If you have ever found a passion in your heart for the art of developing written content then know that you are not alone. For many people, it’s been a part of their lives for quite some time. Whether they were exposed to their love for writing through school assignments or simple exploration and use of freetime in their younger years or maybe by profession. Chances are, that if you are passionate about writing you most likely would love to make a career out of it.
It’s not work if you love what you do is an adage that has never actually stood the test of practice, however it’s not without its merits. A job is always going to be a job and even if you happen to be fortunate enough to create a living out of one of your passions, there will inevitably be some aspect of the process that is mundane.
So setting up real expectations for what a career in writing is will be a good first step in helping you better understand what all will be required to make this aspiration a reality. Part of the reality of wanting to take your passion as a writer to the level of it becoming a career is that you need to have a portfolio.
A portfolio is the number one tool that you will use in order to attract potential clients and publishing platforms. It not only showcases your talents and level of skill, but shows who you are as a unique, gifted and motivated entrepreneur. Having a diverse, strong, impressive and competitive portfolio is part of every successful writer’s tool box and here’s how we at The Word Counter suggest you build one!
Get Your Name Out There
While this will appeal to the more novice beginner, the concept continues to be applicable at all stages of a writing career. By actively trying to get your name out and promote your work you are not only creating more credibility in the writing community but also growing your active audience.
For the person who is just beginning their career in writing this can seem like a nearly impossible hurdle to overcome. How can you create a portfolio without any published pieces? What’s more, how do you get to publish your work when most platforms and clients would like to see a portfolio? The good news is that it is easier than it appears.
For those beginning their writing career, regularly searching for websites that allow for guest bloggers can be a great way of getting your work published. The downside is that it can be rather hard to find paying gigs at this level of your career; however, don’t let that discourage you from the exposure and experience that it will help to build.
Use Social Media
The world of marketing is growing and expanding and changing at an astounding rate. There are constantly new ways of getting your name out in front of people and raising awareness for yourself and your talent. One of those ways is the world of social media.
Platforms like Twitter can serve to help potential clients understand your brand when it comes to your tone and social and political presence. Tik-Tok and instagram can even help to spread awareness of the lifestyle challenges that aspiring writers face while simultaneously promoting the fact that you are a writer.
Professional social media platforms like Linkedin continue to set the standard for the best way to use social platforms to move your career forward. Making sure you are representing yourself accurately and competitively is a great way to make connections and grow your portfolio.
Keep an Open Mind
Experience is experience and at the beginning of your career almost no experience would be considered a waste of time! Keep your career goals in mind and look for what opportunities are immediately available. For instance, if your goal is to do freelance journalism don’t snub a chance to start with writing SEO content. If an opportunity presents itself that will give you experience, see if it will help you build your portfolio even if it isn’t directly related to what you ultimately want to do.
Don’t Give Up
Lastly – just don’t give up! The road to becoming a professional writer is a long, hard and at times discouraging one. Don’t let go of your dreams and don’t stop moving forward. Keep goals in front of you and commit to working hard – it will be worth the work in the end!
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