How To Be A Professional Writer
Becoming a professional writer isn’t about having endless inspiration or a knack for dialogue. It’s about learning how to combine creativity with technique, structure, and a touch of resilience. In this guide, I’ll show you the five things you need to get serious about if you want to make a living from your words and see your projects move from a dream to reality.
1. WRITE LIKE A PRO, NOW
Sorry to all you pantsers, but if you want to break into TV writing or sell your second novel, you’ll need to start writing like a pro. Writing professionally is an art, but it’s also a craft and, yes, a technical skill.
You can’t rely only on your instincts to create a compelling, audience-ready story—you’ll need to understand story structure, beats, and character arcs. Professional writers master these elements so that they can deliver on a deadline and create work that resonates. By learning how to combine your creativity with the rules of storytelling, you’ll take your work from draft to polished piece and start producing like the pros.
Ready to step up your writing? Get it professionally evaluated to be prepared when you get the email reading: “Send me your stuff!”
2. EMBRACE THE DEADLINE
When I tell you that once you can hit a deadline consistently, it will change your career.
Get an accountability buddy, set a calendar alert, make time. There will always be excuses and you and all other writers who managed to make it are not that different.
Professional writers have lives and flat tires and sick family members too. The difference is pros learned to be rigid with their deadlines before they were getting paid for their work.
And trust me if you can’t motivate yourself to do it for free, getting paid will not help your brain kick in to gear. In my experience deadlines with a paycheck at the end are harder to meet because the expectation and pressure is cranked up to 11.
If you can’t meet deadlines with yourself, you’re going to struggle when you have them from editors, producers, or clients.
The freedom of freelancing can seem like it comes with fewer bosses, but in reality, you have plenty: your producers, directors, network heads, and even the audience you’re creating for are depending on you to deliver. Meeting deadlines consistently with yourself builds trust and shows that you’re serious, dependable, and worthy of bigger projects and responsibilities.
If you’re serious about meeting industry standards and hitting deadlines with confidence, a professional evaluation can keep you on track and make sure your script is ready when it counts. Save the Cat! Script Consulting provides expert feedback and tailored guidance to help you polish your work before it reaches decision-makers.
3. BE OPEN TO NOTES
Professional writers understand that the first draft is only the beginning. Whether you’re writing a novel, screenplay, or blog post, be prepared to revise, rewrite, and refine. Many beginners fall into the trap of thinking their first attempt is “good enough.” But the pros know that revising is where the magic happens.
This step is vital to storytelling: it’s where you dig deeper, discover richer character motives, and elevate the stakes. Revision is your chance to push your work to its highest potential.
Even pros need feedback. If you’re serious about becoming a professional writer, get professional feedback as the next step in your writing journey… hopefully after a few drafts.
Don’t settle for the first draft—revisions are what set professionals apart from amateurs.
4. Be Flexible and Open
The industry changes constantly, from evolving genres to emerging formats like podcasts and web series. Staying relevant means keeping your skills sharp and adapting to trends.
Professional writers never stop learning: they attend workshops, network with industry professionals, and regularly study new techniques.
Every time you refine your skills, you’re not only improving your craft but also making yourself more valuable in a competitive market.
Don’t let all your hard work fall flat at the finish line. Getting your script evaluated by Save the Cat! Script Consulting not only sharpens your story but ensures it’s pitch-perfect and ready on time. With professional insights, you’ll avoid last-minute rewrites and deliver exactly what producers are looking for—right on schedule.
5. SHOW YOUR WORK!
The title of one of my favorite books on screenwriting: SHOW YOUR WORK! No one does it alone — not even the best writers.
One of the smartest investments you can make in your writing career is to get feedback from industry professionals who know exactly what works and what doesn’t.
While your best friend or sibling might offer moral support, only a professional script coach or consultant can help you polish the parts that need it most and prepare your work for the industry. Save the Cat! Script Consulting offers invaluable feedback, providing expert insights that can mean the difference between a great idea and a greenlighted project.
Ready to invest in your future as a writer? Get your script professionally evaluated and make sure it’s ready for the spotlight. And the best part? Flexible payment plans through Affirm make it easy to get the guidance you need without stretching your budget. There’s no reason to go it alone—professional feedback could be the key that unlocks your script’s full potential.
Don’t let your script sit on the sidelines—take advantage of professional feedback with flexible payment options available through Save the Cat! Script Consulting
WRAP-UP
Building a career as a professional writer takes commitment and a mix of creativity, technique, and perseverance. If you’re ready to take your writing seriously, Save the Cat! Script Consulting can help you transform your work and make sure your script lands with impact.
Don’t just write—write like a pro.
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Written By Annamarie Davidson
