Having only spent the last two months of my career trying to be a writer, I don’t have a whole lot of experience to qualify me as an adequate source of advice. However, there are a number of things that I have learned along the way that may be beneficial to those that are new to the online writing process. It is my hope that those that are looking for guidance in their new writing endeavors will benefit from learning from my mistakes.
What is SEO Content
This was the first place where I made my mistakes. I incorrectly thought that what I was writing was going to be important enough for people to want to read. While that may have been true, the people that needed to read my essays and articles weren’t able to find it. Because I didn’t have a clear understanding of how internet search engines find content, I was seriously disappointed to find that no one was viewing the fruits of my labor.
Freelance Sites Online
Another mistake that I made was trying to get too many jobs on freelance websites. Because I was trying to make as much money as possible, I took on writing assignments that I had no business doing. The first assignment that I chose to try was to write 200 articles on breast augmentation. While I have many years in healthcare, I know absolutely nothing on boob jobs. I took the job for $1.00 an article. I’m still not done with that assignment. It’s painful.
Freelancing, Will I be good at it
The final big mistake that I made while learning how to be an online writer was constantly judging my progress. Especially on online venues with forum sites, it is very easy to annoy the more seasoned writers by constantly asking how well a new writer is doing. Building up online experience and a portfolio takes time. No new writer can expect to be an expert right out of the starting gate. Each new article that I write has taught me something about being a better online writer. Sometimes I have had to learn the hard way and make no money from what I have written. This is usually the best way to figure out how to write better.
There are many people that have chosen to get into writing simply to make money; I am one of those people. However, writing is a craft that takes talent and skill, which many folks have to learn. When those that are interested in writing take the time to understand what it really takes to be a good writer, the payoff will come much earlier in their new career.
Tips for new writers:
- Research topics, even if you think you know what you are writing about.
- Learn how to document sources appropriately. Plagiarism is a career killer.
- Making money freelancing happens slowly. Don’t rush it.
- Editing articles is the key to making them perfect. Don’t whip out material without checking the content, spelling, and grammar before publishing.
- Internet etiquette should be learned and mastered. It is so easy to offend someone inadvertently just by not knowing the online rules for being civil.
- Writing experts’ material should be read over, and over, and over. Learn their techniques without plagiarizing their material.
- Practice!
Best of luck on all of your writing goals. If you are interested in more information on how to be a better writer, check out several of the links that are around this page. They will lead you to information that will set you on your path to writing success.
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