Balance March Issue 2018 - 15

L I T E RA RY S P E A K I N G

t he manual

So you want to be an...

Author
We all have at least one book in us, they say. Want to get it out?

W

career toolkit
TRAINING

You don't need qualifications,
just a voice, a message to
share... and a lot of patience.

COST

An idea costs nothing, a pen
and notepad not much more,
but a writing course at the
London School of Journalism
will set you back £365.

TIMELINE

Realistically 12 months, but
anything's possible with hard
work and a little luck.

hen it comes to a dream lifestyle, if sipping
matcha lattes while penning your latest
literary hit sounds like yours, you're probably
in the 60% of the British population who chose 'author' as
their most desired job.
The less glamorous reality is that aside from the JK
Rowlings and James Pattersons of the world, the odds of such
phenomenal success often aren't as favourable. While
six-figure advances are rare, they are achievable and when
it comes to wellness-focused content, there's never been
a better time to crack the market. If you need convincing,
just take a look at Amazon's bestseller list.
So, where do you begin? Once you've had your 'lightbulb'
moment, kickstart the process with some research. The best
writers know their subject inside out, so conduct interviews,
read related content and investigate.
Next comes the fun part, where you get to write. If you're
starting out, be prepared to fund yourself with a day job, so
think late nights, sacrifices and a lot of self-motivation. Also
step away from your phone; distractions will kill your creativity.
Once you've completed your masterpiece, finding a literary
agent is the most effective way of securing a publishing deal.
However, thanks to the exponential growth of digital platforms,
self-publishing is easier and more cost-effective than ever.
Criticism, re-drafts and rejection are all part of the trade,
but when you spot yourself pictured on the dust jacket of your
first book, your sense of accomplishment will make all the
previous disappointments worthwhile.

POINT OF VIEW

RESOURCES

WORDS: LAURA HILL ILLUSTRATION: RAMI NIEMI

The London Writer's Cafe
and Shut Up And Write
offer support, inspiration
and more. See meetup.com.

GOOD READ

Writing Down the Bones
by Natalie Goldberg.

CONSIDER THIS

Writing well requires
research... and tons of it.
Read, read and read some
more before you write.

Liz Gough
Embankment
Publisher, Yellow Kite
'To write a successful
wellness book you
need to have a good,
clear proposition and
ideally be offering
something either
original, or at least
substantially better
than what is already
on the market. There
are lots of books in
this space, so often
timing is key.'

Dr Rupy Aujla
West London
GP
'My book (The Doctor's
Kitchen) has given me a
powerful voice to
instigate real change
which is ultimately what
it's all about for me.
Creating a healthier,
happier population
using evidence-based
food and lifestyle
medicine ought to
be part of medical
school training.'

BA LA N CE March 2018

Danielle Copperman
Islington
Model
'Writing a book (Well
Being) has given me the
opportunity to truly
open up and let go of
concerns about what
people might think,
which is really
empowering. It was a
pretty draining
experience, both
mentally and physically,
but it's definitely
opened doors.'

SUCCESS COACH

FAQ

LAUREN ARMES
Founder of Welltodo,
Lauren helps people build
incredible businesses
and careers in the
wellness industry

Q.

I'd love to write about
wellness, but there's so
much out there. Do
opportunities still exist?
The market is crowded,
but that shouldn't put you
off, it highlights demand.
Use your unique voice and
aim for cliché-free high
quality content.

A.

Q.
A.

To be an author do you
need a personal brand as
well as a book brand?
It's important to pitch
yourself, as well as your
business. You don't have to
reveal all, but sharing your
back story, passions and
what makes you different
should all help you connect
with your audience.

Q.
A.

I've written a book.
How do I find a good
literary agent?
Never underestimate the
power of networking. Head
to writers events and ask
existing connections. If that
fails, agenthunter.co.uk lists
every UK agent, so aim local
and hit the phones.
Visit welltodoglobal.com
for business and career
opportunities in wellness

15


http://www.meetup.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance March Issue 2018

Balance March Issue 2018 - 1
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