Have you ever dreamed of turning your love of writing into something more than a hobby? Immediately after I released my first book people began asking, "How did you do it"? And many followed up this question with, "I've always wanted to write a book". Maybe you, too, have envisioned publishing a book, connecting with readers, or earning a little extra income from your creative efforts. Whatever your motivation, embarking on the journey of becoming an author begins with one essential question: Why?
Your "Why" for Writing
Most writers start their journey for one of three reasons:
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A Lifelong Passion: You’ve been writing since you were a child, and it feels like the only thing you were ever meant to do. Stephen King began writing at the tender age of 8.
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A Creative Escape: You’re stuck in a career that stifles your creativity and drains your spirit, and you’re desperate to break free and transition into a more creative career. Joanna Penn, a successful self-published author and podcaster, is a perfect example.
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A Creative Side Hustle: You want to turn your passion for words into extra income—whether to fund hobbies, pay for travel, or supplement retirement.
Your "why" will be unique to you, and that’s okay. But here’s the thing: understanding your reason is only the beginning. To turn writing into a fulfilling and sustainable career, you need to be prepared for the long game. Blockbuster careers like those of Stephen King and J.K. Rowling are rare now, but, finding joy in writing—whether as a side hustle or a full-time endeavor—can still bring immense satisfaction. So, once you’ve identified your "why," it’s time to tackle the next question: What does it take to succeed?
The Secret Ingredient: Grit
Success in any creative field, including writing, often comes down to one word: grit. What is grit? It’s the ability to achieve success through endurance, perseverance, resilience, passion, and hard work.
Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, defines it as a combination of passion and perseverance. In simpler terms, grit means sticking with your goals even when the road gets tough—and trust me, in writing, it often does.
But here’s the catch: grit isn’t something you can buy or learn overnight. It’s a mix of persistence, determination, and tenacity—qualities that are cultivated over time. Not everyone has it, and that’s okay. If you’re not sure whether you do, here’s a good litmus test: think about your passions. Do you find yourself coming back to them again and again, even when progress feels slow? If so, grit might already be one of your strengths.
Finding Your Passion
If you’re still trying to figure out whether writing is one of your true passions, the best way is through exploration of the many types of writing i.e., fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screen plays, graphic novels, comics, etc.. Passions aren’t always obvious - often, they reveal themselves through trial and error. More importantly, not all passions transition well into a career. The best way for me to explain this is with an example from my own creative journey:
I’ve always loved the arts, especially music, which has been one of my passions for as long as I can remember. I had always wanted to learn to play guitar, and when I was in my early 40's I decided to give it a shot. It was during my very first lesson that I discovered that playing guitar was my passion. I poured my heart into it. I practiced, took lessons, and eventually started teaching kids basic guitar. But two years into teaching, I realized something critical: turning my guitar hobby into a job completely drained the joy out of it. Playing guitar was, and still is, my passion—but only as a hobby - not as a career.
Writing, however, was different. When I started putting my stories on paper, it felt transformative. Immersing myself in my own characters and stories brought a joy unlike anything else. And despite the challenges of starting a business and publishing my work, my passion for writing never wavered. That’s when I knew: this passion was more than a hobby. It was something I might be able to turn into a career.
Turning Passion Into a Career
Once you’ve found your passion, the next step is exploring whether it’s long term career material. This is where grit really comes into play. For me, self-publishing (as opposed to traditional publishing) was the perfect fit, but it came with its own set of challenges. There were moments when the learning curve felt insurmountable. But because I was passionate about writing, and grit is one of my strengths, I found joy in overcoming those challenges. Here’s what the initial process looked like:
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Research: I spent 18 months studying the self-publishing industry before I published my first book. This included everything from editing, cover design, and printing options, to direct sales, intellectual property laws and marketing. There is no "course of study" for self-publishing. It's learn as you go, which can be very rewarding all on its own. Hint: You are, in essence, teaching yourself an entirely new profession, so be patient and gentle with yourself in the process!
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Skill Development: This is an ongoing challenge and writing is only part of the equation. I am always striving to improve my craft of story telling. But as a self-published author, you’ll also need to learn about, and stay on top of, business operations, social media, marketing (the bane of all authors, traditional and self-published), and sales. Hint: The business of self publishing is ever changing. Building a career as an author will be easier if you can commit to being a life long learner.
The key takeaway to all of this? Passion alone won’t sustain you. To build a writing career, you need to embrace the hard work and challenges that come with it.
Your Next Steps
If you’re ready to explore writing as a career, start by asking yourself these questions:
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What motivates me to write?
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Is writing something I’m passionate about, or is it better left in the "hobby zone"?
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Am I willing to invest the time and effort needed to learn a new profession and build a career as an author?
If your answers point toward pursuing a writing career, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step in an exciting journey. On this blog, I’ll be sharing resources, tips, and lessons I’ve learned to help you navigate the world of becoming a self-published author. Together, we’ll explore everything from finding your voice to navigating the business side of being an indie author. I hope you'll join me on this exciting journey!
- Much love, Stephanie
"Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find"
- Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield