So You Want To Be A Columnist

Garth Beyer

You’re a writer, a great one at that.

(At least you better be if you’re looking to go into this field!)

But getting that first writing position can be difficult.

What I’ve learned about getting writing jobs isn’t the “tell me what to write and I can write about it” mentality. Far from it. As I have heard repetitively from different organizations and agencies, if a major editor is going to tell you what to write about, they might as well write it!

First things first: don’t go into a writing job seeking topics to write about.

Have them prepared.

The big risks of writing isn’t the criticism you may will get after being published; the risk is in deciding exactly what to write about, in having to judge the audience, and in diving in without anyones confirmation of your idea.

Back in the day you may have been given prompts, but now there’s too much creativity and flexibility with audience’s desires.

Garth Beyer
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