Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writing and career

Will a newspaper job inch me closer to a career in public relations?

sureshot — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:46:48 -0800

Job_Offer_Filter: I'm a struggling freelance writer trying to (someday) break into the pr/communications field. I've just been offered a staff writer position at a small local newspaper. Does accepting the job inch me closer to my desired field? Or just burden me with a ton of unmarketable experience? So, my background:

4 years out of college, doing my best to flex my English/Creative Writing degree. Over the past three years, I've established myself as one of the top arts writers in a large, non-Chicago Midwestern city. I have regular columns in the glossy monthly, aimed at young, hip, and moneyed readers. I am a regular contributor to an alternative weekly, and I fill in for the big daily's art critic when she is sick or on vacation. I also get to do occasional speaking engagements, juried art shows, etc.

Problem is, none of this has evolved into full-time work. I've worked random odd jobs since graduation, some vaguely related to media--wrote audio description scripts for a year, wrote back cover copy for paperback books at a small publisher, picked up random corporate copywriting/speech writing/press release writing projects here and there. I've been unemployed and broke a lot. I'm now working 30 hours per week as a paraprofessional at a local public school, while still doing all my writing stuff on the side.

So now I have an actual job offer:

Staff writer/reporter position at a pair of small, neighborhood newspapers. A small local publisher, hanging on by a thread. The staff seems overworked and underpaid. The job calls for 10,000 words per month, writer pitches/plans all stories (in a very broad range of subject areas), deadlines every two weeks. Some nights and weekends. The pay is low. $30,000 (salaried, which means no overtime pay).

I don't see a future in newspapers. And print publication, though a true love of mine, is not my final career goal. I want to sneak my way over to the other side of the media. And I'm not sure that amassing more print clips is the way to do that. But print journalism is much closer, industry-wise, to pr/communications than teaching, so maybe a year or two at a paper would narrow the gap for a career leap. And perhaps I could learn enough new media skills (video and sound, slide shows) to balance out my increasingly-obsolete print portfolio.

The alternative would be to stick at this part-time school job until summer (when I will be laid off) and devote myself to a long-term, strategic job hunt. Get an on-line portfolio up, maybe start a blog. Network like crazy. By summer, I"d be ready to launch a targeted, nation-wide search. And if the fish aren't biting, I just go back to the school in the fall and keep at it.

So. All of this nattering is to simply ask: Will a newspaper job get me closer to where I want to be? Or is it just another detour?

Any recovering journalists out there starting a new life in PR?

icanwritewhateveryouneed.blogspot.com

SinisterPurpose — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:03:29 -0800

Have you ever referenced your personal blog as a writing sample for a job? I've been trying, as of late, to find work actually related to my degree in English. I haven't done any work as a paid writer ever. At best, writing and editing have been small portions of previous employment. But I can't really send a copy of a customer contact letter (or other official document) I edited or wrote previously due to one circumstance or another. Most of the creative writing I have done has been on my various blogs. Content and my affinity for being generally offensive aside, can I reasonably use these blogs as writing samples? Have you ever utilized your personal blog in this way and what were the results? Have you ever hired anyone based on what you saw on their blog?

And obviously if you look at my sites and have design notes you want to give me feel free. I'm all about improvement and I really have no feelings. So go nuts.

Professional Writing Program

jschu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:45:43 -0800

Can you recommend a great professional writing certificate program? I am looking for a post-graduate professional writing certificate program that will help qualify me as a technical writer or copy editor. Anywhere in the US or Canada is fine, and I would prefer to study somewhere that has a bit of prestige. I'm not interested in online programs.

How do I break into writing nonfiction books?

jonp72 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:42:53 -0800

My dream is to write nonfiction books, but I have more book ideas than I know what to do with. Does anybody have any advice on how to find an agent or even just somebody knowledgeable about the publishing business who could give some good advice about which book ideas would work and which ideas would fall flat? How does one get past the query letter stage, when you have multiple outlines and chapters and book ideas, but you don't have a finished book?

