Something a little different from the other talks I attended was the "A career in writing" talk given by Debjani Chatterjee. I have recently discovered the idea of a career in Publishing, as I love reading and wanted to find a way to incorporate this into my everyday life. I've also always been someone who writes at every opportunity. What I didn't realise, and something Debjani made clear in the talk was how competitive writing is. Even though she had always been interested in writing, she did not become a full time writer until the 1990's, and before then , Debjani had many jobs that did not relate to writing at all (for example, working for British Steel.) There are many different ways to get into writing, from travel writing to writing greeting cards, and as a writer, you are most likely to take any job you can to earn money. Something I was not aware of was that most famous writer are usually the ones to stick to certain, popular types of genres, however most writers tend not to write this way. I also learnt that a job as a "writer in residence" is something popular for writers, and Debjani noted that she has worked for various museums as well as W H Smiths teaching people to write Valentines Poems. A few top tips that Debjani gave in relation to becoming a writer:
1- Start whenever
Writing isn't age related. Whether you're 8 or 80, you can start writing.
2- Develop a thick skin
You will face a lot of rejection as a writer, don't let it knock your confidence.
3- Have a passion
A passion for your chosen career will get you far, enjoy what you do.
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