Following on from last night’s session on Starting a Writing Career, with Buzzfeed UK, we wanted to highlight some further support available to those of you considering a career in creative writing.
The Careers Service has put together a great resource for anyone wanting to earn a living from their creative writing skills which you can view here.
Top tips include:
- Many writing-related careers will require some proactive applications, networking and making contacts. Join online communities or real-life groups. Try 26, the Scottish Poetry Library lists groups across Scotland and MeetUp.
- Build Your Brand – consider what makes you different, use this resource to help Future Proof Your Career. Social media and blogging can launch you, as they did for Melanie Clegg.
- Competitions and Awards. Some writers break into the profession by winning local or national writing competitions. Chicken House, in conjunction with The Times, run an annual children’s fiction competition, The Book Trust, Scottish Book Trust and The Poetry Library are other great sources of advice and suggestions.
- Writing residencies. Residencies can take place in many different environments, including prisons, whisky distilleries, libraries, and botanical. These normally come with a stipend, and sometimes accommodation. Search for UK opportunities here: Art Jobs, Creative Scotland Opportunities and The National Association of Writers in Education.
- Look beyond the traditional writing routes as a novelist or journalist. Chris Farnell talks about other roles in business including copywriting and managing websites and the BBC regularly look for screen writers.
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