Too old to make it in TV writing?

lunasol — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:30:22 -0800

I want to write for TV. I'm 31. Is this impossible? After 6 years working on political campaigns, it's time for a career change. During this post-campaign period of unemployment, I have been writing A LOT (something I used to do almost compulsively), remembering how much I love it, and thinking about trying to write for TV.

I've been reading up: blogs (Jane Epsenson, Lee Goldberg and Lisa Klink have been particularly helpful), the TV Writer.com forums, other questions here on the green. I've started working on spec scripts for some of my favorite series.

I've read in more than one place that one shouldn't even think about moving to LA and pursuing this if you're over 30. However, this seems to be mostly for sitcoms or other comedy writing - I'm mostly interested in dramas.

I know there are a bunch of Mefites out there who write for TV - what say you? I definitely understand that this would involve several years, at least, working in the trenches. I know that my first career won't help me get a job in this industry, but I do think the skills and lessons I learned on campaigns (discretion, negotiation, the importance of working your way up) would help me once I got that first entry level job.

Also, I definitely understand that there will always be naysayers out there, and if I really have the talent and passion I should just go for it anyway, but I do want to go into it with open eyes, understanding the odds.

How do I know how good a writer I am?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:56:45 -0800

How do I know how good a writer I am? I'm currently attending a community college for financial reasons, and as a holding pattern because I'm in the "career confusion" stage of college life. I've always thought of myself as a fairly good writer, and I get extremely positive feedback from my professors on my papers (including one who dragged me by my collar to the honors office). It's also something I enjoy quite a lot; I don't take a huge interest in literature, but I'm a great enthusiast of factual and opinion writing both as a reader and a writer.

So naturally journalism, or something in that area, has caught my interest as a potential career direction. But it's one of many options, and it's not by any means a field which is guaranteed to put me somewhere fulfilling and interesting unless I reach a substantial level of skill and accomplishment. I'd be little happier reporting on town hall meetings for a small newspaper than as a janitor. So, then, what can I do other than listening to the feedback of my teachers and friends to get a feel for my potential in this field? Just to address one of the more obvious answers in advance, my college's paper is written at a high school level; I doubt I would find much in the way of valuable feedback from getting involved there.

I suspect that a lot of you will want to answer along the lines of, "you should decide on a career based on what stimulates and fulfills you the most, not based on your apparent skill," but I've been torn for years between several things which are just on the cusp of being career-worthy obsessions. Having a good understanding of where my talents lie is definitely an important element of this decision.

Thanks in advance for your inevitably awesome answers. (It's AskMe, after all.)

Technology writers also get free goodies, too.

SansPoint — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:52:05 -0800

I love to write. I love technology. How do I get started in writing about technology? While trying to think about just what the hell I can do with my English degree and a fascination with computers, gadgets, gizmos, and other shiny things with buttons that go beep, I think I would like to become a technology writer. How can I make it happen? Should I start soliciting myself to places like Gizmodo or Engadget? Try for something in the (drying) print media? Go freelance?

Help get me on the way, Ask MeFi!

I want to put words in the mouths of politicians

orange swan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:11:24 -0800

I would like to start working as a speech or letter writer for a political/government office. What advice do you have for me on how to best go about this? In terms of existing qualifications and experience, I have a B.A. in English, a community college diploma in publishing, a handful of college certificates (one in desktop publishing, the others in unrelated things), and I've spent my entire career so far (14.5 years) working as an editor in various publishing companies in Toronto. I have a book review website with something like 40 book reviews on it to offer a sample of my writing skills. My level of competency in the French language... eh bien, c'est juste triste. I'm not very open to relocation.

Of course the answer is likely to be "bone up on current affairs and apply already" but perhaps there is more I could do to better my chances and/or one of you works at Queen's Park and has an insider perspective. (I have a friend who's spent her career working in various ministries of the Ontario government and I've asked her to ask her contacts for advice.)

