I knowso many struggling writers who don’t know the first thing about where to get jobs as a writer. They had visions of graduating from top schools with a degree in creative writing and walking directly into a screen writing job, or getting a job as one of the staff writers on a big TV show, or getting an instant book deal.
In reality, it just doesn’t pan that way. But you have to know of the in-between, not-so-glamorous projects you have to take to make your way up, and where to find those.
First off, you’ll have to write for no payment. Think about it: writing is FUN! Everybody would like to do it. Not just that, so many people desire to to laungh their own magazines or websites. There are countless competing publications out there, that only a few really make income. And then, there are so many writers who aspire to work for those few. Do you really think those publications will hire somebody with no professional experience or published work?
Go to the “Contact Us” page of your favorite sites. Look at their “sister websites” (they frequently list these somewhere) and find their “Contact Us” pages as well. Write to the Managing Editor, Editor, or even the basic contact email address on there asking if they are seeking writers. If they are paying, fantastic. If not, you should still take it.
I suggest doing this for the sites that enjoy reading since, if you’re going to be doing something for free, you may as well enjoy it.
Look, it’s not uncommon to need to do a job for no payment for a little while before you can get payment for it. Particularly in the arts. My pal who had been a singer her whole life wished to become a voice coach in Los Angeles.But, she had no resume, no success stories of how she had helped people become a better singer to show for herself. How could she expect clients to simply begin shelling out their money to her? So, she started by offering to teach her friend’s kids how to sing better for nothing for a little while. If they liked their kid’s progression, they would pay her. Also, she would get personal references from that!
Doing it at no cost is just part of the game. In the meantime, get a side job which actually pays the bills. It’s perfectly ok if it has nothing to do with what you genuinely want to do as a career.
An additional good approach if you wish to call the own shots is start a blog or your own website around the subject you would want to write professionally on. At the very least, if you aren’t able to get any of those free gigs, you have work to display to various possible writing employers.
If the blog gets big, even better! You may possibly get a book deal from it! Either way, creating a website is always a good idea.



