Can a love for reading and writing become a business?
Reading and writing is something I do really well. I have tried writing articles for content mills, but in the end lost out on payment because the site shut down. I am looking for a mentor to guide me towards establishing my business. Can I make a career out of this?
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Mar 16, 2015
Hi Karin,
You can absolutely make a living as a writer — I'm one of many, many people who do — but content mills are not the way to go about it! As the term implies, they do not value writing, just production, which is why the pay is abysmal or, in your case, why you didn't get paid at all.
I'd suggest the following steps:
1) If you have any samples of your work, create an online portfolio so prospective clients can see it. This article describes 5 sites where you can create a simple, free digital portfolio: http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2014/12/5-online-portfolio-platforms-freelance-writers
2) Launch your own blog that focuses on what you do for businesses, and addresses their needs. For instance, if you want to write about marketing trends, post pieces that discuss how marketing is changing in South Africa, and why.
3) Search for writing jobs on reputable sites such as Craig's List, http://www.journalismjobs.com/ and WriterFind.com. There are probably sites in your area that I'm unfamiliar with that will also be good resources.
4) Network! Join a local writers' group, business network, and your local Chamber of Commerce (or the S. Africa equivalent) and share what you do. Exchange business cards and follow up with offers to meet for coffee to discuss your respective businesses. If you don't yet have business cards, search mosaicHUB for someone who can design them for you at a good price :-)
5) Finally, be willing to cold-call, and keep your prices really reasonable while you're getting established. Target companies you'd like to work with, get the name of the person who handles marketing / communication/ content development, or whatever that company calls the person who'd hire someone like you, and send a short inquiry email. Follow up a week or so later with a call. Keep it brief and very professional, and if they show no immediate interest, ask if you can circle back in a month or so.
Hope these tips are a helpful start! All the best to you ~
Amara
Mar 16, 2015
Have you thought about getting a PhD in a subject in which you're intensely interested? That way, you get paid to read and write (and teach), and the job security is pretty decent. In some disciplines in business, starting pay for newly minted PhDs is well into six figures.
Mar 16, 2015
To add to the list of ideas:
•You could approach small newspapers or daily updated websites and ask if you can do a daily/weekly column. This may not lead to direct money but might help landing bigger jobs and increases your online presence.
•Start a website with book reviews of your favourite topic. If you can manage to get enough views you can make money in various ways e.g. donations, ads, merchandise.
•Become a freelance editor
Mar 16, 2015
I suggest taking a look at http://www.writeraccess.com
We have used their services many times and it seems to be very well done. These guys aren't shutting down any time soon. In particular I have used a girl in Hawaii who has written over 3500 pieces! So, you know she's doing it fulltime and making a living at it. If you can bang out the articles fast writeraccess can give you a steady stream of work.
Mar 16, 2015
I will definitely say YES to an occupation site related to reading and writing...Plus ghost writing and helping others to find unique relevant quality content. I agree on the Masters and Phd as a general academics major to full professorship with tenure.
Mar 17, 2015
Communication is a big issue for any business, even more so for organizations selling technology. If you can add listening as one of your primary skills, you can turn your love for reading and writing into one of several types of sought after expertise...in customer requirements, for example. Package your skills into something that businesses need (and in their vocabulary, of course), and you will be on your way.
Mar 16, 2015
Hi Karin,
It depends on the type of reading/writing. In the past, I've used technical writers on sites like elance. Be prepared for some strong competition though, as there are plenty of people offering general writing services. The more specific your focus/specialization can be, the better chance you'll have of breaking in.
A quick look at elance turns up the following results:
"writer" - 152,303 results
"technical writer" - 32,477 results
"technical writer medical" - 3,575 results
That's a lot of competition, even in a fairly narrow band of the market (technical writers with a focus on medial writing), but it's better than trying to take on all 152k general purpose writers head on.
I would search for a specialty you like (or could learn to like with time), test the waters, and see if you get any interest.
Good luck!
Best,
Hugh
Mar 16, 2015
Yes. Publishing is an expanding area. Software is writing too. Best of luck!
Mar 16, 2015
Karin,
If you like reading and writing, I agree with Warren get a PHD to teach.
I would suggest that you possible look at Adweek to see if anyone (advertising ageancies, etc.) is looking for a proofreader or even a copy writer
Mar 16, 2015
You can make a business out of this but you need to be very clear about who your target audience is and what your specialty is. Then target companies/people in this sector and have examples of your work and ask them what they want, then show them how you can help them. Connect with this sector via individuals in it via LinkedIn and starting writing and posting on LinkedIn. That's for starters. In short why should someone/a company pay you (as opposed to someone else) to write for them?
Mar 16, 2015
Karin, Certainly many many people make their careers out of writing and speaking about their writing. Understandably it is easier to speak about a non fiction book that offers solutions to a problem than perhaps a fiction one.
