Creative Writing

There is more to being a writer, than simply sitting down and putting your thoughts to paper.  If you’re serious about being a freelance writer, you’ve got to think about all the other things that come along with the job.  One of the biggest things is learning how to market yourself.

The freelance writing market is full of fierce competition.  I’ve learned the hard way that no matter how much you know, someone always knows more.  Plus, it doesn’t matter how well you write if nobody knows you exist.  It’s up to you to make sure you get your name out there.  You could always hire an expensive PR firm, but that’s not an option for everyone.  There are ways, however, that you can do this with little or no cost.

There are a lot of sites on the Internet these days that pay writers for informative articles.  Sites such as Associated Content and Digital Journal pay various amounts for approved articles.  There are some people who are making a comfortable living with these outlets.  The thing with these sites is that there will be times that your work won’t be approved and you won’t be paid.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing.  It’s still a published piece that can be added to your portfolio.

Writing groups are another way to get yourself known, while learning a few new things.  There are thousands of writing groups all over the Internet.  Some are designed to help you learn more about the craft, some are set up for specific genres, and others are market call-for-submission lists.  No matter what type of writing you do, there’s a group out there for it.

Another idea is to create an Author’s Page telling about yourself.  This doesn’t have to be a multi-million dollars advertising campaign, just a page that tells the world what your capable of doing.  Be sure to add your bio, portfolio, and a picture of yourself.  Think of it as your own personal billboard.  I strongly suggest you buy your personal name as a domain for this.  Then, add the link to this page on all your regular online activities.

There is a lot that goes into being a freelance writer.  Sometimes, the actual writing is the easy part.  You can get your name out there, but it takes a little creativity.  And creativity is what being a writer is all about.

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