If you’re looking for a new challenge, why not try your hand at online writing? Thanks to the rise of online journalism, being a good writer isn’t necessarily enough; you also need to be able to express yourself online.
While there are many lucrative benefits to doing so, going online as a writer can be a bit daunting. Not only do you need to learn how to constructively criticize and analyze an argument, but you also need to learn how to effectively convey your opinions and ideas online. For instance, how do I write an opinion piece on politics in Zimbabwe that will stir up debate and interest a global audience?
To help you tackle this question, we’ve put together some of the most useful tips on how to write an online article that will get you noticed for your talents and thrust you into the limelight.
The Dos And Don’ts Of Online Writing
To begin with, let’s establish some ground rules for writing online. Although this kind of content is often relatively informal in tone, you still need to adhere to certain writing conventions to ensure that your work is of a high calibre and will be easily understood.
Firstly, unless specifically asked for an opinion, avoid giving them. Unless you’re a professional writer who actually specializes in writing for the web, it’s best to leave content like this to the professionals. They will carry out editing and fact-checking, and you can focus on creative writing. Secondly, make sure that all your material adheres to a uniform style. While each piece of writing you produce will have its own unique flavor, it should always be recognizable as being part of the same project. This way, your work will have coherence and will read as a whole rather than a collection of independent articles. Thirdly, make sure that all your material is of reasonable length. There’s nothing more embarrassing than pouring the maximum amount of words possible into a piece only to find that it runs several thousand words long. When writing for the web, you can’t control how many words the reader will enter into the infinite text fields, so it’s best to keep things as concise as possible. Fourthly, make sure that all your work is well-formatted. While you’re writing, keep your spelling, grammar and punctuation correct at all times. Mistakes in any of these areas will seriously undermine your work’s readability. Finally, make sure that you have the necessary digital permissions to use any content that is neither your own original creation nor available under the creative commons attribution license. The web is a constantly evolving beast that is always one step ahead of you. If you want to keep your work fresh, you will need to constantly be on the lookout for new sources of inspiration and creative writing prompts.
What Tools Do I Need To Get Started?
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s discuss the tools you will need to get started as a writer. The most basic and essential tool for any writer is a good pair of eyes. Without an editor, it’s virtually impossible to write anything of a decent quality. If you’re looking to dive straight into writing, get yourself a good editor that will help you find your bearings and get your work critiqued professionally. If you don’t have an editor, it’s also advisable to get yourself a good copy editor who will take care of the technicalities like spelling and grammar.
Next up is the place where you’ll want to house your work. Naturally, you’ll want to find a place that is both secure and comfortable. If you’re looking to get noticed for your creative writing, then this is the place to do it. Find a quiet corner and get to work. If security is a concern, then look for a place that is well-lit and has many exits. If you don’t have the space for a dedicated writing desk, then you can always use an office cubicle or even a coffee table for your writing material. Just make sure that it’s somewhere that is conducive to writing and doesn’t have any distracting noises or bothersome interruptions. If you need inspiration, then there are numerous places you can turn to. Whether it’s a beautiful view of the city, a nature scene, or a colorful painting, you can find something to inspire you.
How Do I Pitch My Writing To Publishers?
Once you have your material ready, the next step is to pitch it to publishers. The internet has made it much easier for people to get their work noticed, and with good reason. Thanks to the rise of online journalism, being a good writer isn’t necessarily enough; you also need to be able to pitch your work to publishers. To do this, simply search for the publication that interests you the most and then use the filters at the top of the page to narrow your search results to articles that are both professional and of interest to your exact purpose. For example, if you are writing to pitch your work to publishers, it would be best to search for “venture capital” or “angel investors” as these topics are of interest to most venture capitalists and angel investors.
Once you have your results narrowed down to articles that interest you, simply click on the first one to read the full article. Now that you’re already on the website, you can easily find the subscription button at the top of the page and be on your way to gaining access to the content. If you have any other questions about how to write an article for publication, feel free to leave us a comment below! We’re more than happy to help.