Whether you’ve been at it for a few months or a few years, writing is a form of self-expression that is as unique as the person writing it. It is a chance to connect with your audience through a story you’ve created, and to give your opinion on current affairs, sports, food, travel, and more.
While it can be fun to indulge in your creative side, sharing your work with others is a great way to develop as a writer. There are a number of platforms available to you for this purpose, and each one has its perks. In this article, we will discuss where you can share your writing, as well as the pros and cons of each platform.
Online Journals
One of the most traditional ways to publish your work is to upload it to an online journal. These are publications that operate on a simple principle: They accept your work and then highlight it in return. It is a great place to test your ideas and concepts, as well as to find inspiration for the pieces you’ve written. However, you should be aware that the majority of these journals are created with a leaning toward a highly curated audience. For example, if you were to submit an article about Brexit, you would most likely not see it published due to its content.
The upside with this approach is that you have plenty of options when it comes to finding a journal to submit your work to. The downside is that you are greatly limited by what is published, and you won’t be able to expand your audience. If you would like to reach a global audience, then this is not the best option. Thankfully, there are other outlets beyond traditional journals that you can utilize to gain more traction as a writer.
Websites
Websites are a great place to share your writing, especially if you want to reach a global audience. They are owned by organizations and individuals who want to provide people with content that they can read and share. This can be anything from popular blogs to news websites, or sports websites.
One of the greatest things about websites is that they are fully equipped to process articles from around the world, and display them to people who are located all over the globe. If you’ve written about something topical and garnering interest, then you can bet that there is a website out there that is eager to feature your work. Furthermore, the number of people visiting such sites increases daily, so if you want to gain readership, then putting out quality content is the way to go.
The downside to websites is that you have to be willing to have your work published somewhere. Unless you’ve got your own website built on a professional platform like WordPress, you’ll be hard-pressed to establish yourself as an authoritative voice in your industry. Furthermore, many larger organizations, brands, and publications have their own websites which they use to promote their products and voices. If your aim is to have your work stand out above the rest, then independently creating a website could be a better option.
Blogs
Blogs are a fantastic place for writers to share their expertise with the world. They can be used to publicly discuss a range of topics, from personal experiences to current affairs, education, health, lifestyle, and more. Some of the greatest names in history are credited with creating blogs, including Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, and George Orwell, so you can pretty much bet that whatever you want to talk about, someone is more than willing to lend you an ear.
The downside to blogs is that they are very much open to all authors, so if you want to increase your niche in the media, then building a following in a specific niche might be a better option. Furthermore, not all blogs are created equal. Many are powered by software that can increase engagement from readers, but unless you want to grow your blog to become a successful platform, then keeping things traditional might be the way to go.
Chatrooms
Online chatrooms are a great way to connect with other people who have shared your interest in a particular subject matter. These are platforms where you can sign up with a username and password, then join a number of different channels, or forums, to correspond with other users. The most popular ones are certainly filled with people from all over the world, so if you want to connect with people from around the globe, then this is the place to do it.
The downside to chatting is that unless you’re in a place with a robust community, you’ll lose interest in the matter quickly. If your aim is to find support and collaborate with other writers on a particular project, then this might be the place to do it. However, if your aim is to promote your work and establish yourself as an authoritative voice in your industry, then independently creating a blog might be a better option.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what you want out of your writing career. Do you want to find a concentrated audience, or would you rather spread your work across a variety of platforms? Depending on your answer to the above question, then one of the above might be the best option for you, or it might be a mix of the two. Whatever you decide, have fun!