Thinking about Careers

I was at a big writing conference a couple years ago, and there was a glob of literary agents yakking it up on a panel. We were asked about the role agents play in the contemporary publishing industry, and one of the agents who spoke made a point of saying, "The most important thing we do is career planning for authors."

I almost laughed out loud. She happened to be an agent who...um...I want to put this delicately: She has no idea what she's doing. One of those people who can't seem to figure out what this job actually entails, besides sending emails and collecting checks. So to hear her talking about "career management" made me smile. It's not that I disagreed -- I happen to think that assisting authors with their careers is probably the most important piece of what I do. It's just that I believe to some agents "career planning" is nothing more than "find a deal for my author." In other words, a writer who doesn't have a book contract simply needs a deal in place, and he or she will have a "writing career." But anybody with a lick of sense could figure out that a book contract is sort of expected if you're going to make a living as a writer of books. I mean, every author who signs on with an agent expects to land a deal.

So, for an agent, there's a bit more to it. In my view, a career plan for an author is created by helping the author figure out (1) where they are now, and (2) where they want to be in the future. Because, you see, "success" is going to be defined differently for each author. There's no one rung we reach that equates to "success" for every writer. Some people really want to make their living writing; others don't care about the money so much as that they write regularly. One author may see success as making just enough to be financially feasible (say $2000 per month on average), while another author defines success as replacing her corporate job (making a minimum of $5000 per month). So part of this first stage is to simply figure out where you are and begin to define where you want to go.

It can take a while to get to that place -- you have to think about your past, your desires, your schedule, your personality, your platform, your calling. What's the message you feel God has given you? What are the books you simply HAVE to write? Do you know your voice? Do you know yourself well enough to recognize what your strengths and weaknesses as a writer are? 

An author also needs to think about keeping life in balance -- having a career is more than just making money. Sure, you have to consider how much you'd like to earn and where it will come from, but you also have to think about how you can maintain a healthy marriage, stay physically fit, and have friends and a vibrant spiritual life. All of this has to get written down somewhere, so the author has a document from which to work.

THEN you start thinking about the steps to take in order to move forward. Sure, if you're unpublished or between contracts, most likely the first thing you need is a deal. But that's not the ONLY thing an author needs. One of the reasons I've tried to get the authors I represent to think through a written career plan is so that they can begin the process of noodling on their writing careers. A couple people have emailed their plans back to me with a note that said they've come to realize they don't want to be full-time writers. That's fine -- it's just nice that they have clarity. Others have found that writing things down has helped them get a better picture of where they are weak. An author with no platform is hoping the salability of her idea and quality of her craft will carry her to success...but that's become tough to do in today's market, so taking steps to build a platform may be necessary in order to move forward.

I think God has a unique calling for each of us. (I think that's true even if you don't believe in Him.) But I look around, and I see that this business allows one writer to have modest success and another to make a million dollars. Sometimes that can be traced back to a great idea or a great title or great writing or great marketing -- but other times it seems to be nothing more than a sovereignty of God issue. Maybe that's why He calls one guy to pastor a church of ten thousand, and another to pastor a church of fifty. I don't believe the pastor of a thousand necessarily has better talent, or received a greater blessing, or is any more or less obedient...sometimes God just calls people to different things. There have been far greater preachers than Billy Graham who are toiling obediently in small-town churches around the world. I happen to represent some remarkable writers -- some of whom haven't had huge sales yet. But God isn't just calling people to success; He's calling people to obedience. He wants us to use our gifts, whether we sell 5000 copies or 50,000.

My reason for writing all of this is just to encourage you to think carefully about your career. As an agent, I really want the authors I represent to feel as though they've got a plan in place -- something more than "I owe my publisher another book." Clarify where you are and where you want to be, and think through the steps to get there. On this blog, let's talk through things like how many books you ought to write in a year, and how much money you need to make, and what concrete steps you could take to improve your sales and visibility. Think about what you need to study or improve or build in order to move your writing career forward. Think about keeping things in balance, since God has called us to be more than writers -- He wants us to be strong, healthy Christians who minister to those around us and leave an impact on the world.

Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching. I was just going over notes to myself from some recent conferences, and had to ruminate on this issue a bit. I want the authors I'm working with to know they've got some sort of plan in place. When a fellow writer asks one of the authors I work with if they have a career path, I want my author to feel comfortable saying, "Yes, I do." Maybe I'm just tired of hearing people talk about writing as a career without stating clearly what that means. 

So, in case you're not sure, a career writer, in my view, is one who makes a living from writing. You probably need to figure out what it means to make a living in your world, taking your community, your family, and your financial needs into consideration. And having a career plan means you've got a step-by-step plan in mind to move there from where you are now (or, if you really don't see yourself making a living at writing, at least you've figured out where you DO want to be, and what steps you'll take to get there). 

It ain't simple. But maybe we could use less general talk about "careers for authors" and more concrete help with establishing those careers. 

Some thoughts.

Chip

Comments

[Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts]

Woah. Good stuff, Chip. Way good. Thanks!

[AimeeLS]

Thank you so much for being willing to put God at the center of this!

It is so encouraging to find people who, no matter what industry they're in, recognize God's sovereignty as the first and most important element of their success. (And His honor as the measure of it).

After all, if we can't recognize God's hand when it pulled us up to the pinnacle, how will we ever trust Him when He's carrying us through the valleys?

Thank you Chip. God bless. Really.

