Starting To Write

How To Become A Writer

Have you always wanted to start a career in writing, but not sure how to start, and how to get your work read? The internet is an amazing platform for budding article writers to publish their own work, create a portfolio, and move on to full time jobs in writing.

• Book Publishers
• Blogs

So you've decided you want to become a writer. Maybe you're fresh out of University, or you're considering a career change, and not sure where to start. Budding writers in the twenty-first century have one advantage over generations who worked beforehand: the internet. The World Wide Web is an effective way to establish yourself as a writer and build a portfolio of work - which can then further your career in Web writing or help you move to print publications.

Most ‘how to become a writer' articles focus on novel writing, however getting a novel published is no longer the ultimate dream for many new writers, who are now favouring short, snappy, informative article-style writing as their written mode of choice. Being an article writer also means you don't have to give up your day job immediately to follow your passion, you can work on pieces when you have the time. They involve less research, and often give you a chance to test different styles or ways of writing between articles, depending on the target audience.

Web writing is a great platform to embark on your quest to become a writer. It allows you to work from anywhere, and have your work published on websites of some of the most reputable sources in the world. Gone are the days when you needed to live in New York City or London to make it big in article writing: technology enables writers complete freedom to live and work wherever they choose.

Start Writing
The first and most essential tool to becoming a writer is, funnily enough, actually beginning to write. Many eager writers-to-be will contact editors they want to work for pleading of their immense drive and passion for writing, but do not have a portfolio of work to enhance their self-promotion. In order for an employer to take someone on as a writer, they are going to want to read work they have written - this doesn't necessarily have to be published work, just having some examples of how you can translate from brain to page is important.

Blogging
Blogging is a very effective way to launch yourself into the public writing realm, it's easy, free, and most importantly, doesn't discriminate against first-timers! Anyone can start a blog, so use one as a platform for self-publication while you are starting out. Choose a topic you are interested in, and write regular pieces that are informed and carefully edited - remember potential employers will easily be able to find everything you publish.

While a blog is a create way to start a portfolio of writing to show potential employers, it can also be an invitation for employers to come to you. If you create a unique voice amongst an online community you may soon see regular readers flocking to read your work on a habitual basis. If you're lucky, you'll get editors of popular e-zines and even print magazines interested in your point of view, and you may be asked to contribute to their publications.

Getting Published Online
There are many other online options to get your work published, such as Article Author programs, like the one we run on NZS.com. Article Authors gives writers of all ages and experiences a chance to have their work read by thousands of visitors. While blogging has many benefits for beginners, starting a blog and building up visitors can take time to establish. As NZS.com is seen as a global, authoritative source, your published work in the articles section can instantly give you credible world-wide exposure.

It's an excellent chance for the future writers of the world to begin a career in publishing from home, at their own pace. As a bonus, you earn money from every article you write, as you receive 50% of the advertising revenue generated from the page within NZS.com that your article is published on. The more you write, the more you earn!

Promote Yourself
Once you've got some work under your belt, you can consider applying for writing-related full time jobs. They can be hard to come by, but are increasingly becoming available, especially in Web writing as New Zealand's Web market continues to skyrocket. Choose a few of your most well-written, unique pieces and send them off with your CV and application letter, so potential employers have an immediate incite into your writing style. Considering that many applicants will not do this, you will have an edge from the get-go.

If you feel confident that you have a portfolio which expresses your individual writing techniques in a manner on par with the wider journalistic community in New Zealand, consider sending your work to magazine editors and book publishers. There may not be opportunities to take on new writers immediately, but when a spot opens up, your punchy portfolio will hopefully have stuck around in their minds.

Looking for more information on the Article Authors section? Don't forget to check out how you can apply to become a writer for NZS.com!  

Do you want to write for NZS.com, New Zealand's top Web directory? We are looking for New Zealand writers for our unique new article writing program - whereby you can write and submit articles for our website, and you will earn 50% of the revenue from the advertising on your article's page. Check out the Article Authors homepage to apply now!

Arts images from Flickr: Writing Words, Maori Carving and Wellington Sculpture.