Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Novelist

The Writer's Block Issue

Writing a novel – regardless of the genre – can be both a thrilling and heart-wrenching experience. Professional authors who have already made a name for themselves know the work that goes into being a novelist, but those jumping into the act of writing a book for the first time may be surprised at how tedious a task it can be.

In other words, sometimes the words just don't come. This can be incredibly frustrating to novelists, and it can be particularly devastating to certain novelists:

• Seasoned novelists who never dealt with writers block while working on previous novels
• Amateur novelists who were convinced it would be an easy process to write a novel

Obviously, both amateur and professional novelists can have real issues with writer's block. This can have a huge effect on their job satisfaction. Of all the advantages and disadvantages of being a novelist, the threat of writer's block is a constantly looming issue.

Other Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Novelist

Various novelists experience different feelings toward writing a novel, and no two novelists have identical experiences.

Potential Advantages

Most people assume that the advantages of being a novelist far outweigh the disadvantages, and in most cases this is true. Here is a brief list of some of the many advantages of being a novelist:

• Possible fame or notoriety
• The ability to make a living doing something you enjoy and love
• Entertaining people with your material
• Working a schedule you choose, from a location you choose
• Potentially lucrative income

For some people, there is simply no other choice about what their professional should be. Sometimes there is no other option than to spend your days "getting the stories out of your head."

Another great potential advantage to being a novelist is the opportunity to have more than one profession. Some novelists have other jobs that they balance nicely with their writing career, allowing them the best of both worlds.

Potential Disadvantages

Being a novelist may not be the ideal occupation for some people, even if they are quite talented and enjoy writing. Disadvantages of this profession include:

• A highly competitive market
• Sporadic income
• Completion of the project is entirely dependent upon your ability to form the story or other material
• Possible need to make appearances to market your novel, which could be a problem if you dislike public speaking and traveling
• Constant criticism from readers and critics
• Potential lack of social interaction while working

Not everyone is cut out to be a successful novelist. Some people are really great writers, but simply do not enjoy the lifestyle associated with being a novelist. Other people have no problem with the novelist lifestyle, but just don't write well enough to turn it into a viable profession.

Best Option for You

The best way to figure out whether the life of a novelist is conducive to your wants and needs is to start living your life as though you're already a novelist.

• Write every day.
• Stay within deadlines that you set for yourself.
• Actively pursue opportunities to market yourself and your work.

You can do this "trial run" while maintaining another job. Remember, most successful novelists start writing while also bringing in additional income from another source. It simply isn't a realistic option for many people to quit working altogether while writing a first novel.

While you attempt to live the lifestyle of a working novelist, figure out if the thrill of writing a novel is enough to make up for all the extra hours of work you have to put into a day. If you truly want to be a novelist, the answer will be a definite "yes!"