Make a Living as a Writer

Making a living as a writer is more accessible now than ever. By dint of education and effort, you, too, can become a copywriter, a journalist, or an author. Here are a few tips to make the journey toward writing as a profession more swift and fulfilling.

1. Educate yourself in niche markets where good writing is in demand. Healthcare, sports, financial, computer tech and politics come to mind. But, there are many other topics for which you can become an expert that will make you money. Just be sure that they are not inundated with competitors that underbid your paycheck.
2. Get to know your editors. Some editors want to assign a topic and walk away. The better you perform on your own the more willing they are to hire you, again. But, certain editors adore writing by committee. Avoid them like the plague. You will be forced to revise until your fingers bleed and your keyboard breaks…not a wealth building strategy for any writer.
3. Build an authorial fingerprint. Set up a simple but compelling website and/or get articles in local publications. The more samples you have to show prospects the greater your chances of getting hired. Nothing convinces a possible client of your talent than seeing past work in print.
4. Use humility as your starting point. It’s much easier to work into high paying jobs if you already have a reputation as an easy-to-work-with writer that is both bright and open to suggestions. Accepting a lower paying gig often leads to higher paying jobs through editorial referrals. As your reputation grows, so will your earnings.
5. Remember that you are selling an article, not your knowledge. Although editors often buy “all rights,” they can’t buy information gleaned from days of research. Research once then concept a dozen times. This will bring you a plethora of work assignments engendered from one research investment.

There are many other writing tips that can help you excel on the Internet. Get aggressive. Read up on what works and what doesn’t. Your writing opportunities will increase and your professional credits will thrive, right along with your bank account!