Hive mind, please let your sweet, honeyed words of wisdom flow.

Ne'er-do-well needs a job. Bit terrified.

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:51:33 -0800

Never really worked before. Soon to be single mother. Need career. Told I can write well. What can I do? I'm in my 30s but I've never been in the working world. I'm in the process of leaving my severely alcoholic husband. We have a very young child. I don't need a job tomorrow, but relying on alimony for the rest of my life is not a great idea.

I have never wanted a career. I have no idea what to do.

I have maybe 35% of a BA, and I defaulted on my student loans so loans are not an option now. There is an outside chance that with a great deal of good luck with the alimony, generosity from my parents, etcetera, I might be able to go back to school part-time in the years between now and when my child starts school, but I've got no idea what I might study.

Over the years I have complained to counsellors, to a widely published advice columnist, to a friend who works full-time as a writer, to all manner of people, about being unemployable. The answer has always been a scoffing one: but that's ridiculous; you write so well. Anybody who can write as well as you isn't unemployable.

Work-averse as I am, I'm up to doing what's necessary to get myself ready to generate a respectable, stable income for my daughter. But I have no idea where to start. I have to stress here that I have absolutely nothing to put on a resume. No formal volunteer work, nothing. Over the years I've dabbled in all sorts of dilettantish unpaid stuff, but nothing has stuck. I have no experience, no qualifications.

I have no idea what to do with the endless "But you can write; of course you can work" "answer" to this. Even my father threw that at me, which gave me pause. Writing skills and 95c will get me a bus ticket, so far as I can see it. The comments are based on things like letters and internet postings, not a salable or formal body of work. I have thought lately about putting a portfolio together, but I'm struggling with it, and have no idea what I might do with a finished portfolio.

Perhaps there are a few college courses I can take that would qualify me to be a particular type of hack?

The writing aside, what sorts of things involve a relatively short and cheap training period resulting in relatively well-paid and stable employment? I don't expect to like work a lot, so won't be disappointed if it's not terribly pleasant. 'Respectability' is important for reasons I can't quite explain. And I want to give my daughter a nice home, but I have no great lust for money; an ideal job would be one I don't have to work full-time at to get by.

I suspect it's obvious that I need somewhat dumbed-down help, here. If I did need a job tomorrow I would be in a terrible spot; I have no idea how I'd even get a job at a restaurant at this point. I'm also starting to wonder if I'm wise to find volunteer work asap just to have one line to type on a resume.

Throwaway is mefithrowaway@live.com.

What can an editor teach medical writers?

Wolfster — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:27:38 -0800

What can an editor teach medical writers? I work for a company that has been very generous (in training opportunities). In particular, the editor for our department of mainly medical writers is going to teach a weekly class to improve our writing skills.

The medical writers do have PhDs (basic sciences) but not a lot of writing experience. Furthermore, most of us are writing material that is in a new area of expertise and unlike material we have previously written. For example, much of the current content we write and develop is in the format of a peer reviewed journal article for Lancet, NEJM, and summarizes a clinical trial.

My goal is to be able to learn from the editor how to improve our writing and more specifically, improve the quality of the article before it even goes through the editorial department. I am fishing for topics/syllabus/things that we should learn as I am supposed to generate a list of topics, and I don’t think I even know what we need to learn.

If you are an editor and work with writers, if you could offer a course, what would you teach the writers? Alternatively, if you are a medical writer, what skills should we learn from the editor? Most of us are also early in our medical writing “careers” (less than a year).

I’m also open to suggestions for other material that you think we can learn or that would further benefit us in our career development. I may request another class, or try to learn material on my own (the content area is oncology but may be expanded to other therapeutic areas). This is a great job because there is always something new to learn – I just don’t know what I should do to improve further. Thanks.

