How to make it as a writer, according to George RR Martin

George RR Martin has shared his advice for aspiring writers, drawing on his own extensive career experience.

“If you need security, this is not the profession for you” he told The Independent in an interview at his Santa Fe bookstore, Beastly Books, before revealing tips on how to make it in the industry.

Mr Martin was speaking to The Independent ahead of the Santa Fe Literary Festival.

[tecpaocelotl]

I was worried he was going to make it magical.

He kept it realistic.

[amostake]

Never argue with the bad reviews. That's gold. You get 100 positive reviews, and we humans focus like a laser on that one bad review. That's our life. Can't do that. You'll make yourself miserable.

[anthonytt]

He's right about rolling a dice... being a writer takes up a huge amount of your time while still being a risk, cuz you might end up wasting your time when nobody buys your books.

[michaelsix]

I worked until I had to retire at 56, now 67, work on writing screenplays, not a good idea, but I liked it

[morganbroadhead]

He is actually NOT typical of most writers. His career is, in fact, one of the exceptions. MOST writers are still working full time day jobs with other responsibilities going on outside of writing.

[strategicfriedrik]

"Brace yourself, gather up your trools and your soldier elves"-ERB

[CK]

Just ordered the entire Game of Thrones series and Fire and Blood from Beastly Books. Excited to have each copy signed. Awesome way for people to get their hands on signed copies of his stuff without ruining the bank

[GameArts]

I think the key word is; perseverance, never give up. I sometimes sell a unit here and there, but imo a person with just 2 novels, like me, is just not enough. e.g. If you have 15, things start to accumulate. Social proof = key for initial sales of a new launch.

[oconnorjames]

What I've come to realize is that to be a bestseller, you don't need to be the best writer, you just need to be the best at selling.

[williss]

This is one of the best pieces of advice I hear, it took me a long time to realize that being a writer does not provide a 'secure' future. I still wonder where this writing journey will take me after a decade or two, can it still provide food to eat?

[SantsLime]

We get into the industry thinking that talent is the thing that is going to bring us success.
.
But then a professional goes there and say "Ya know... Those who did it only have 'I never gave up' factor in common."
.
Although talent helps, it is emotional control the thing that is going to keep you in the game.
.
What a lesson...

[mrbad]

I love this man, i never had a grandpa, and i never felt like I need one, but when i knew this guy exist i felt like he is the grandpa that i will always want

[TravisG-ljdz]

A successful writer: "I write books and programs." Software Engineer is a main job for many authors. Actually the head of my old writers meet, we'd meet at bookstores, a published author with insightful and expert editing skills, was a retired software engineer.

[anzilshihab]

When he said people left when he started talking
Pain in ass

[mr.orange]

It was an easy decision, but I've decided to not pursue a career as an author.

[Quadraxis]

"Never argue with the bad reviews" and "that one bad review is what gets to you". Yes, 100%. You can write, paint or produce the finest of art and there will always, in 100% of the cases, be someone who dislikes it. Some even dislike things not because it's bad, but because others like it, just to be different.
Don't feed that fire. Let them sulk in a corner and bask yourself in the good reviews instead.

[agamerscoven]

If you’re writing to make money, you’re writing for all the wrong reasons. I only want to publish one book. It’s something I want to prove to myself. I wrote my first short story when I was 4. My mother’s a writer. I would feel like I missed my calling if I don’t put one body of work out. I don’t have the expectation of high level success. I just want to know when I die, I’ve left a piece of my mind immortalized behind. That’s it.

[Smily]

Thanks for the advice one of the best to do it see you at the top ! #TheBoyintheHurricane and #Journalofthelostking coming soon

[BlielPol]

How to make it as a writer, according to George RR Martin.

Step 1: Be George RR Martin

[StarBoundFables]

That's epic that GRR owns a bookshop filled exclusively with signed books