Envision Publishing

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Do you want to be a writer?

Read that sentence again. I didn’t ask if you’d LIKE to be a writer. I asked if you WANT to be a writer.

Do you NEED it?

Because if you don’t, it won’t happen. Sorry.

Not too long ago, I was approached at a school event by a teacher who asked how to get published. I get asked this question a lot, and I’m certain that most published authors do as well. I advised this teacher that the only way to get published is to read a lot, and to write a lot. Yes, she countered – but how can I write a lot when I have a full-time job? I explained that I had a full-time job when I started writing myself. The trick is to MAKE the time. Perhaps you get up an hour earlier, or give up watching TV in the evening.

Oh no, she said. I could never give up watching TV.

Then, you’ll never be published.

I didn’t say it, of course – but it’s true. If you want to be a writer, you have to put the work in. If you have a job as well, you have to make the time to write. There’s no magic button, no short-cut, no person to contact who will instantly make your wishes come true.

You write, submit, get rejected, write, submit, get rejected, write, submit, get rejected, write, submit – write, submit – write, submit… You write and submit until the person who reads your submission – be it an editor, publisher, producer or agent – has absolutely no reason to reject you. Then – you’re a writer.

Does that sound harsh? Apologies if it does – but that’s how I did it. I have two filing cabinets full of rejection letters – some from my current publishers – dating back to 1986. 25 years ago. In that time I’ve had an entire acting career, worked as an electrical goods salesman, dealt with water rates accounts for customers in Hampshire, fixed computers on a tech support line, pulled pints behind many a bar – and I wrote. Every day, I wrote.

Every. Single. Day.

It didn’t matter that I had a full-time job, that I was tired, that I had other commitments. I wrote. I submitted. I was rejected. Until someone said yes.

I’ve just finished writing my 29th book that is or will be published. My Scream Street series is published in 13 countries, and we’re now working on a TV series based on the books. I have a meeting in a week or so about my next series of books. I have another TV script being considered by a major UK production company. I’m writing short stories and articles for several newspapers and magazines. I’ve been asked to pitch ideas to a computer games company.

I’m not saying any of that to boast – just to prove that it can be done. I had no industry contacts, no doorway into publishing, no secret password. I just never gave up. You can have exactly the same – and more. You just have to do the work. Put the hours in. WRITE.

I’m incredibly lucky to count at least 30 professional writers and authors among my friends, and I’ve met them all as a result of working as a writer. They’re all great people, and they ALL have one thing in common… They WANTED to be a writer, and let nothing stop them from achieving that goal.

So, how about you? Do you want to be a writer? Or, do you WANT to be a writer?