Mapping the Transition to Full-Time Author

One Writer’s Experience

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I had a successful career as an attorney practicing federal law until two years ago. Now I am a full-time author, nearly as busy as I was when I was working my 9-5, ahem, 7-6 job.

Lots of people ask me how it happened, as if becoming a writer is like being an old-school Disney princess, waiting around for a prince to show up.

My experience was not like that (at all), but it was inspired by a quote from Walt Disney himself:

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Each writer’s pathway to full-time author is different, and I offer mine for those who might find resonance. It applies to anyone who wants to leave a conventional job to follow their passion.

1. It all started with the dream. In the back of my mind, many years before I left my traditional job, I knew that my day-to-day grind, while paying the bills, was not fulfilling. Rather than looking forward to the work day, I was much more excited about my early morning yoga class, videochatting with my twin daughters (who were in college), and diving into the latest book on my TBR. I had a dream to do something different, something that combined my passions for reading, writing, adventure, and creative expression. I decided to act on it.

2. I made an exit plan. Because I had been at my job for a long time, I couldn’t just up and leave with two weeks’ notice. I had to train the staff who would take over my long-time institutional clients, communicate the change to those clients over time, and negotiate the terms of my exit from the law firm. None of those steps were quick, but planning them ahead of time smoothed the transition, especially the financial aspects. Which leads to the next (and least fun for me) part…

3. I did a deep-dive into my finances. Transitioning from a traditional job to a full-time author gig is no different than starting a business, like a bakery, hair salon, or landscaping business. I looked at discretionary spending I could cut with the least amount of pain, and eliminated all the “extras” before I left my conventional job. During that time, I worked to build up savings that would pay the bills until the income from my new profession started rolling in.

4. I enlisted the help of family and friends. Most people enthusiastically supported the change. I began by writing historical fiction, and my parents, likely confused by my decision to leave a lucrative position, were excited because I was excited. Who doesn’t want to see their child’s face light up when they pursue something they love? My dad said he wanted to be in the film versions of my books, and my mom proceeded to tell everyone she knew to buy them when they came out. My besties from high school, the ones who sat around with me writing poetry and short stories in English class many years ago, cheered me on, pumped me up, and inspired me to keep going. My transition to full-time author was a community event that solidified my closest relationships.

5. I made a business plan. I wrote and published my first book while I was working full-time at the law firm, using my non-working time to write, write, and write some more. Yes, it was a challenge, but I was energized by the reality of following my dream; it was almost as if the hours required to write, edit, and publish the book miraculously appeared when I needed them. In order to complete all the tasks necessary for self-publishing a book, I made a schedule, and that schedule turned into a business plan with objectives, projected timelines, budgets, industry insights, and market strategy. (If you’re a writer and these words make you cringe, I understand.) At first glance, storytelling and business plans don’t seem to have much in common; however, I really wanted my author career to replace my former income, and using the skills I learned in managing a professional services business felt like an aligned way to accomplish that objective.

6. I celebrated the little wins. Making the leap away from a stable income and a familiar routine can be daunting. There were so many components of self-publishing that were foreign to me: ISBNs for books in different formats, selecting a cover artist, alpha and beta readers, editing (boy did I learn the hard way how much I overused the words “even” and “just”), proofreading partners, formatting and uploading the manuscripts, printing costs, front and back matter, and the list goes on. Celebrating the little wins helped keep my eye on the prize without becoming overwhelmed. For example, I struggled with adding content to my website, and I knew absolutely nothing about SEO when I started it. However, when that website went live and I clicked on it for the first time, I did a little dance!

7. I followed the joy. The trick in mapping the transition to full-time author for me was to enjoy the process. There were lots of ups and downs, so much so that I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. 🙌🎢😄 However, the process of writing, editing, reading, and talking to other writers about books is so satisfying that I can’t imagine doing anything else. They don’t call it “wordplay” for nothing!

If you’re thinking of mapping a transition into a new career, my advice is to talk to others who have done it, see what resonates with you, and take the leap!