Professional Writing Is Not Just Writing A Book

Writing is for everyone.

I have said this time and time again here on this blog. Writing is one of those few areas where human beings, of every walk of life, have the chance to express emotions, tell stories, and show what it is to be a human. It is a chance to communicate thoughts and expressions. But, it is also important to remember that being a "professional writer" involves more. It is not just a matter of sitting at a computer, writing 100K of prose on a page, putting a cover on it, coming up with a title and then "printing it."

In normally hate to use Wikipedia for a source, but when I looked up the definition this AM, I wanted more than the simple two line definition from Merriam-Webster.

Here is what Merriam-Webster had to say.

Definition of professional

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession

b : engaged in one of the learned professions

c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession

(2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs

• a professional golfer

b : having a particular profession as a permanent career

• a professional soldier

c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return

• professional football

3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession

• a professional patriot

 

Now let's look at Wikipedia

A professional is a member of a profession or any person who earns their living from a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct, enshrining rigorous ethical and moral obligations. Professional standards of practice and ethics for a particular field are typically agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations, such as the IEEE. Some definitions of "professional" limit this term to those professions that serve some important aspect of public interest and the general good of society.

Why do I bring these up? It is something I have been screaming about a lot lately. More and more writers seem to think that it is just a matter of making money that moves a person into the professional category of publishing. It is the definition 2(a) from Merriam-Webster that so many authors today seem to be living on.

I do have to say, this is part of the reason why the market is so flooded right now with "books" available for purchase. This is why editors and agents are flooded with projects and are rejecting those stories over and over again. People are just writing stories, and throwing those stories out to the masses.

Where does this come from? It comes from those companies out there who prey on the unsuspecting author offering a chance to "be published." They send out the message of "Do you have a story to tell? Do you want it published? Then XYZ Publishers is the answer." So the authors dive in, spend their money, get that book "published" and then run around claiming he or she is a "professional writer." Not necessarily true.

Let's go to the Wikipedia definition now and examine an additional part that these people seem to be missing.

The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession.

When we want to become a professional teacher, lawyer, doctor, electrician and so forth, what is expected of us? We go to school? We learn the skills. We learn how to do the work. When you are someone looking to go to get the support and help from a professional, we take the time to insure that person is knowledgeable. We make sure that contractor or electrician is bonded and licensed. Right? At least I would hope people do that.

But in writing, we have a lot of people out there, and I am not just talking about those that self-publishing now, but the entire population of writers, who are not taking that initial step of learning how to truly be a professional writer. Even those of you with good intentions are sending out query letters, as well as pitching to editors and agents at conferences, without that education.

As I talk about education, I am not just talking about the craft of writing, which is certainly a central foundation of the business. I am also talking about the other skills necessary to be a professional writer. This involves the understanding of the genres. It involves the knowledge of the business and how material moves through the pipeline. It involves how to "be a professional" when submitting queries, proposals and presenting at conferences.  Note that next line in the Wikipedia definition.

In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct, enshrining rigorous ethical and moral obligations.

I am bringing all of this up due to the flood of submissions I have received, as well as my colleagues all around the world. If you follow any of us on social media, a day will not go by when one of us is screaming about the "things you should not do" as a writer.

Part of the reason many of the publishers and agencies are not signing new authors and continually promoting their established authors is not because they do not want to change. It is because there really is a lack of "skilled labor" out there. This is something you hear from a lot of other industries as well. In simple terms, without the skills, you will not get a job. Sure, you can open up your "own business" despite the lack of skills, and prove to the world you can make it without the education. And yes, you might succeed.

But the odds are against you.

Writing is a profession. It is a job. It is a career. Let's start to treat it like that.