How to Take Control of Your Nonfiction Writing Career

Nonfiction writers who long for a traditional publishing deal or a byline in a national magazine often feel they can’t control these outcomes. Achieving their goals seems dependent upon gatekeepers, like agents, publishers, or editors, to open the gate and allow them in. However, you can—and must—take control of your career to become a published writer.

I have been published in many online and print magazines, blogs, newspapers, and newsletters. I’ve published books traditionally and independently. I’ve also published my work on my websites.

Additionally, I’ve worked with literary agents. I’ve reached out to my network for introductions, if possible. And I’ve contacted editors of all types on my own.

I can tell you that, in all cases, I needed to feel responsible for my results. I had to take control of my nonfiction writing career to succeed.

Hail to the Gatekeepers

Gatekeepers are real. They take the form of acquiring editors at publishing houses, blog owners, and managing editors at magazines.

It’s true that, in many cases, you need a way to get past (or get to) these gatekeepers. For example, a literary agent can get your foot in the door at a publishing house, or a networking contact might help your query get read by an editor at a magazine or be read by a blogger.

While gatekeepers get a bad rap, they deserve credit. If not for them, publishers of all types would have to wade through heaps of writing submissions that don’t meet the company’s standards. For instance, book publishers hire acquiring editors who rely on literary agents to bring them projects worth publishing. Magazines hire assistant editors to weed through article queries.

Publishers of all types can’t publish everything…especially if the work is not up to par or on target. So, hail to the gatekeepers! They are necessary members of the publishing industry.

Take Control of Your Ability to Publish

That said, you can take control of your ability to publish written work—and create a career as a published writer. You do not need to leave your publishing goals in the hands of those who hold the proverbial keys to success. In fact, you possess the keys.

If you have misplaced those keys…or don’t think you have them, here are some ways to take control of your nonfiction writing career.

Mindset is Everything.

The one thing you can control is yourself—your mindset and behavior. So, start there.

First, stop feeling powerless. If you believe you have little ability to get your work published, that will be your experience. On the other hand, if you think you can and will get published, you will.

If you see yourself as a victim of circumstances—or the gatekeepers—you will continue to feel powerless. And you’ll get stuck complaining and blaming the circumstances for your failure to publish. If you see yourself as powerful and resourceful, you will find a way to change your circumstances and achieve your goals.

Adopt a positive I-can-do-it attitude. Then, proceed to tenaciously move forward toward your writing and publishing dreams.

This could mean sending queries to smaller independent publishing houses that accept unagented work. Or you could send out a rash of queries to magazines or online journals.

Don’t take “no” as an answer. Realize someone is out there waiting to say, “Yes.” Find that person.

And remember to have an Author Attitude. Willingness to do the work (and find a way), optimism in the face of difficulty and rejection, objectivity about what you need to do (or change) to succeed as a writer, and tenacity—good old stick-to-it-ness—are required.

Improve Your Work

I won’t tell you to perfect your work because I don’t want you to become a perfectionist. Perfectionists fear releasing their work to the world; they don’t want it to be judged as “not good enough.”

Instead, I will tell you to improve your work. Relentlessly edit and revise. Use Grammarly or some other editing program to help you become a better writer and polish your writing. Hire an editor or book/author coach for support in improving your craft. Hire a nonfiction book proposal editor to help you refine your pitch and book plan.

If you get rejections, acceptances could be within reach if you make your ideas more marketable, craft persuasive book proposals, and raise the level of your writing to match a publisher’s standards.

Take the DIY Approach

If all else fails—or while you are taking steps to ensure your success—do it yourself. The DIY approach provides a viable one that often leads to more fulfillment and goal achievement.

What would this look like? Here are a few ideas…

Publish Your Work Online

Every writer should have a website. On that website, have a blog. You become a published author when you begin publishing posts or articles on your blog. And you have written work you can share in other places, such as social media.

You also can publish articles, repurposed posts, or newsletters to sites like Medium and Substack. In fact, Substack is set up for sharing newsletters and building a mailing list.

And don’t forget online publications with no gatekeepers, such as Elephant Journal. Find a similar site that aligns with your topic, create an account, and start publishing. Some will give you more visibility if your article attracts readers.

Share Your Work…No Matter What

The bottom line is this: Be someone who takes responsibility for their nonfiction writing career.

Find ways to share your work…no matter what. As you do, you increase your chances of finding readers.

As your audience size—and your number of published clips (including blog posts, online articles, and newsletters)—grows, you’ll find it easier to get published in print magazines and by traditional publishers.

Your career is your responsibility. Take control of it. Stop complaining, blaming, and waiting for opportunities. Change your circumstances, create opportunity, and make your writing and publishing dreams come true. Be your own gatekeeper.

How will you take control of your nonfiction writing career? Tell me in a comment below. And, please share this post with a writer who might benefit from reading it.

Photo courtesy of NejroN.