✍️ The Truth About Becoming a Writer. (From 350+ Author Interviews)
Hey, it’s CJ. You know, the one who’s interviewed 350+ authors, hosts The Writing Community Chat Show, and still wakes up some days thinking: Wait, am I even qualified to do this?
Let’s talk about writing. Not the “dino-erotica” kind, yes that exists, but the gritty, messy, beautiful chaos of it. Whether you're writing your first sentence or your fifteenth novel, there’s something all authors have in common: we’re winging it more than we let on. Here is some advice and a lot of author truths from guests on our show.
Start Somewhere. Anywhere. Even at the End.
A lot of writers say: “Just get started.” And they’re right.
Write ruthlessly. Don’t stop every five minutes to fix a comma or argue with your inner critic. Pour it out like a brain-splattered crime scene. You can clean it up later.
Others swear by starting at the end, because then you can sprinkle in those clever clues and twists like literary breadcrumbs for the reader to trip over later. Smart, right?
Do what works. Just start.
Even the Greats Feel Like Frauds
Mark Billingham, yes, that Mark Billingham, once told us on the show:
“It still feels like I’m waiting to get caught out.”
This is a man with a towering career in crime fiction. And yet, he still has that imposter syndrome gremlin whispering in his ear, just like the rest of us. If you’re feeling it? It’s normal. If you’re not? You’re probably a sociopath. (Kidding. Sort of.)
Write from the Heart, Even When It Hurts
The stuff you love writing? Readers will feel it. Passion bleeds through the page. If you’re faking it, forcing it, or writing what you think you should write instead of what you must, people notice. So go with your gut.
Be weird. Be you.
Rejection Isn’t Personal (Even When It Feels Like It)
Two types of writers walk into a rejection:
The ones who crawl into a creative hole, doubt everything, and write less.
The ones who ask why, take the feedback, and come back swinging.
Be the second one.
Rejection and bad reviews suck. But they’re also goldmines if you can stomach the sting. Treat them like a free course in “How Not to Suck (As Much) Next Time.” Because here’s the thing: if you want to write full-time, you need to treat it like a career. Careers have feedback. Writers should too.
“But I Hate Promoting Myself”
Yeah, we hear this one a lot.
Some of our most successful guests on the show don’t just plan their writing, they plan their social media. One author, who’s smashing it on X (formerly Twitter, but, we still call it Twitter, let’s be honest), spends a couple of hours every week making her entire week’s worth of social posts. Canva, scheduling tools, analytics, the works.
That time investment? It pays off.
Trust us… You are not posting enough!
Also: you’re probably posting about your book too much. (Oof. Sorry.)
Instead of shouting “BUY MY BOOK” into the void every day, focus on connecting with people. Build your author brand by being human. Share your journey. Your failures. Your cat. That’s what people care about.
And network like your career depends on it, because, spoiler: it does.
Writers in Bars, Talking Shop.
I’ve been lucky enough to moderate panels for Pan Macmillan at the Harrogate Crime Writers Festival for the last few years. It’s not just about sitting on panels, it’s about who you meet in the bar, at signings, or randomly in the queue for a pasty.
I’ve seen authors hand their books to publishers, bestselling authors, agents, and yes, some actually read them. You never know which passing handshake or pint will lead to your big break. Bring books. Bring merch. Bring confidence (even if you’re faking it).
Lee Child might take your book home. Stranger things have happened. Seriously.
350+ Interviews Later…
We’ve laughed a lot. Learned more. And we’re still here, doing what we love.
Want more of this?
✅ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow
✅ Listen on your favourite podcast app: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493
✅ Become a paid Substack member to support the show (and join our exclusive, mildly chaotic aftershows where Chris Hooley and I talk nonsense and occasionally drop wisdom).
We do this for you. The writers. The dreamers. The brilliant, neurotic creatives who are brave enough to put their thoughts into the world.
Now go write something. Then come back and tell us about it.
We’re listening.
CJ Aggett
Founder & Host, The Writing Community Chat Show
The WCCS - Together as one we get it done.
It's a beauty to come across this literally after taking my writing career seriously.people follow up I have a book releasing soon next month..stay close and yeah that book might just do some strange things to you...
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