had many things published but have sold rights to them. I've worked for a content mill selling cheap copywriting articles for years but the pay is unreliable and abysmal so now I'd like to have a go at doing my own thing.

I feel like a course might give me some direction and inspiration as I don't have much of a clue about how the industry works.

I write for business mainly; blogs, ebooks, and a full length book. It's still very creative work; I fell into it tbh but it does pay a salary and gives steady work as I'm employed.

I like to do some of my own stuff on the side but that's more just for me really.

Hi there!

I'm a senior copywriter at an ad agency, specialising in fundraising and charity clients. The work I do is conceptual, creative and runs to everything from facebook ads to direct mail to huge overarching campaigns.

I got my break in the industry by working my way up off the reception desk - basically did a good job on the front desk and made an absolute pain in the arse of myself to the Creative Director, asking for briefs and working on them in my spare time.

We recruit Junior Writers all the time, and we always need a portfolio with good examples for the industry you want to work in. Personally, I think you do need to specialise in one area - I can't get excited by someone who has just written a random blog post every now and again.

There are copywriting courses out there, but they can be £££!

Best of luck - hope you figure it out!