0 Comments
Written by Naomi Johnson
If you aspire to write for a living, you're probably going to encounter some naysayers. While some people think that it's impossible to earn decent money as a writer, the job outlook for wordsmiths is actually very good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a writer is $69,510, and the job market for writers will only continue to grow in the years ahead. Set Clear Goals for Your Writing Career There are many types of writing jobs. It's helpful to start by researching the possibilities and narrowing them down so you know where to focus your energy. For example, establishing a career as an advertising copywriter requires different steps than establishing a career as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Popular writing jobs that are likely to remain in demand in the future include social media writing, blog writing, and email marketing writing. Eliminate Potential Skills Gaps In addition to getting a broader education, it's also important to finetune your writing skills. Start with a self-assessment of your skills. Workable explains how to do your own skills gap analysis, for example, by soliciting feedback from others. For writers, consider joining a creative writing class or group. This is a great opportunity to share your work and get honest feedback that can help you improve your craft. Form an LLC Registering as a limited liability company can provide you with the protection and asset security you need as a writer so creditors cannot go after your personal assets in the event of lawsuits or debts related to your writing endeavors. Additionally, having an established LLC helps your clients to trust in doing business with you, since they are dealing with an official entity rather than an individual freelancer. There are five steps to complete to register your LLC, but you can save substantial time by working with a formation service. There are a number of online formation services you can use. To help narrow down your search and make sure you’re getting the best deal, check online reviews and prices. For example, if you’re trying to decide between ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent, both have solid reviews but the former is quite a bit cheaper. Join a Professional Association Joining a professional writing association is a great way to advance your career as a writer. Not only can you network with other professionals in the field and get feedback on your work, but you can also learn new techniques and expand your portfolio too. By tapping into resources that associations provide, such as webinars, podcasts and conferences, you will be able to discuss trends in the industry and begin forming valuable relationships with experts in the business. Additionally, most associations offer exclusive job postings or internships that will enable you to connect with higher-level opportunities than if you were not involved. Create an Action Plan and Set a Timeline With the above steps done, you can create an action plan. Map out the steps you want to take, like completing an online degree and set yourself a timeline for finishing each goal. By the time you're done, you should have a comprehensive action plan that takes you from a newbie to a professional writer. You can use free templates like this one to map out your goals. It includes goals, resources, and strategies for success. Keep Updating Your CV A curriculum vitae (CV) is an extended resume used by writers/artists and one of the most important tools to showcase your skills and experience and help you find work. A well-crafted CV is essential in today’s competitive job market and often critical to securing a writing gig. When writing your CV, focus on creating one that clearly communicates who you are as a writer, is customized for potential jobs, highlights key achievements, and provides evidence that your skills match the job. You can streamline this process by creating your free cv with an online tool. Choose from hundreds of templates and then personalize your cv to include your own photos, copy, and fonts. Make Sure to Track Your Progress Once you have your action plan and timeline set, it's time to get to work. Make sure to revisit your action plan regularly and track your progress. You want to check whether you're meeting the milestones you've set for yourself by the given deadline. If you're losing pace, you may need to adjust your timeline. To keep motivated, make sure to celebrate your wins. Goals Calling offers some ideas for celebrating your successes, like enjoying the food you like. Find a Mentor to Help Support Your Plan Building a career as a writer isn't always easy. It can be helpful to have a mentor to provide guidance and encouragement, so you stay on track. They can also help with some of the practical steps above, like setting goals. Networking events for writers are another option. There are many conferences for writers you can attend, both in-person and digitally. If you want to earn a living as a writer, you'll have to put the work in. Creating a professional development plan that outlines key steps can help put you on the right path. Improve your chances of finding writing jobs by keeping your cv updated, and consider forming an LLC to protect your personal assets. With these tips, you can kickstart your writing career. Naomi Johnson can be reached at [email protected]. For more from Naomi see www.lifebasedbusiness.net From Solitared, Neal T. discusses the highest earning e-gamers in the United States. He provides several insteresting infographics and fascinating facts. Here's one infographic and an excerpt. A quick look at the top 25 reveals a few patterns:
BetArizona posted this infographic with information about the earning potential of the top 25 basketball athletes.
From Surplus Inventory Buyer, Seth Stern Storch discusses inventory management and shares this infographic:
PawnHeroBlog provides this infographic that explains the differences between pawnshop loans and other types of loans. Bitcoin SV Academy provides this infographic that has everything you need to know about blockchain.
From OptiBPO, Jamie McBrien writing about Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and shares this infogrophic.
|