Legitimizing Yourself as a New Writer

Earlier this month, I wrote two posts about work-at-home moms and how some (read: not all) are choosing to be freelancer writers because they think it is an easy way to stay at home with their kids while also earning a lot of money. The conversation turned, briefly, to what makes a writer qualified and legitimate…and how to become one.

When you’re new in any industry, you have to prove yourself. That’s true whether you’re a real estate agent or an actor or a construction worker. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up, and you have to show people that you have the talent and skills needed to “make it” in your field, even if you don’t yet have the experience.

In the two posts I wrote earlier, I think I came off as hatin’ on new writers, which was not my intention. I was a new writer once, not so long ago. I still have a lot to learn, and wouldn’t consider myself  an “old pro” just yet. I think most web writers are in the same boat. This is such a new industry that we’re all learning together, and few people have been writing online for more than 10 years.

Image: sxc.hu

New writer or not, my problems is with people who don’t take this industry seriously – people who think they can just quit their job and make an easy living writing a few articles online. It doesn’t work that way. I get especially up in arms when I see people who bill themselves as professional writers, but who can’t even put together coherent sentences. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but if what you write has no value (ie, it is all “fluff” filled with keywords), you might as well be making a living as a grocery selling expired milk or a carpenter using duct tape to hold things together. Sure, you might trick a few people initially with your low prices, but overall, you’re a sham, and you’re giving writers everywhere a bad name. I’m not saying that my writing is perfect. It isn’t. Some of you “professional” out there can’t even write as well at my 5-year-old neighbor, though.

That’s not every new writer. What I really wanted to talk about today, though, is how a new writer can legitimate him/herself in this market. When I started, the world of online writing was quite different, and in five years, it will again be unrecognizable. There are some thing that hold true no matter who the scope of projects change, however.

• Go to school.
  

I have my BA in Professional Writing, and I plan to go back for my MFA eventually. Is it necessary? I think so. You don’t need an advanced degree to get a job; I actually know quite a few writers who only have a high school diploma. My degree has opened doors, though, and it has certainly made me a better writer. If for no other reason, you should go to college because it is a way to understand your flaws as a writer. As an English or writing major, you’ll write dozens of papers before you leave school, and they’ll be judged harshly (college professors aren’t as nice as high school teachers).

You’ll also likely pick up some new skills along the way. For example, when I was in college, I learned a lot more about query letters than I ever would have on my own. I also learned basic HTML for simple websites, as well as how to use Photoshop to manipulate pictures. These are skills I can bring to the table when I start a job with a new client.

College isn’t for everyone…at least, traditional college isn’t for everyone. You can also look at online degree options, take community-offered classes, or sign up for just a single class at your local college, not as a degree candidate, but just to improve your writing skills.

• Do an amazing job on every project.
  

The only way to advance as a writer, in terms of both number of projects you’re offered and the amount you’re paid for each project, is to do an amazing job. Sometime it isn’t possible, but I try to go above and beyond when I complete a project. With every project, you should hit due dates, send in typo-free text, and stick to the project guidelines very closely. What else can you do for the client, though? Can you offer the text in a different format to match his needs more closely? Can you add links or pictures?

Be consistent with doing a good job. I know…every once in awhile, you’ll miss a deadline or send in work that doesn’t hit the nail on the head. Try not to get too discouraged when this happens – it’s part of life to make mistakes. If you consistently do a good job, though, your clients will overlook a small mishap every so often.

The best part about being a consistently good writer? Referrals. I do most of my business that way – clients recommend me to friends who need work done, or use me for other projects, or act as referrals when I’m applying for jobs. A client who sings your praise is worth just as much as a degree.

• See all criticisms as constructive.
  

It is human nature to get defensive when someone criticizes our work. We put a lot of effort into writing something – how dare someone who isn’t even a writer tell us that it isn’t perfect. Yet, through criticism we can grow. Even “unfounded” criticism tells us something about how we’re writing and what we can do better. The key is to learn, and to avoid getting into some kind of battle because your feelings are hurt. If someone says something that isn’t nice, pick through the snark to find the real comments.

One commenter earlier this week suggested that to become qualified, legitimized, you had to work for an exclusive journalistic source, like the New York Times. While I don’t necessarily think that is always true, getting hired by a print media conglomerate like the Times or the Wall Street Journal (or any popular print source, like Elle Magazine if you write about fashion or Food and Wine is you’re a food writer) is certainly a goal to which we can all aspire.