On Oct. 7, The Book Store At Western welcomed home six graduates, all successful writers, for an insightful panel discussion about careers in writing.
The event, “Living the Dream” followed the campus-wide Career Week, and provided students, staff and faculty with an opportunity to learn about making a living as a writer.
Among the panel were Giller prize winner Bonnie Burnard, and newly published authors Cathy Marie Buchanan and Christine Walde. Also on the panel were fantasy and thriller novelist, Scott Bakker; Douglas Keddy, founder of two corporate magazines and an award winning travel blog; and Penn Kemp, Western’s Canada Council Writer-in Residence and author of more than 25 books of poetry and drama.
With a variety of backgrounds in writing, the panel of Western grads provided the audience of aspiring writers with insights from all angles.
Writing can be a rewarding career, as the panelists’ successes indicate; however, the best reward extends beyond personal benefits.
“To know that other people are reading your work, forming opinions about it, blogging about it, and being touched personally by it, is really rewarding,” said Buchanan.
Creative release and the ability to pursue a passion are obvious benefits of a career in writing. For Walde, there is the thrill of painting a picture with words, while Keddy appreciates the opportunity to give back to communities.
For hopeful writers at the event, the panelists gave key advice: write every day, read broadly, and be persistent in both writing and editing.
Panelists highlighted the multiple dimensions of a writing career, which includes not only writing, but also reading, researching, editing, and promoting.
With personal experience in mind, Walde recommended: “Be open-minded to the opportunities in front of you, and don’t limit yourself.”
When Walde originally had the idea for her novel, The Candy Darlings, she never envisioned it for a young adult audience. Regardless, she seized the opportunity publishers gave her, and is now the author of a critically acclaimed YA novel.
Writing, like any career, has its challenges and downsides. For all the time spent working in isolation, Buchanan recounts that writing can be a lonely activity. She also explained that financially, it is hard for new writers to begin a career because publishers do not pay for the book until it is finished. To help support the cost of a young writing career, Walde recommends applying for government grants.
Sacrifice, whether it’s time, money, sleep or social activity, is an undeniable aspect of a career in writing. Deadlines, the panel agreed, are also a major challenge.
“Time is everybody’s worst enemy,” expressed Keddy.
Rejection, however, is not the enemy; it is just another part of the job. The panel agreed that it’s important to maintain a healthy attitude, understanding that rejection is something every writer must endure.
“Shrug your shoulders and continue to believe in what you’re doing,” advises Walde. “Editors can pass by genius without knowing it, so keep pushing through moments of discouragement.”
Peering into their crystal balls, the authors made predictions about the future of books. Keddy, familiar with online audiences from his blogging experience, claims, “People will always want to read, whether in an electronic or paper format.”
The other panelists agreed that books aren’t going anywhere; in some way, shape, or form, the book will survive. This was good news for aspiring writers in the audience, who hope to be the future authors of celebrated books.
The writer is an intern at The Book Store.
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