Stop Complaining and Get Started as a Freelance Writer

There are so many people here exploring writing as a means to make money that I thought I'd offer some pointers and 'how to get started' tips.

Learning to write is about more than grammar, voice and style. Mark Twain broke most of the grammar rules. Stephen King rewrote the thriller/horror genre's rules. Blogging is changing the way that we write web content.

If you want to learn to write, don't start at the grammar and writing sites. Start at the society pages, online news, and such places.

Learn What to Write About

For example, if you want to make money on the web, you'll make more by teaching reading and spelling skills than you ever will by writing a novel or running your own web site.

If you want to blog, and have no useful information, then talk about the events happening in the world, and ask people for opinions on current social issues.

Learn to Write Well.

Again, we are not ready for grammar check yet. Now you want to learn how to write in clear, easy to understand sentences and paragraphs.

"Say what you mean and mean what you say."

This is an old adage that most people know, but never employ. Most business failures are caused by managers who give hour long presentations and leave their team members wondering what they should do. Most writers fail because they write a 1000 word article and say nothing.

Edit, Proofread, Rewrite

Blogs are a great place to get started as a writer. First, you can watch your writing skills grow as time passes. As you hone your skills, it is possible to go back and edit and rewrite blogs. This teaches you to look critically at your work.

Submit to Publishers

It doesn't matter who.
It doesn't matter when.
It doesn't matter where.

Just submit. Every week submit two things. Submit free articles. Submit to small publications.

I believe some writers want to purposely sabotage their careers by only submitting to the biggest, best publications or publishers in the world. After twenty or thirty rejection letters they quit.

Get Started

1. Write 250 words every day.
2. Blog once a day.
3. Write two articles a week.
4. Spend one hour researching topics a day.
5. Submit two articles this week.

Post your progress here . . .