Editor of
Editor-at-large at Death & Taxes Magazine, contributor to The Week, Interview, and Vice Magazine.
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skeyes7life-deactivated20120526 asked:So I just started following you here and have a question about your writing. I hope to be a writer one day, and just wonder about how it is like- writing as a career, do you like it? It may be a stupid question, but I just don't want my passion for writing to die off because it became a job. I do not think my passion will die off, I just want to know what a writer thinks.
Writing for a career is like fucking for abstinence. You’re basically trying to do for a living what most people think of as an afternoon hobby. It’s not drastically different from being a photographer (I imagine). You have a portfolio and some sort of speciality in your work that only you can bring to the table. I’ve always been more “out there” than others. Some people are amazing at magazine profiles. Finding out what you’re good at is very hard when you’re young.
There’s all sort of ways to get into writing, though – technical writing, copywriting, SEO writing (ugh), there’s a ton more – they’re all valid, although I suggest you get a degree in one of those areas if you want to start there.
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easterstreaks said:
tl;dr
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carltonpeppers said:
It is very much like photography in that sense, which I think is why my friend group has shifted to become mostly writers: passionate people who empathize with a difficult career path, but with whom I don’t have to compete. Lovely.
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wanderlustandtethers said:
SEO writing will make you so dumb…! Definitely worth that “ugh.”
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yummyummybiscuits said:
I write for a living, true, writing for clients is abominable. However, it’s what you put into it that makes it. & definitely get an English or other writing qualification. There’s so much competition a degree is priceless but still not a guarantee.
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cardboardhouse said:
Hey Ned,
Thanks for answering skeyes question. After reading your “best of” section, this past summer, my passion for writing was reignited. Keep doing what you’re doing, because you’re such an inspiration to young college writers like myself.
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bringtheruckuss said:
what if i want to be a brooding, moody, unwashed substance abuses/writer? is there a degree for that?
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nedhepburn posted this
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