[Kathy Nicholls]

Thank you so much for this today. It is exactly what I needed to hear. I absolutely agree with you that God has a plan for our lives and it is important that it all work together. Thanks again.

[Sharon A Lavy]

God bless you Chip. You put things into perspective.

[Chrystie]

"An author also needs to think about keeping life in balance -- having a career is more than just making money. Sure, you have to consider how much you'd like to earn and where it will come from, but you also have to think about how you can maintain a healthy marriage, stay physically fit, and have friends and a vibrant spiritual life."

I love your perspective on this. Balance is so important to me. It is important that I have time to dedicate to my family, to service work, to the youth ministry at my church, and to my own relationship with God. And honestly, those things come before my writing. It creates a tension within me, because I love words. I love to write. I aspire to write a book or twelve and I do believe that God has called me to write. I know He has given me a story to tell. And I desire to share it with the world and to be obedient to Him. But...I also believe that He has called me to be a wife, a mother, and a servant.

So I have to remember my priorities: God first, then family, then church, service, work etc. Tough to keep it all balanced. But, I know that if it is indeed a calling He has placed on me, it will happen.

There is one thing I lack though - a good plan. There will always be things clammoring for my attention, distracting me from writing. But, if I have a road map, then I will be less likely to get off course. Thanks for reminding me of this today.

I really love your perspective on this. Thanks for sharing it and sorry for the long comment.

[Cindy Thomson]

Thanks for this reminder, Chip. Right when I needed it. How did you know?

[bryan a]

fantastic, chip. thanks for sharing this.

[C.J. Darlington]

Great post. Thank you for spelling this out. I've often wondered what the role of an agent outside of getting contracts is. It's nice to hear your perspective on this.

[sgchris]

It's so easy to get caught up in what we are 'supposed' to do, 'have' to do, 'need' to do. It's way too easy for priorites to change without us even realizing it. As has been brought home to me recently.
Thanks for the reminder that what we Do is only a part of us, not the whole us, or who we Really are. Or who we Really are in this world.
Thanks for listening to what a lot of us needed to hear and have been running too busily along to make out the words. ;) And for sharing with us.

[Pam Halter]

Thanks from me, too, Chip. It's solid and balanced and something I'll think more about now.

[Laura Droege]

Thank you, Chip. If being a career writer means making a living by writing, I'm perfectly fine with not being one. I know if I tried to do that, I would sacrifice my family, friends, relationship with God, and my health. Ultimately, those things are more important to me than making enough to live on. I won't be able to write what God wants me to write and be the woman he wants me to be if I neglect my relationships in favor of writing.

Recently, I've come across so many websites urging writers to spend just as much time marketing, building their platform, as they do writing. That's not possible for me at this stage in my life. (I have 2 small children and some physical limitations.) So I'm thinking through my goals as a writer, planning how to build a platform and how to continue to hone my craft, and still maintain a balance. Thank you for bringing up this topic. I really appreciate it.

[Joanne Mueller]

Chip,

I absolutely love this post! I am encouraged to be pointed back toward God's plan for my life and to pursue that plan instead of mine. Thank you also for your workshop at the OCW conference. That conference was my introduction to what published writing is all about. I admit, I was terrified when I went and completely overwhelmed when I left. I appreciate you taking the time to teach us.

Blessings,

Joanne

[Nicole]

Amen. (You do surprise me sometimes. ;) )

[Linda]

Thank you and God bless you for being faithful to God and reminding us to keep our priorities straight.

[lynn]

Great thoughts, Chip. Thanks for sharing them.

[Sharon M. Smith]

Thank you so much for your thoughts. It is funny that you talk about having a balanced lifestyle because I have written an article on "The Myth of a Balanced Life" and have been asked to speak about it around town. Always love to hear what others have to say on the subject and appreciate your perspective. Also after reading your blog, I am even more convinced I want a writing career. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Julie Surface Johnson]

Wonderful post! Thank you. Okay . . . I've got my marching orders. And don't apologize for "preaching." It's obviously what many of us needed to hear.

[Cindy Downes]

Thanks for this column. I am one of those who is in the process of deciding where I am going. This article was helpful.

[Rachel Hauck]

Have I mentioned lately your heroic like qualities? They are demonstrated in the above post: you're a wise, purposeful agent, a wise man, a lover of Jesus and a glockenspiel enthusiast. ;)

Rachel

[Lucy Ann Moll]

Those are some good thoughts, Chip.

Lucy

[Clella Camp]

Chip, As with many others who have commented, I needed to hear this right now. My intentions are to follow your advice and make a "career" plan. Isn't there an old adage that reads "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail." And our God does have different plans for each of us. I needed to be reminded of that also. Blessings Clella

[Heather Walker]

Food for thought. I've wanted to write since I was 12 years old. The question posed where do I want to go is worth pondering. Writing has been my spiritual path and the message I feel God has given me is that healing is still possible today. Writing gives me a voice and God has taught me that my chronic illness has in part been created by my repression of feelings specifically anger and grief. Five years ago I didn't know what the word "physiology" meant but having been reading texts that help me understand the creation of my own illness. I am hoping to recover as the Holy Spirit continues to gently help me to understand how important and powerful my thoughts are.

[brandt Dodson]

Amen, brother!

[Marla Taviano]

Awesome post.

And this is embarrassing, but I've never really looked too closely at your pic on the sidebar. Just realized I've been picturing you as Chuck Norris this whole time.

[chip responds]

Chuck and I share MANY qualities...