Ever thought of becoming a writer? And, before you start picturing yourself as the next Stephen King; let’s clarify what we mean by the writer. One of the largest job markets on the planet right now is that of content writers for the internet. Think about it for a minute. When you search for something, anything, online, every web page that you view is full of written content. Whether that page is a review of the latest MP3 player, or a simple site advertising a local business, someone had to actually sit down and compose the content.
And, since the majority of people in this country actually read and write on an eighth-grade level, that means plenty of opportunities for someone who has a talent for putting the right words, phrases, and paragraphs together to form an attractive, easy-to-read article, Website, or blog, to be published online. Interested? If so, you’re probably wondering how to get started. Well, don’t quit your day job just yet, but do get started right away. And, of course, the easiest way to get started is to do just that. Get started writing. What? You have nothing to write about?
Look around you. What interests you? Is there a product you’ve found that you would sincerely recommend to others? Are there some pressing national issues where you have pressing strong opinions to share? Maybe you know something about a particular sport or have a talent for crafts or cooking. Whatever you feel strongly about, enjoy the most, or have knowledge about can be turned into your first article, your first posting in a new blog, or maybe someday, one of the literally hundreds of how-to books published every year.
The point is, to become a writer, you have to actually write! Sit down in front of your computer screen (you know, the big scary blank one) and start writing something. It gets easier with every word you type. Once you’ve overcome your fear of actually starting to write, the topics will become easy. You’ll have so many ideas floating around in your head that you literally won’t have time to write about all of them!
And, with every word that you write, your writing will improve, and you’ll be ready to look for the proper venue to post to. For example, if you write articles, there are many fantastic sites (like this one) where you can post your work, and see what the reaction is. If you write a blog, then you’ll want to start promoting your blog online to build up a readership. Likewise, if you write poetry, short stories, or the like, you’ll find dozens of sites where you can post your work.
Lots of these sites have revenue-sharing programs, too, and you can begin earning a small amount relatively soon. Finally, as you begin to build an online portfolio, you’re ready to start seriously submitting to the revenue-sharing sites, and you’re ready to seriously begin looking for opportunities to sell your work, or even landing a job writing content (yes, they do have these kinds of jobs listed on the job boards). If you keep writing, keep submitting your work, and keep searching for the right venue, you will begin to make money as a real writer. Once the income starts to come in, you’ll have no trouble at all finding the right topics and the right medium to showcase your writing skills. So, go on, and start writing!
