I spoke to my parents on the phone last night. They were surprised to hear that I was writing this online newsletter, especially since I spent so much time getting a degree from a business school. I explained how I managed to get into this position. I didn't apply for it. I certainly didn't submit samples of my writing. The newsletter was not going out due to a great deal of other things to do, so I took over one day and wrote it. Suddenly, I had a new position...writer! My parents were so pleased to hear this news, that they are now part of the readership of the newsletter, even though they really don't care much for public relations. Did I just boost my own publicity through writing? Yes! Maybe one day, I'll write for a big newspaper.
How would I go about getting into the newspapers with my writing? That's a great question. Being a columnist for a newspaper could be a very prestigious position to be in. This position could add instant fame to you. Let's look into this further.
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- Find your personality. Everyone has a writing style all their own. If you try to imitate someone else, chances are you will fail because it just isn't you. Practice writing. Look for consistent uses of phrases, sentence structure, etc. Perfect your own style and use it to its full potential.
- Find a need for your writing. Who do you think could use the information you have to offer? If you think it would be great to write about a subject, but you are not an expert, the chances of landing a writing position are slim.
- Don't try to start out huge. It takes time to get proper recognition of your writing. Local papers typically are the best place to start. It's ok to be at the bottom at first.
- Competition with existing columnists is a very bad thing. They are established and will probably have more clout than you do. Want to see your column shut down quickly? Just bad mouth a few of the other writers, then go find your pink slip.
There is a lot to learn about writing for publications. They have stringent rules in place for many reasons. I could go on with a lot more information, but this is a tip section, not an instruction manual. However, I can direct you to where to find more info...we have a special report written about being a columnist. It contains a great deal of information that should propel you in the right direction if you wish to start writing for the local media. You'll find it at
Special Report #34: Secrets to Becoming a Columnist in Newspapers and Magazines
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