For many of us, writing is a hobby that we enjoy doing for fun, but we often don’t know where to start when it comes to becoming a professional writer. Fortunately, the digital nomadism lifestyle offers us a way to earn money from home by writing for different companies, selling our stories on eBook platforms, and more.
Here is a helpful guide to get you started in creative writing so you can start earning from home, or wherever travels may take you next!
Choose A Niche
The first step to becoming a professional writer is to choose a niche. You will need to find a topic that you are passionate about, or that interests you, and then you can start researching material and developing ideas. It is a good idea to take a look at what other writers in your niche are doing, what topics they are covering, and how to approach similar topics. For example, if you are a romance writer, you may want to look at other romance writers’ blog posts and see how they are presenting content, what they are encouraging readers to do, and any tips or tricks they may have for engaging with their audience.
Choosing a niche that interests you and has enough demand, such as travel blogging, is a great way to start. Traveling and being on the move helps us see and understand the world in a different way, which in turn helps us express ourselves in new and creative ways. If you decide to become a travel blogger, for example, you can research popular destinations and then write about what attracted you to a certain place, why you thought it was interesting, and what you knew about the area.
Once you have your niche picked out, it’s time to start researching material, developing ideas, and putting them into a rough draft. You will need time to do this, so take your time and enjoy the process, whether it’s a few days or a few weeks. Having a few weeks to dedicate to a single project, such as a novel, will help you get the most out of it and move faster than you could if you had only a few days.
Get Inspired
Writing is extremely flexible – you can write about anything you want, given enough inspiration. This is why it is important to get inspired by as much as possible, rather than sticking to a set formula or following a set of rules. The more you are inspired by, the better your work will be. It is important to take note of what inspires you though, as this can vary from place to place and person to person. If you want to write about an upcoming vacation, look for the potential pitfalls and have an idea of how you can overcome them. If you want to write about a specific topic, develop a list of questions you want to ask a source or visit a place you’ve never been to before and see how it changes your perception of the topic – this is a great way to get inspired.
Get To Work
Once you have your ideas and a rough draft of your first chapter, it’s time to start getting them down on paper. This is usually a tedious process, but it’s one that you have to go through to develop your writing skills. Start by pitching your story to a trusted friend or reading a good book, getting into the right mindset, and then taking time to flesh out each phrase and word. Grammar and punctuation will also need to be checked and corrected, so take your time with this as well.
If you want to become a travel writer, for example, you can start by pitching your story to a travel guide company or publishing house, or even consider freelancing for small publications or doing guest posts for other blogs. It is also important to get your work out there and be found, so look for the places your work may be accepted and start there.
As you develop your writing skills, look for competitions and awards for short story writers, novelists, or anyone who writes for publication. This is a great way to get your work out there and start building your portfolio. In time, you may decide to apply for full-time work or pursue your love of travel writing as a full-time career.
Build A Portfolio
Having a portfolio is important for any aspiring writer, whether you are looking for your first job or are just getting started. A portfolio will help you get selected for a role, whether it’s a publishing contract or a travel writer’s position, and it also helps you get clients, as well as provide evidence of your work. A portfolio will also help you sell your work, whether it’s short story publications or eBook sales, and provide you with a steady flow of income, which you can then reinvest into your freelance career.
Network
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with other writers and potential collaborators, both online and offline. For example, if you love adventure and travel, you can connect with other enthusiasts through travel blogs and forums where you can discuss topics relating to your passion for travel. If you are a fashion writer, you can connect with other fashion writers through fashion blogs and forums, read fashion magazines and books, and get inspired by different cultures’ ways of dressing.
Making connections is key to building a successful freelance writing career, so take the time to do this. It is also important to create quality content that will interest and engage your audience – a successful writer is one that has a large and engaged audience.
When it comes to getting started with creative writing, it can be difficult to know where to start. The above tips will help guide you, as well as provide some inspiration for those who may be interested in pursuing a career in creative writing. From choosing a niche to pitching your work and getting published, to building a portfolio and securing your first clients, these tips will get you on your way to becoming a successful freelance writer.