What should I do with my life?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:12:06 -0800

20-something INTP, bored to death in his corporate gig, asks: What should I do with my life? I'm in my mid-20's. I studied philosophy at a very good school. I'm now working in a corporate job that would probably be a great job if I didn't completely hate it. It's well-paying, humane, and I'm surrounded by smart people. I think the problem is just me. I find I'm unable to work hard on stuff that I don't find intrinsically interesting. I get bored quickly, and I'm not motivated enough by money or approval to overcome it. Some people are able to profitably rent out their minds; I'm not.

I spend most of my time reading papers on the Internet, dwelling on philosophical, social, and scientific problems, and writing lengthy emails to friends and acquaintances about Big Ideas. I don't purport to claim any of this is productive or valuable. But what's clear is I'm not a good fit for my employers, my employer isn't a good fit for me, and I'm just wasting everyone's time and money. It's been this way in my last two or three jobs as well. The stuff I'm good at -- deep thinking, complicated problem solving, coming up with new ideas and working out their implications -- just doesn't seem to overlap much with the job requirements of most jobs.

The question is what to do instead. I've applied to law school for the fall and have gotten into some great programs. I think I'd be good at law. I'm an analytical thinker and I actually take pleasure in working through dense thickets of language. But I'm afraid if I wind up in law, I'll run into the same problems I face in my current job, only worse: I'll be stuck in an office all day (and all night), working on problems I don't find interesting, wishing I could just write and think and work on interesting problems instead. I don't know though -- if I totally hate the practice of law (I'm pretty sure I'll like law school), I could always practice for a few years, pay off my loans, then get out, with a lot more "options" available to me than I have now.

Alternatively, writing/journalism and academia both seem like decent choices. At least with those, I could write, think, and have a lot more control over my work day and the projects I pursue. But they both have their drawbacks: while I'm not out to get rich, I don't look forward to a life of instability, unease, and relative penury that seem to await many people in those fields. I do value security and comfort.

As you can see, I also tend to talk myself out of things. I'm a thinker and an over-thinker. In the process of trying to figure everything out, I just wind up taking the path of least resistance. Hence my current situation. So, before I plunge $180k into debt, please advise me: what should I do with my life?

Total writing noob.

Metroid Baby — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:31:17 -0800

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Always wanted… but never actually worked towards it, so I have no writing-specific experience or training. I’d like to transition to a career that somehow involves writing, but I’m not sure how I can get my foot in the door. The details: I have a bachelor’s degree in art from a well-respected liberal arts college. When I started college, I had every intent of majoring in English, but it was nearly impossible to get into the tiny writing classes, and I just drifted off on a different track. I’ve been out of school for six years and held mostly admin assistant-style jobs since then—nothing really resembling a career. Currently, I work in advertising, though my position is nothing particularly exciting. I’m looking for a new job. Though I’ve been looking for positions similar to my current one, it’s really not a career path I’m excited about.

Writing, however, is something I could get excited about. I don’t need to write Great American Novels or New Yorker columns; I’d probably enjoy writing frothy copy for catalogs and potato chip bags. I consider myself a good writer: I can express my thoughts clearly, I have a solid intuitive grasp of grammar and usage, and I’ve had good feedback from friends who have read some of my writing. I’m also the kind of person who gets worked up over "definately" and pronouns without antecedents, so I think I would do well as an editor or proofreader.

However, I have absolutely no "real" experience in writing or editing – nothing that I would feel confident listing on a resume. The best I have, sadly, are intermittent blog entries. This lack of experience has proven to be my downfall: a while back, a friend recommended me for an editorial assistant position; though I interviewed well, it was obvious they were looking for someone with writing experience already on their resume, and the job ultimately went to someone with an English degree. Bascially, I’ve run into the classic the-chicken-or-the-egg employment paradox.

I’d appreciate any practical suggestions you may have, both on types of jobs that might get me started down this path, and on things I can do to develop my writing, particularly if they’ll look good to a potential employer (or publisher, should I choose that route). I know next to nothing about careers in writing—even previous AskMes on similar subjects are a bit over my head—so no advice is too obvious for me.

