What Exactly Did You Do First When You Started A Writing Career?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by dianara, Jun 22, 2009.

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  1. #1
    Please share it. I'd love to know a bit more about your writing experience, and hopefully I can learn something from it.

    Thank you.
     
    dianara, Jun 22, 2009 IP
  2. outspan

    outspan Active Member

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    #2
    Started writing in my mother tongue (Italian), then Helium.com just to get feedback, Associated Content, then article marketplaces like DailyArticle and Constant-content, then Suite101.com, and finally got a stable job with different high-traffic websites. If you're US-based you'll have a lot more opportunities than I did: many sites that I wanted to join only admitted US citiziens.
     
    outspan, Jun 22, 2009 IP
  3. cd928

    cd928 Peon

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    #3
    Had a day job first, working as an in-house writer for a web company. I was also writing for other publications on the side. Got tired of the daily commute, so I quit after almost 2 years.

    Right after that, I took on freelancing full time. And that's what I still do today.

    As far as writing experience goes, it's pretty much like life in general. You make stupid mistakes when you're younger, and you learn more as you get older and become, um, wiser.
     
    cd928, Jun 22, 2009 IP
  4. The Villa

    The Villa Peon

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    #4
    I got hired two years ago as a full time writer for a local company that accepts article orders from foreign clients. At first I just wrote for them but later on I learned a bit about what they were doing. I also started reading a lot of materials online about writing and earning. That's when I decided to start setting up my own sites to monetize. I still write for clients but it feels great that I am also earning through my own sites. I hope to one day be able to earn enough so I don't have to be a writer for hire.

    By the way, the first step I had to take was to discipline myself. I hated online writing but I was able to whip myself into action.
     
    The Villa, Jun 22, 2009 IP
  5. Kat Fuschillo

    Kat Fuschillo Peon

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    #5
    You're in the same position as me. There are lots of sites out there you can join, but many of them don't accept non-US writers. Those that do accept writer from outside of the US usually pay alot less, so beware.

    As cd928 said - try Suite 101.

    Good luck.
     
    Kat Fuschillo, Jun 23, 2009 IP
  6. etali

    etali Well-Known Member

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    #6
    I started writing for myself back in the mid 90s (for a BBS!). I experimented for a while with 'paid content' sites, and then got in to freelance bidding and jobs forums.

    These days, I have a solid client base of people who provide me with regular work. I'll still use job boards when times are slow, but in my opinion the pay on most of them is too low for an experienced writer. I do think they're good for building up a portfolio, though.

    Once you've got a reputation for being reliable and producing quality work, you can start looking for the better paying clients, and build up a base of regular customers.
     
    etali, Jun 25, 2009 IP