Are you passionate about writing and enjoy getting paid for your work? If so, maybe poetry is the right career path for you. There are plenty of online platforms where you can publish your work, and if you can prove to the world that you can hang out a shingle and call yourself a professional, you could find work almost immediately. You might not want to go this route just to make ends meet, though. There are other options available that could lead you to greater financial freedom. Keep reading for some tips on how to get paid for writing poetry.
The Pros And Cons Of Being A Professional Poet
There are lots of advantages to being a professional poet. First off, the pay is generally excellent, often better than that of other kinds of writing. It is also a very flexible job. You can do it part-time while holding down a full-time job or student life, and then in your spare time, you can write and work on your craft. Many professionals write and publish several poems a week, sometimes even a poem a day. The upside of this is that it can be highly fulfilling. You get to communicate with and impress your audience by giving them something new and interesting to read. Additionally, you can become an established author quickly if you work hard enough at it. There are also lots of opportunities to network and find professional connections in the poetry community. If this is something that interests you, then by all means, go for it! Just make sure that you keep your day job first and foremost in your thoughts, as your financial security depends on it.
Where Should You Live?
Now that you have decided that you would like to become a professional poet, the next step is to consider where you should live. This will depend largely on your budget and how much you need for a living. If you are just starting out, then you might not have the resources to move to a pricey city. When you are establishing yourself, it might be best to look for an affordable city with a creative atmosphere and good public transportation. Wherever you choose, make sure that you are comfortable, and that you can find a decent place to live. You might also want to consider looking for a roommate or sharing an apartment with someone. This could help you save a great deal of money in your early days as a professional, which you could then use to travel the world and take up residence in the finest literary cafes.
How Should You Dress?
The way you dress will depend on your profession. If you are going to be a banker, then perhaps you should look neat and clean. If you are a doctor, then you should probably wear a white lab coat when working. Being a professional poet is rather an unusual case. You don’t really need to dress up in specific attire, but you should make sure that your garments are of good quality and that they fit you well. Additionally, make sure that your shoes and socks are also of good quality. Your outfit should be matching or complementing your outfit for your day job. If this sounds like a hassle, then you might want to consider getting a service that will clean and dry your clothing, effectively taking care of this small but essential part of your life.
Learn How To Blog
Blogs are a fantastic way to gain online visibility and establish yourself as a professional. If you can prove that you are capable of consistently producing quality content on a regular basis, then you could set yourself up for future job opportunities. Learning how to blog is fairly easy. You can get started for free with minimal efforts using a platform like WordPress, which is a completely free blog hosting service. From there, you can learn how to build your own blog or how to find a topic for your blog. Once you have started to build your audience, you can start to look for opportunities to monetize your blog. There are plenty of ways that you can do this, from showing ads, to selling and displaying affiliate links, to charging for your content. If this is something that interests you, then by all means, go for it! Just make sure that you start small and build your audience gradually. If your financial security is of concern, then you should look into finding a part-time job that you can do online. This could easily be a supplemental income source that will help you get by while you are establishing yourself as a professional poet.
Submit Your Work To Journals
A lot of poets and authors try to get their work published in journals. Even if your work is not accepted, often times the editors will retain the rights to your work and might see it promoted in the future. If you want to make a living as a poet, then it is essential that you get your work published in as many journals as possible. The catch is that you usually have to pay per article or per poem. Depending on your resources, this could be expensive. Luckily, there are a few free online journals that you can submit your work to. From there, you can build a good portfolio and establish yourself as a professional in the field. There are also hundreds of traditional literary magazines that you can get published in, many of which are well-known and highly reputable. If getting published in a good literary magazine is something that interests you, then definitely go for it! Just make sure that you keep your day job in the back of your mind, as it will greatly influence your decisions regarding this part of your life. Having said that, putting food on the table is of primary importance at this stage of your life, so be smart about your finances and don’t overextend yourself.
Join A Writing Group
A good way to get inspired and motivated to write is by joining a writing group. This could be an online group or a local group, depending on where you live. The benefit of being part of a writing group is that you will be able to give and receive constructive feedback on your work. Additionally, you will be able to network and establish connections with like-minded individuals. If this is something that interests you, then definitely go for it! Just make sure that you do your research and join a group that is well-known and respected in your chosen field. Additionally, be sure to meet with the group in person at least once a week to go over your work and hold each other accountable. This will help you ensure that you are putting in the necessary and required effort to meet your professional goals and live your dream. The important thing to keep in mind is that this is a long-term relationship, where you are investing in yourself and your future. So be sure to put in the needed effort and make the most of this opportunity while you can.
Get A Teaching Position
If you feel that you have what it takes to be a good teacher, then why not try for a teaching position? You might be able to secure a temporary research position or teaching assistantship while you are still searching for a more permanent one. If this is something that interests you, then definitely go for it! Just make sure that you have the necessary qualifications for the position that you are applying for. If you can, take a graduate course in pedagogy (teaching methodology) to help prepare you for the role. With a little bit of luck, you could end up in a position that will allow you to teach poetry and creative writing to high school students.
Earn Money With Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the most popular options among professional poets. You can put up blog posts on your personal site or on a separate platform, like WordPress.com. If someone clicks a product or service that you are promoting in your blogpost, you will earn a commission. This could be anything from clothing to travel or digital marketing courses. The important thing is that you are putting in the effort to build a good audience. Once you have built a good audience, you can then decide whether or not to promote products, make money online, or both. If this is something that interests you, then definitely go for it! Just be sure to keep your day job in the back of your mind, as it will greatly influence your decisions regarding this part of your life. Building a good portfolio and establishing yourself as a professional is all about using the right tools, getting inspired, and putting in the effort. If any of these sound like a hassle to you, then you might want to consider looking for a day job instead, as being a professional is not for everyone. Good luck out there!