No experience required to be a writer.
Yes, you can make money as a writer with no experience or degree.
Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. All you need is patience, determination, the ability to hear “No” a lot and handle criticism.
Check, check, check! Once you’re mentally ready to begin your writing career, where do you start?! Oh, how envious are we of the writers who get to travel nonstop; their offices are literally based in coffee shops, on beaches, or in front of glorious hotel views looking out at the beauty of Paris. But how does one achieve that lifestyle without having any writing credits/experience or even a degree?
Before I tell you how, remember this truth—Be Yourself. Never try to live someone’s else life. Your path is yours alone, no one else’s. No one’s path is the same as anyone else’s. You will get there when you get there. Also, wake up! It’s late in 2019 and having a degree is always an awesome accomplishment, but now everything is at our fingertips in a hot-pocket minute. You can take online classes to get an education and experience being a writer, or if you feel confident in your writing ability, test it out by applying to opportunities you can find on Craigslist, Fiver, or Problogger. Elna Cain also has a great article on 53 Places to Land Freelance Writing Gigs Online.
Now that I have my Mommy hat off, here are ways you can build your kick-ass career as a writer.
Build a Website
Your website is your online writing résumé. This is the way to introduce yourself to the world. Your website can be a starter, a low-maintenance page that lists your basic information: your writing portfolio, about you, contact information, and what kind of projects/work you are interested in. A picture is a nice addition, but not mandatory. Wix and Squarespace have nice templates at low costs.
Check out this related article on writing:
Create a Blog
If you have the time, then create a blog. But know this: it’s a job in itself. Find a niche you would like to talk about and write one strong post a week. If you can, aim for two. Create a six-week marketing plan for each post that you can promote on social media and through a newsletter. Unless you can afford a designer to create a custom website for you, most newbie bloggers tend to go with WordPress or Squarespace.
Having your own blog is a great way to showcase your writing skills for the job you want. For example, if you want to write for the entertainment world, your blog can focus on celebrity news or topics with your own personal spin to make it different from the other entertainment outlets you see out there.
Check out this related article on blogging:
Become a Contributing Writer
Starting from the bottom can be extremely difficult and discouraging. Having a website and blog doesn’t guarantee people will come to your page; especially those who will pay you. Becoming a contributing writer can sometimes help with this. Yes, you are writing for someone else and for free, but this is the opportunity to give your hard work and words a bigger platform. In exchange for your content, the platform you are writing for should promote your work for free, including your bio, which will include a link to your social media pages and website/blog. Aim to do two articles a month for six months on a platform that has a decent following that could benefit from reading your website/blog. Engage with their audience on social media when they are promoting your work to get a sense of what they do and do not like about your article. Use them as a focus group.
In addition, you are earning writing credits. All the articles you write for this platform you can use in your portfolio and you also end up with your first reference.
Network
As writers we are loners. We like to be alone with our thoughts, characters, and laptop. There is no need for other people on this island, just us. Well, if only that were true. Yes, we need our solitude, but we are aiming to make money from being a writer, therefore we have to connect with the rest of the herd at some point. Networking with other writers, bloggers, and publications is integral to building your writing career. Online networking is easy and super fun, and it can help you partner with other writers/bloggers on projects. You can join Facebook groups that share your common interests, and you can engage on Twitter with magazines/journals/papers that are looking for writers. The opportunities for networking online are endless. But don’t forget to get out from behind the computer and meet people face-to-face at networking events as well. No one can sell you like yourself in the flesh.
Check out this related article on networking:
Here are some top questions I often get about writing.
What type of writer are you?
We all want the success of Danielle Steel, J. K. Rowling, and Stephen King, but as a new writer it is important to find your niche and identify what style and type of writer you want to be. Do you want to be an author and self-publish your first book; a food blogger; work a 9 to 5 as a content writer? Whatever you decide stick with it and focus on that area. Build your platform and community around your writing style. Stay focused and write on a daily/weekly basis.
Can I get paid to blog?
Short answer: Yes, you can, but remember your blog is a platform for your work to be seen by others. How you will make your money is through advertisements, Google ads, selling products to your readers, etc. Not just by writing content.
Can I get paid to write content for social media?
Yes. Search for jobs as a content writer, a social media manager, or content producer. Anything along those lines.
Can I write a book and get paid?
Yup, you sure can. It may take a while to see any real profit, but you can make money. Figure out if you want to get a book deal or self-publish.
Can I become a millionaire by writing?
Never say never.
Advice for a new writer?
Start writing. Write daily.