If your dream is to become a fulltime freelance writer who works in the comfort of her own home, sitting at the computer in cozy pjs or a sweatsuit all day, then you need to make sure you're ready for the writer's life. Mainly, you need to ask yourself this question - Do I really like to write?

UNDERSTAND THE WRITER'S LIFE

As a freelance writer myself, and a writing teacher and mentor, I'm always surprised at the people I meet who say I'm living their dream. They'd give anything to be able to quit their day jobs and write all day, just like I do. Yet, when I ask them about their writing, they don't really write very much. Not only that, many of them hate to rewrite and they don't like to read. Yikes! To me, that's like a professional basketball player saying he doesn't like to practice and he hates wearing athletic shoes. Reading, writing, and certainly rewriting, are just part of the "game" for those of us who make our living as freelance writers. If you don't enjoy those parts of the game, then maybe you need to find another game and certainly another dream. The writer's life could turn out to be more of a nightmare for you.

The writer's life is much more than signing books in bookstores, or appearing on Oprah to promote your latest novel. Most of the time, a writer sits alone at the keyboard. When the writing isn't going well, this "dream" life can be frustrating and agonizing. But when the writing is going well (as it usually does after a period of agony for each project), there is nothing else the true writer would rather be doing than reworking a story or article until the whole thing starts to come together.

FIND TIME TO WRITE

Maybe you really do like to write, rewrite, and read, but your personal life and work schedule don't allow you unlimited time for writing. Don't let that stand in your way of your dream. Make a commitment to yourself that writing is going to be a priority. Even if all you can manage is 15 minutes of writing a day, stick to that. If you do, it won't be long until you somehow find additional time to write.

TRY THESE OTHER TIPS

Here are other tips I give my writing students and mentees who are serious about one day living their dream as a fulltime writer:

1. Don't make excuses. Once you start working with editors they won't want to hear excuses for work not being completed on time. Treat yourself as an editor would. Don't accept excuses from yourself for not writing. Just find the time and do it. Write! Many writers who are now best-selling authors got up at 5:00 a.m. to write their first novel, or they stayed up to write long after the rest of their families went to bed each night.

2. Stick to only a few small projects at first. Don't try to write a novel if you've never even managed to finish a short nonfiction article or a short story. You'll overwhelm yourself from the start. Instead, write in a journal each day for a few weeks until you get in the habit of writing regularly. Once you've done that, set other writing goals for yourself, like finishing a short nonfiction article, or a short story.

3. Don't attempt to write for the glossy magazine markets right off the bat. Competition is fierce in those big glossy magazines you see in the bookstores. Learn to write for smaller, local publications first. You'll have more immediate success, which will inspire you to keep writing.

4. Take a writing course, or find a writing coach or mentor who can help you improve your writing. A mentor or writing coach can also keep you on track with your writing goals.

Once you've been writing regularly for a few months, you'll know for sure if fulltime writing really is the "dream life" you always thought it would be.