Essential Tips for Novice Writers

Feb 17
08:39

2010

John. T. Roberts

John. T. Roberts

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Writing for money is something that is a very real possibility,Essential Tips for Novice Writers Articles and whether you have experience or not there are certain tips that will help you to ensure your success as a freelance writer. The field is so diverse that there are many different areas in which you could be proficient – you could write articles, blogs, jingles or slogans, or you could write fiction or ghost-write the memoirs of others, but the fact remains that there is money to be made writing – if you know how!


The first important tip s not to expect too much too soon: there are many websites where you can apply for freelance jobs, and many writers magazines and clubs too, and getting that first commission is all important to the new writer.


To give yourself a head start take the time out to write some sample work in advance: produce a news report, a website content article, a product review – whatever you think appropriate – and use these as examples to give to prospective employers. Remember, accuracy and grammar are the key, so use your spell-check but – and this is absolutely vital – do not rely on it!


Make your samples interesting and varied, and make them original, too; choose subjects that you are familiar with and display your style of writing adequately.


One thing that is vital to take on board is that when someone commissions a piece from you – whether it is an article for a website or a fictional piece – they will have certain guidelines that you will be expected to follow; you are, after all, producing work for someone else, so make sure you fully understand what is required.


One of the advantages of the many websites where you can apply – or ‘bid’ – for freelance work is that the buyer is asked to ‘rate’ your work; the more high ratings you get, and these are determined by accuracy, attention to detail, adherence to deadlines and quality of work, the better your standing becomes in that particular community - a major boost for any novice writer.


Stepping back a little and there is attention to be paid, also, to what you need to become a paid writer: a modicum of writing talent is necessary, of course, although nobody expects you to be Tolstoy, but essential is a computer with word processing facilities – in general Microsoft Word – and a decent broadband connection. Also, the ability to organise your time is something that bodes well in this line of work.


If you go by the advice above, and take care not to bite of more than you can chew in the early stages, you may find that writing is a very lucrative source of income.

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