- 1). Create a lifestyle pattern of writing every day. Reserve time in the day for writing exercises, and as much as possible, resist procrastinating or dismissing your assignment. Aim for about 1,000 words a day. To begin, start with a few small 250-word articles, and then work your way up to a 1,000-word feature.
- 2). Grammar check and spell check your work. Pay attention to sentences with red marks or green marks when using your word processing software. Make proofreading a part of your regular routine and never submit a piece without re-reading it.
- 3). Study the market as well as the news. Look up your favorite news website or favorite magazines and make notes on the types of stories they are running. Learn what topics matter to people.
- 4). Study the writing styles associated with these types of articles. Notice which magazines or websites are characteristically punchy and informal, soft and emotional, matter-of-fact, or academic.
- 5). Read the publisher’s guidelines. Find a website that is open to submissions or organizing contests and find its “submit” or “guidelines” page. Take note of the word limit, the proper way to submit, and pay particular attention to types of articles or genres needed. Address the editor by name if it is listed.
- 6). Start your own blog. In order to make money off your blog, you must draw in an audience and write about popular subjects or products. Plan your blogs well in advance and perform quality research.
- 7). Write keyword-targeted articles for existing websites and blogs. If you cannot draw in traffic based on your own ideas, find websites that already have traffic. These websites need writers to create content for their own article ideas, which are based on popular keyword searches.
- 8). Create a cyber-portfolio. Save your samples in RTF or MS Word format, since these can be used as samples attached to an email inquiry. Write some articles for popular article directories and content websites, and make sure you get a byline in return. “Live” linked publication credits will make you look professional. As you build experience, create a resume highlighting your best work. You can direct prospective clients to these published works and eventually earn more money.
- 9). Look into related fields of article writing, such as newsletter writing, greeting cards, web copy, resume writing, proofreading and teaching. Make time to write newspaper features, fiction shorts and how-to articles, as this practice could serve as an entryway into journalism or creative writing.
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