Having written two books, which I self published, I can attest to the power of print in helping you build a tribe and it certainly is possible to create a business out of this.
You truly must have a marketable product and realize you will most likely spend a great deal of your time markeing your product ( but that is true about any product you sell).
I recommend looking at Jeff Goins products and the next time he offers a Tribe Writers Course, invest in taking it. It's a really good jumping off point for people who want to write for a career, and begin blogging and connecting with others who write for a living.
I'd be happy to help you create your launch products once you know what you will be writing about. Good luck. While making a career as an author can seem daunting, if it is your passion, you will most likely enjoy all aspects of it.
Mar 16, 2015
Anything can become a business if you can figure out an angle on it that people would be wiling to pay you to do for them. From the other comments you get an idea of just some of the many ways you can make money writing. It can even be in a corporate setting where you give up some autonomy in return for a steady a paycheck: the fact is that a significant proportion of modern employees writes for a living in one way or another: tech writers, proposal writers, press release writers, research analysts, and on and on. If you are determined to be "a writer", as opposed to someone whose job requires writing, you'll find that Writer's Digest has a lot of material about the multiple channels through which a writer can get established. As far as the content mills, the only wisdom I have on that sort of thing is that any time somebody is reaching out to millions of people they know nothing about and promising them great wealth, it is almost always a scam.
Mar 16, 2015
In my limited experience I've learned a couple of truths in life. One, you don't live for yourself, you live for others. In your case since you write well it is - if I may say so - incumbent upon you to share your mind with others. And two, the world is always eager to hear something that they like.
Talking of business, it's a different ballgame. Niche, clarity, focus, and consistency are the 4 major factors for a writer to be successful in business. Start a blog, and if you can stick to these factors, you'll be pleasantly surprised by your success which can be as early as in just 6 months or so.
Lastly, I appreciate your mentioning that you love reading.. I am reminded of the famous saying by Stephen King: If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.
Best wishes.
Mar 16, 2015
Yes if you are in writing then many fields are open .You can start with your own blogs , become script writer for any of the advertisements agency , edit scripts or articles .There are many sites and many groups that will be helpful to you.
Mar 16, 2015
Hi Karin,
I am a writer and a coach and can definitely help you define what's closest to you as a writing niche and get there. There are so many options I can't even begin to explain them here: with KDP on Amazon it is now easy to be a full blown writer and make money out of it; you could blog for money and on topics that interest you; you could write book reviews for money - I used to do that for a website for $10 per 200-300 word review. And that's the tip of the iceberg.
If you want us to have a totally free chat, let me know. I have worked with people who want to write for a living and I am certain I can help you out.
Best,
Maya
Mar 16, 2015
Hi Karin,
Have you ever heard of Brian Johnson? He wrote a book called ‘The Philosopher’s Notes.
Like you, he loves reading and writing and his specific interest is personal growth via Philosophy and Positive Psychology and the ways in which this knowledge can be applied to optimize our lives.
His skill is synthesizing information and his tag line for Philosopher’s Notes was ‘more wisdom in less time’.
Once you decide on your area of interest, you could see if a similar approach to synthesizing information could work for you. It’s a great way to incorporate your reading and writing skills!
Good Luck!
Mar 17, 2015
Hi Karin,
Most certainly you can make a career out of your passion. I have done it. Although it took me a couple of years, I now have established a reputation that clients contact me rather than me contacting them. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't have to be active in sales ;)
What I started with was to contact potential partners through which I could sell my expertise as a part of the partners' portfolio. Then after a while I was ready to sell directly to clients - with respect to the partners I had helping me, so I wasn't "eating from the load" if you know what I mean.
The best thing is to find a concrete gap in your potential client's PR, marketing, customer magazine or whatever, and then propose a solution for that - with a price.
Let me know if I can help you with something.
Sincerely,
Jukka
Finland
Mar 17, 2015
Writing is a powerful ability and now with the internet a wonderful platform for writers is available. Once on the net your words are in a permanent library.
Mar 17, 2015
Absolutely you can...Decide what type of articles or books you wish to write about...Who your audience is to be, and go submit articles or manuscripts to people and editors who would be interested in your work...It is like anything else you must establish a mission and vision statement and then write from your strengths and do not be afraid of rejection
Mar 16, 2015
There are a number of sites that you might try such as HARO (haro@helpareporter.com) but note that if you are not already an expert in a field you will have slow, even tough going. Of course I am of the opinion that if a person has enough determination they can accomplish almost anything. You can read my story in my book: "The Crazy Life of a Kid From Brooklyn".
I'd like to highlight this suggestion before it gets lost - ghost writing as a profession.
I am working with a ghost writer now and she finds it very rewarding.