by Jenny Ungless, Career Life Coach

Everybody has at least one book in them, the old saying goes. Certainly a very high percentage of my clients list writing as a hobby, and getting a book published as one of their ambitions. But the career of the writer isn’t for everyone – it’s precarious, it’s hard work, and for every J K Rowling who’s made millions, there are thousands of other writers who struggle to eke out a living. But if you’ve always wanted to see your name in print, don’t be put off: there are lots of ways in which you can get writing, without having to risk everything.

Here are our top tips:

• The most important thing is to get started. Buy yourself a notebook or a journal, (or a computer if you’re a word-processing rather than a longhand type). And just start writing. 
• Read lots too. The more you read, the better your own writing will be. Also, other people’s writing is a great source of inspiration and ideas for your own.
• Remember the “Zulu principle” – anyone can become an expert if the niche they choose is small enough. So pick something that interests you and get writing about it.
• Look for opportunities to get your writing in print. That could be as simple as contributing to some online forums, or blogs, or even starting your own. Check out websites relevant to your interests: sites are constantly looking for new content to keep themselves fresh, so it’s often easier to get your material published online than in print journals. But it’s also worth keeping an eye on the print media that interest you – sometimes opportunities come up, such as competitions. And there’s always the “Letters to the Editor” option!
• Join a writing club or a network. They’re like book clubs except that you read and critique each others’ work. It’s great to have moral support – writing can be a lonely business! Also check out your local library and/or community college – it might be worth going on a creative writing course to help get you started.
• Persevere. Getting published isn’t easy, but it’s certainly not impossible. Get yourself a copy of the Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook, which lists every publisher of books and magazines in the UK, and gives information about whether they accept unsolicited manuscripts, and what kind of material they publish. It’s also full of useful information about how to get published.
• Finally, look at your writing as something that adds value to the rest of your career. Even if it never becomes more than a sideline for you, it will improve the quality of all your written work, give you an interesting edge and help you to think more creatively. Most importantly, it’s fun!

If you’d like to explore ways in which you can start to realise your dream of getting published, City Life Coaching can help – we have a number of published authors among our clientele. We’re offering Monster readers a 2-hour coaching session for the special rate of £200 (normally £275). This includes pre-session questionnaires, and a month’s follow-up by email to help keep you on track. Simply email jenny@citylifecoaching.com quoting “Monster offer”.