You’re looking for a new opportunity in life and you’ve decided to become a writer. You’ve picked up a few tips and tricks here and there, and now you’ve decided to take the leap and apply for a job at a digital media company. You’re feeling excited and optimistic as you decide to walk into the office of the company in a major city that you will hopefully call your own.
But then it happens. You get the interviewer’s attention and tell your story. You talk about how you’ve been writing for fun, but you want to make a living doing what you love. The interviewer interrupts you and asks a question about the state of the industry. You’ve just walked into the lions’ den!
What’s going through your head at this point?
Are you wondering if this is the right move for you? Is the idea of being a professional writer appealing, but terrifying at the same time?
Let’s be honest. Being a professional writer is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot of competition and only a few hundred jobs available in whole of New York City. The thought of having to hustle for your living fills you with anxiety. You have a few short-stories published in literary magazines, but you know your way around a word processor. You’ve been writing since you were a kid and you have a talent for it; no doubt about it. But now you’ve finally decided to make it happen. Now you have to grow up fast!
The truth is, getting a writing job is not as easy as it seems. The competition is fierce and the way you stand out from the crowd is by being yourself and being unique. You have to find a way to shine.
Luckily, you’ve decided to do this on a freelance basis, which makes it a little easier. You can take your time to figure out what you want to write about and how you want to write it. You don’t have to rush into things, which can sometimes cause problems. So, while it might feel like a roller coaster ride, getting to this point has already been a lot of fun. Let’s have a look at how to make the most of this opportunity.
Get To Know The Roles And Responsibilities
One of the first things you need to do is familiarize yourself with the roles and responsibilities. You will have to learn to be a team player and demonstrate excellent communication skills. Let’s be honest, being a writer is not the same as being an employee. You will be expected to take initiative and show creativity. You will be given plenty of freedom, but you have to be smart about it. You don’t want to burn any bridges, so be careful about what you say and do. You can find a lot of information about this online, which can be helpful.
Create A Repertoire
Another thing you need to do is create a repertoire. This is a collection of samples of your writing, which you can use for future reference. You don’t have to decide which one you will use or develop yet, but it’s a good idea to have a few different styles and topics in your back pocket. You never know when you will need something. Having a wide range of topics and styles is extremely beneficial, which makes you more versatile as a writer. It also makes it easier to write for different people and companies.
Do Your Homework
You’ve made the decision to pursue a writing career and now that you’re here, you have to make the most of it. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to do your homework. The more you know, the more you can contribute. There will be plenty of times when you don’t know what to write about or how to write about it. So, do your research and try to find the answer. Learning everything there is to know about a subject makes you look more professional and experienced. The more you know, the more you can contribute. There is no magic formula for getting ahead in this industry. You have to put in the work and learn from the best. Luckily for you, we are here to help!
Expand Your Social Circle
Being a writer is not a solitary profession. It takes a lot of networking to get started. This is where expanding your social circle comes in. You have to reach out to other writers, bloggers, and journalists to get your work published. There are lots of opportunities to do this, which you can easily find online. However, nothing will ever come to you if you don’t put in the effort. So, put yourself out there and meet people. It will never do any good sitting at home, dreaming about getting a writing job.
Think About The Future
A final piece of advice I would give you is to think about the future. A lot of people get trapped in their heads in day to day life, worrying about what will happen tomorrow. But, tomorrow is not guaranteed. You have to live in the present, which is a lot more pleasant. So, instead of worrying about the future and what is going to happen, focus on what is happening now. This will make you a more positive and content person. You worry about the future to try and ensure you will have something positive to look forward to. But, worrying does not make you any smarter. So, why not focus on the here and now and stop wasting your time with worries that can always find you when you’re not looking. Write down your worries and concerns and then put them in a file. You can then go back to them at a later date when you have time to take a step back and relax. This will also help you get a clearer head and prepare yourself for the next interview or pitch. Good luck out there!