Working as a writer
Writer, content developer, copywriter, creative - you’d have thought that people who specialise in words would be more consistent about labeling themselves. It’s not so, however, because it’s not that important.
What matters is the quality of what you produce, not what you call yourself.
It’s possible to earn an extremely good living and have a load of fun working as a writer in the commercial field. What you need is a start.
Becoming a professional writer
There are two things you must do, and you must do them every day.
Read and write.
Read, read, read and read
Read anything that you can get your hands on - newspapers, magazines, books, brochures, letters from the electricity company, websites, blogs, emails.
Read critically and identify the aspects that, for you, make a piece of writing engaging, compelling, hilarious or downright boring.
Read and learn about use of language, differences in style, vocabulary. Look up and learn words that are new to you.
Write, every single day
If you’re a writer, you probably do this already. If not, ask yourself why.
Lewis Hamilton didn’t hone his driving skills with his feet up on the sofa. You won’t become a professional writer by daydreaming about it.
It doesn’t matter much what you write - only that you do it. Write a journal or blog, letters to distant chums, song lyrics, stories, poetry, reports about your local car boot sale - just write, and often.
It’s the one thing that will make you better at it.
Submit your stuff
It’s a shame, but no one’s going to knock on your door on the off-chance that you might have the writing skills they’re looking for.Get together a collection of the things that you’ve written (a portfolio) and submit it to local web, design, advertising and marketing agencies.
Choose work that’s relevant to them - websites, emails, persuasive writing.
You’ll need to call up and ask for the name of the creative director. Find out if you can have half an hour of his or her time. Let them read your words and ask for feedback.
Once they’ve given you their opinion, ask if you can get in touch again when you’ve prepared more work, ask if they ever recruit for writers.
Contact your local newspaper to see if they have a trainee scheme and what it takes to be part of it.
Be creative. If you’re looking at a website and the copy stinks, re-write a sample of it and send it to the company concerned. Make a polite offer to help them make it more effective.
Don’t just sit there and think you could do it better - do it better.