Author: Sreelata Menon
“All the world’s a stage” stated William Shakespeare oh, so many centuries ago
“………And one man in his time plays many parts. His acts being seven ages.”
And it is no different for a writer specially a freelancer!
From the moment you decide to make the world your stage you necessarily need to start playing different roles. And these roles are incumbent upon you as a writer. Therefore a successful writer essentially needs to be many acts rolled into one.
As a writer, you need to be a good -
- Researcher: You are primarily a researcher. Nothing is written without adequate study or research. You read, you collate, and you assemble. You verify, check and you double check. Without doubt you are only as good as your research. Dan Brown is as good a role model as any.
- Communicator: You then begin to turn it around in your own words to suit your purpose. Your role as a writer/communicator now comes to the fore. You need to effectively convey your thoughts, your ideas to your readers in a new style that is easily understood and digested. It is your ability, unique as it is, to put your views across that defines your role as one. This pitchforks you straight into your next role. The one that makes you a guru.
- Advisor: Willy nilly you now take on the role of an expert .An informed communicator who has something new to offer. Yes you are now seen as an authority on the subject you choose to write about. And along with that you also now need to become your own critic.
- Editor: You become your own editor. You write, rewrite. You correct, trim or add. You snip and you cut. You critique your work. Till you are satisfied that it reads well and reads true. And the role of an editor is one that all writers slip into easily.
- Vendor: Once you are satisfied with your piece you take on the mantel of a seller. You as a freelance writer – as has been said many times before – now need to market your ware yourself. You need to find a buyer if you haven’t already. You need to sell yourself as a good product that can effectively be published .You need to be hired. So you start knocking on doors. And how do you do that?
- Promoter: By not only advertising your product but also pushing/promoting your capability, your ability, your dependability subtly and not so subtly with all and sundry of the publishing world. Continue to do this till such time as they start coming to you on their own and you’ve established yourself as a reliable quality brand.
- Payment Collector: And then lastly is the role that all freelance writers hate and detest. The need to take on the role of a money collector. You need to at times badger and cajole editors and publishers for payment. This is the bane of any writer’s life. And that is a role that all writers will agree they could well do without. But alas till the time freelance writing really comes into its own this is one cross that all writers will have to bear.
These then you will agree are the seven stages in a writer’s life akin to the bard’s take. Roles or parts that any newbie writer should be prepared to play in order to succeed. Roles that are donned quite naturally and most times effortlessly in the pursuit of spreading one’s ideas on a stage that belongs to all.
Roles that are as important as your writing.
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