Gradey Alexander is one the most respected – and feared – literary critics in Canada. After publishing his first novel, Kensington Market, at the age of twenty-three, Alexander has worked steadily, writing nine books and countless essays, articles, and short stories. For almost a decade he was the Managing Editor of LWOT Magazine, one of the most renowned fiction magazines in the world, and has earned a place in the Canadian literary canon as one of the toughest critics around. Famous for not sparing his opinions, even when it comes to icons like Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler, he shares some invaluable advice for beginning writers (in his typical acerbic style).
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When it comes to answering questions about the challenges of being a professional writer, I know the most honest reply would be that the actual process of writing is a creative, fulfilling and relatively easy one – compared to getting published, that is!
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While there are many online writing gigs to be found, magazine writing still offers the most lucrative pay for journalists and other nonfiction writers. The key to opening the door to magazine writing gigs lies within the query letter. To land good magazine assignments, you need to write compelling query letters. This is often true for the fiction writer as well.
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So, you have followed your true calling and embraced the written word as a means for earning your livelihood. Here’s what to expect- total disorientation, rejection slips coming in as regular as your newspaper, un-replied mails in your mail-box, desperation to see your name in print as soon as possible…you get the picture. Nothing gives more pleasure than being published and being appreciated for your work but lets face it going on to become a earning professional writer from a published-a-couple-of-times-writer, is a long way. Don’t let the reality check dishearten you- setbacks are only an initial phenomenon and once you are out there rocking the writing market, there is no stopping you.
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Truth be told, becoming a writer was never a part of my childhood dream. Having experienced pressure when I was still writing for the school paper, which only happened 4 times every school year, making a career out of this highly mentally and physically stressful field never occurred to me.
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Every writer needs to believe. In themselves. In their work. Art of writing changes as does the changes of time. But the love of words remain steadfast and strong. Yes, writers are an elite class of people.
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