One of my favorite things to do is teach writing classes. I work with big groups, small groups, experienced writers, and those who haven't yet summoned the courage to call themselves writers. I welcome all and know that I will learn something from each student.

Something magical happens in class discussions and the short writing bursts we do: Students discover what it is to use their voice and their inspiration. They share tentative, but wonderful words, and make an almost-tangible energy with their creativity and passion. I feel lucky to get to see their eyes light up as they begin to blossom into writers with dreams.

I teach the creative aspects of writing, and I teach students about the world of publishing, using my years as a working reporter, magazine editor, and freelance writer to show students the publishing world from inside the newsroom, and from the writer's perspective.

I answer questions about query letters and contracts, and tell students about the realities of publishing, of competition, and of markets. I share the reality of stacks and stacks of unopened query letters, of finding hope in rejection letters, and that most writers have a day job. There's no way to sugarcoat the fact that the median income of most writers is $4,000 per year — and that Oprah's Book Club makes only a few writers into millionaires.

The reality of all of this gives the classes about writing for publication a different energy. There's a weariness and I always leave feeling more like a dream crusher than a teacher — even though I know that my students have learned one of the hardest, but most valuable lessons of writing for publication: They understand that publishing is first and foremost a business.

What I don't get to witness is how they begin to reconcile the fun and the energy of creative writing with the reality of writing and publishing as a business. Not all of them will. The ones that do, though, find ways to flourish and find success selling their work, though it doesn't always happen quickly.

These successful writers know that publishing is hard — the writing part and the business part. The most successful published writers treat their editors and readers like customers. They study markets and audience. They listen to editors and ask for guidance to improve their work. They step out of their comfort zones to promote their work. They approach their writing with a business sense, careful to mix in that creativity and passion. Most importantly, they pay attention to their product, growing ideas into words that tell stories.

Publishing writing is a dream job, but landing a dream job does not mean less work. Dream jobs take more work on a higher level; they require creativity and growth. Those writers that realize this find that magic happens, that their dreams come true. Most importantly, they see their writing capture profits, and something more than that: a reader’s heart.

Any ideas, questions, requests, or inspirations? Contact Sarah!

Copyright © 2004 Sarah Tieck