So You Want To Be A Writer: 9 Tips Writers Wish They'd Received.

In a YouGov poll earlier this year, 60% of people said writing was their dream job. “The most desired jobs in Britain are not what you might expect,” said YouGov. “Instead of actors and musicians, it seems that an aura of prestige still surrounds the quiet, intellectual life enjoyed by authors, librarians and academics.”

Unfortunately most don't actually appreciate the ins and outs of the life of a writer. For example, a survey by the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society recently discovered that the average full time writer in the UK earns less than £12,000 ($18,670) a year from their writing.

To put that in context, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the minimum income that a single person needs to live in the UK is £16,850 ($26,225). That goes up to £19,400 ($30,200) each for couples with children.

According to a survey carried out by Digital Book World earlier this year, almost a third of published authors make less than £320 ($500) a year from their writing.

But money isn't the only shock awaiting potential writers so after asking around my writing buddies, I've put together a list the top tips we wished we'd known before embarking on a career in writing.

1. Steve Harrison - "I wish I'd known that all writing advice is opinion."

billy taylor / Via billytaylor.com

Even top academics can't agree on grammar laws and to make matters worse, language is constantly evolving so what is acceptable to one person, is unacceptable to someone else. But which academic is right, the one who embraces evolution, or the one who resists it?

There's a book from 1939 that omits the letter E from the entire text. David Crystal, called it "probably the most ambitious work ever attempted in this genre," yet Trevor Kitson found it "extraordinarily twee" and said that the book "leaves me in a state of non-grippedness"

Who is right?

2. David Edward Cooper - "Don't ignore criticism just because it's worded harshly."

The Guardian / Via theguardian.com

Of course, see point 1 again. Just because it's scathing, doesn't necessarily make it true.

3. Ana Jobrail - "Ignore those who criticize you without having read your material!"

speech in action / Via speechinaction.org

You'd be surprised how many people do this.

4. Paul Flewitt - "If you're in search of a publishing house, research them. Make sure the place you intend on placing your work is reputable. Check with writers who already released work through them."

SFWA / Via sfwa.org

There are lots of unscrupulous people out there, ready, willing and able to scam you out of your hard earned cash. There are even more who are simply incompetent. Luckily groups (such as Writer Beware) are doing their best to get the word out about the dodgy ones.

5. Geoff Brown - "Learn to have a thick skin and take criticism. And learn from it."

Jersey Writers / Via Facebook: WritersOfNinetyMain

Harper Lee agrees so 'nuff said.

6. Jim Goforth - "Don't get discouraged by rejection. It's all part of the game."

Via mentalfloss.com

See more rejection letters sent to famous people here.

7. David Edward Cooper - "Save everything. An idea that's terrible in one story might be perfect in another."

Via mrkellysclass2012.weebly.com

8. Mark Morris - "I wish I had realized that not all editors are right, or even good at their jobs."

memegenerator / Via memegenerator.net

I've fallen victim to this myself. She talked a good game but not only did she ruin my "voice", her vocabulary and knowledge of grammar were worse than mine, and I'm dyslexic!

9. Jane Thornley - "Consider yourself a writer-in-progress until the ultimate END. Always be keen to learn more and do better, honing your craft like the professional you are."

Via teachinginadigitaljungle.wordpress.com

I think this applied to all aspects of life, not just writing. Sure, you can stop learning when you leave school, but where is the fun in that?

Article compiled by Catherine Winchester, author of 20 novels.