A lot of people enjoy writing notebooks, saving drafts on their computers, or posting up on blogs just for the fun. But turning that pastime into a full-time gig needs a entire different way of thinking. You need to treat writing like real work before it starts paying the bills. The line between being a hobby writer and a real pro is not always clear-cut or easy. If you are looking pursue this career, here are some special tips for you. These steps help you to succeed in a competitive field.
Expand Beyond Text
These days, being a “writer” is more than just writing about articles that happened twenty years ago. As we all know, readers are everywhere, that means on phones, tablets, and listening while they drive. Creators who can manage audio or video have a massive leg up. Because of that, if you’ve got the skills to create some audio or video content alongside your writing, you must get a genuine advantage. You can’t just stop at writing a draft anymore – you need to understand what makes the story work as a social media post, or a podcast script. And getting familiar with tools like Adobe Premiere or basic video editing can really pay off. Plus, being able to knock up some simple data visuals is helpful too.
Show Proof of Work
A CV tells people about what you can do, but a portfolio shows them what you’ve actually done. This is where collecting all of your work and putting it together comes in. When you’re selecting your work samples, it’s a good idea to mix it up. Please keep in mind that you shouldn’t just set the same old item. Show some variety – show that you can handle loads of different styles and topics.
A robust portfolio includes:
- some in-depth investigative articles or feature stories
- a bunch of short blog posts you’ve written to get search engines to sit up and take notice
- your hand at some commercial writing – you know, like ads and product descriptions, and newsletters
Showing several means a hiring manager that you can manage different tones or styles. It is also smart to add a few lines describing the strategy behind each piece. These show that you can think critically about the work.
Make Real Connections
Writing can be a pretty isolating job, and it’s easy to feel like you’re working in a vacuum. But the truth is, the industry depends on relationships. Loads of freelance jobs and full-time roles are filled because of personal connections. That is the real reason everyone should know that networking is so essential.
But don’t get me wrong – networking isn’t just about turning up to formal meetings. It’s about making an honest connection with people. You can connect with editors and writers on LinkedIn or whatever platform you prefer.
Sharpen Your Toolkit
Talent can only get you so far – if you want to be a pro, you need to be ready to control knowledge. Loads of writers study up on ethics, audience behaviour, and communication theory to improve their game. Some even go for advanced degrees to get the best training. For example, getting a digital journalism masters can give you a really solid grounding in modern media skills.
But learning isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about picking up practical skills – like understanding what your audience needs, or how to write a really strong pitch.
