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Becoming a writer is one of those jobs where you can’t just fill out an application and see if you can get hired. It is a job that takes a lot of practice, rejection and free time, before you even see any decent money. However, if money is not your motivation and writing is truly your passion, then there are some ways for you to become any type of writer you want from a blogger to a novelist.
How to Get Started Writing
First, decide what type of writing you crave. What type of writing do you like to do? Do you prefer poetry? Or is creative writing more up your alley? Maybe you prefer writing informational articles or even copywriting? You should focus on one specific type of writing as there are different resources depending on what type of writing you prefer.
Blogging
This is the most popular type of writing available on the web today. A lot of people do it and a lot of people make money doing it. You do not need any prior experience and you can usually earn money by doing writing about things that you enjoy.
- First you need a blog. An easy template for beginners is Blogger.
- Once you have your blog set up, you can sign up with different paid blog sites to begin taking paid writing posts. The longer and more frequently you blog, the more money you can make. Just type in “paid blogging” in any search engine and you will see an array of opportunities to begin.
Novelist
Writing a novel is probably the most difficult thing to do for some writers. You put a lot of time and emotion into writing, only to get hit with rejection after rejection before some publisher pity’s you by publishing your book. However, if you are convinced that you have a great novel and you want to start getting it published, then head on over to www.lulu.com where you can “self-publish” your book. They do have other publishing options available, however this will get your foot into the door of publishing a novel.
Informational Articles
One of the most popular types of writing is information writing. A lot of writers will research and then put their newfound knowledge into words for different websites, blogs and magazines. In order to break into this world of writing, you need to be proactive. Call your local newspaper and see if they need any additional writers, even if they say no, offer to work for little to no money, just so that you gain experience. Email the editors at magazines and ask if you can submit a freelance article. Email the webmasters for different blogs and websites to see if they need extra writers or if they ever need backup help. Once you get your name out there and start getting writing assignments, then you can use these to insert into your writers portfolio so that you can apply for bigger projects. Once you have a body of clips to show off to potential employers, then you can use those to apply for writing jobs at sites like www.guru.com and www.elance.com.
Finally, once you have a body of clips, you should create a writer’s portfolio. When you apply for different writing jobs you will be asked to submit writing samples, and it will help you have a portfolio that is easy to reference. Since we are in the age of technology, it is better to have a website or blog. If you are applying for writing jobs in person, then you should create a hardcopy portfolio.
Do not get discouraged or frustrated when you get rejected or you find that the pay is not all that good. Most writers write because they love to do it and they have an intense passion for writing. One day you will catch a break and score a nice paying writing contract or you will finally get your novel published. Until then, take your time and discover what your writing passion is and where you want to take it in your future.
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