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So, you want to develop a career in writing? Writing can be a huge part of any role, or it can be a role, or job, in itself. The first thing you should do is decide what type of writing you want to do. Do you want to be a sports reporter for your local paper? Do you want to be the next J. K. Rowling and writes children’s or YA fiction? Do you want to work in a scientific or corporate background, writing white papers or government reports? Do you want to be a poet? Do you want to write copy for marketing campaigns and advertisements? The options are endless so it’s a good idea to have an area in which you’d like to specialize, in mind.
Once you’ve decided what kind of writing you want to do for a living, the next step is to perfect your technique—your art. It is often said that a writer’s work is never done because perfection simply cannot be achieved, but we can always begin by improving the skills we already have. Take a look at the writer’s tips below for ways in which to improve your writing and help you build a career.
Writing Tips For Career Building
1 – Write
This one’s a no-brainer. The key to improving your ability to write is to, well, write. And write a lot. It is said that a dreamer only talks about writing, whereas a writer writes. Even if you don’t like what you have written, or you think it’s poor and cannot be improved upon, keep going.
Try writing in different styles (first person, third person, present tense, past tense, humorous, serious) and for different purposes (persuading, informing, entertaining) to work your writing muscles. Often, the way to train for a marathon is not to run long distances, but to sprint short ones. The same goes for writing. Don’t expect that writing in the same way all the time is going to help you improve. You need to work all the outer muscles so they can support the core ones.
2 – Read
This might be surprising because you want to write, right? Not read. But there’s so much to be learned from reading. There are many craft books available that can give you concrete tips on how to write, but you can also learn a lot by reading other people’s work. Read widely, don’t stay in one genre, and you’ll learn how different authors approach dialogue, timing, world-building, and character-building, or how they reference research or make statistical data understandable and interesting.
3 – Take a creative writing course
Even if the type of writing you want to specialize in is not creative, on the surface, it is still useful to learn how to approach writing in a creative way. Creativity is about thinking differently, about coming up with new and fresh takes on traditional ways of doing things. A financial report, for example, may not be considered ‘creative’ but you may be able to create a new, fresh way of writing one that better engages readers.
4 – Improve your productivity
Many hindrances afflict writers, with well-known names such as ‘writer’s block’ and ‘blank page syndrome’. This is because writing is all about putting words on a page, and what happens when the words don’t come? Occasionally, staring at a blank page for a whole day is something we have to do, but most days, we need to make the best use of the time we have. Get into the habit of learning new ways to be productive, to break through the hindrances that commonly afflict writers, and give you the time you need to write your masterpiece.
5 – Seek feedback for your writing
Ask others to critique your writing, and be open to what they say, whether it’s good or bad. Seek feedback from a wide range of people, so you can get a broad sense of how clear you’re writing is, what aspects you may need to pay closer attention to, such as grammar, syntax, punctuation, and how absorbing or understandable it is. Don’t take negative criticism to heart. Instead, view it as a gift, but remember all feedback is subjective, and your writing simply may not be the type of writing one individual generally warms to.
6 – Commit to your craft
Dive into writing of all kinds. That means, if you spend most of your time on a computer, take some time out and write by hand for a change. It will help to slow down your thought processes, calm your mind and allow you to reflect as you write. Choose a pen that is going to make this task pleasurable. There really is a pen for every taste and ability so do your research. If you like a heavier, sturdy, classic pen, try a bolt action ballpoint pen in stainless steel. If you prefer something lighter weight, choose a pen made using lighter materials such as titanium or aluminum. If you would like something that could become an heirloom, or something that makes the act of handwriting feel special, try a fountain pen.
If you follow these tips, you will only improve your skills as a writer, taking you one step closer to the career of your dreams.
