Tips for would-be writers ©2001

I'd like to offer some helpful advice to anyone thinking about working as a writer.

Writing is a career that is quite varied with niche markets and specialties in a choice of mediums. You can write books; booklets; newspaper and magazine articles; TV, radio and theatrical scripts; advertising copy for print, radio, TV, direct mail, telephone messages, jingles, billboards, specialty fields like medical, legal, banking, high tech, manufacturing, food industry, service industry, packaging etc.; technical writing; web writing; comedy writing for print, radio and TV; song writing; review and biography writing for music artists, CD covers and fan clubs; medical and legal transcribing; newsletters; movie scripts, actor bios and fanzines etc., etc.

If you've been thinking about writing as a hobby or a profession there are a few things you should consider. With the exception of fiction, it would be wise to write about what you know and not what you don't. I can't emphasize this enough. People often try and tackle topics they haven't the foggiest notion about and then must spend months, even years doing research on their subject matter. And even then, still end up writing about it from an amateur's point of view.

But if you stick to what you know you'll be amazed at the vast reservoir of material available to you. You might be an expert at extracting weeds from your lawn; fixing broken appliances; furniture restoration; car mechanics; painting etc., something you may have never even considered before. So take a few minutes to sit back and make a list of the things you are actually good at. Include anything no matter how outrageous, frivolous or insignificant it may seem. You'll be pleasantly surprised when you see just how much knowledge you really have and the rich assortment of topics you can cover.

After you've assessed your talent pool compose a list of stores, companies and organizations that could benefit from your competencies and approach them about writing for them.

Prospects to getting published abound all over the place, but you've got to open your eyes and your mind to find them. Right in your own backyard there are many opportunities to put your know-how to good use. For example, cities and towns of all sizes have local community papers that are always in need of articles. You might even land a regular column writing about your field of expertise.

Local supermarkets, department stores and boutiques frequently publish flyers and sales circulars. Persuade them to let you write an article on something that is related to what they are selling, maybe you have customer service tips; the easiest way to flip an egg without breaking the yoke; discerning quality upholstery; using the right tool for the right job etc. Get those creative juices going and find something that could be used by them as a tip sheet, article or brief, anything that could help them and their customers.

Today there are plenty of corporations large and small that want to publish a newsletter, but don't know just where to start. So find one that deals in your area of proficiency and offer to write their newsletter.

Gain valuable writing experience volunteering your writing services to any non-profit organization, charity or church in your vicinity. A lot of times these can turn into paying jobs, as you become an invaluable asset to them. Sometimes it pays to work for free just to acquire relevant experience. I did and it helped me build up a portfolio that in turn opened the doors for paying jobs.

Don't hesitate to contact anyone you feel could benefit from your knowledge. All anyone can say is no. It's really a judgment call on each person's part, but you have to decide for yourself what you are willing to accept and turn down. Let common sense guide you. If you know you are a good writer and experienced in your field you won't settle for ridiculous offers.

Payment can be as varied as writers. Experience doesn't necessarily translate into good writing and good writing isn't necessarily gained from experience. So pricing yourself will all depend on what you know about your subject matter, the quality of the work you create, the timeliness of your delivery and your experience in the field.

But no matter what happens don't give up. It's so easy to get discouraged and call it quits. People can be very unkind at times and can criticize just to be cruel. Don't let it upset you or get you down. It comes with the territory. If you can't take it, don't get into writing. Learn from constructive criticism and ignore the rest. A painful lesson will teach you a lot more than insincere flattery.

I truly hope this article will help anyone considering a career in writing. If it does then it has done its job. Now get out there and go for it!