Thanks in advance!

Can I work as a writer or medical liaison at a corporation, and pursue freelance journalism, simultaneously? Or would this be a conflict of interest?

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:10:34 -0800

Can I work as a writer or medical liaison at a corporation, and pursue freelance journalism, simultaneously? Or would this be a conflict of interest? I recently finished a Ph.D. in biomedical research. I want to move into a career than involves more writing, as this is one of my stronger skills, and I find it more enjoyable than laboratory work. I am looking at corporate work as a medical writer or liason (pharma or medical writing,) versus mass media journalism.

I have already done some freelance journalism, and worked a short stint at a major news outlet, so I have some contacts in this field. However, due to a chronic medical issue which came up during grad school, my doctors have advised me to make sure I get solid group plan coverage. (It's mental health/depression, hence the need for *solid* (complete) coverage)
Thus, I'm hesitant to just become a freelancer now, especially I have little to no savings from being in school for so long.

Medical writing, for instance at a large pharmaceutical or medical devices co., seems to be a good solution in that I can combine writing with the benefit perks... but I also like creativity and investigation, hence the pull towards journalism.

So, can I work at a corporation and pursue freelance journalism, simultaneously, or would this be a conflict of interest?

Additionally, how would it look if I went to a corporate job for a while, then tried to change tracks to journalism? Would I be welcomed back into the fold, or looked upon suspiciously?

Thanks, and direct contact can be made at: anonymousnic@gmail.com

OK, I'm a freelance writer. Now what?

hifiparasol — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:36:36 -0800

How can I parlay the sudden improvement of my freelance writing resume into career advancement? Since I moved to Los Angeles late last year, I've been trying to get some contracts, and about three weeks ago, my efforts came through in spades: I wound up with an ongoing series of projects doing search-engine-optimization copywriting for a web development firm. I also got work doing a series of podcast scripts for a travel writing content company (via, of all things, craigslist). And I was hired as one of the two bloggers (I did most of the actual blogging) for a big arts festival in Toronto. Needless to say, things are kind of working out pretty well.

But I'm hoping you freelancer MeFites out there might help me out with figuring out my next few steps. I've been working on turning my feeble website into a clearinghouse for my work (I've also got a few short films, but without links from the front page), but my design skills aren't spectacular (if you look at my site via my profile, it'll be sadly obvious) and I don't really have the time (or, right now, the desire) to learn enough to make it kick ass the way I want it to. And aside from doctoring up my website, I don't really know how else to make a decent portfolio when my work is so multimedia. I've got some great stuff going on right now, but it's not taking up enough of my time that I couldn't take on more work, and I feel like now I'm in a prime position to really start selling myself.

(The travel writing is great, but probably isn't as lucrative in the long run as the SEO writing, and for now I'd like to focus on whatever can make me more money.. But that doesn't mean I don't want to continue doing it, or wouldn't love to make a great career out of travel writing. I'm just aware of the financial realities.)

I hope this question's not too vague. If it is, just read it this way: My freelance writing portfolio has suddenly bulked up substantially, and I'd like to know how I can best use that to my advantage in advancing my (new) career.

(I've also checked out these excellent AskMe posts.)

What further education do I need to be taken seriously as I re-enter the workforce?

misha — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:56:26 -0800

I've been out of work for a number of years, by choice, staying at home to raise my kids. I have a Bachelor's in Education with a minor in English from back in 19mumblemumbleyear, and even if it were up-to-date, my life has taken a different turn, and I don't feel that teaching is for me any more. With this kind of background, if I don't teach, I am pretty much, as one of my English teachers once put it, an "educated un-employable." What further education do I need to be taken seriously as I re-enter the workforce? I have become proficient with both Windows and Mac applications, not just the wimpy Office suite stuff, but how to illustrate with Photoshop, a little bit of HTML, CSS style sheets and coding, etc. I pick things up quickly and I am constantly trying to learn more. This year, I started blogging and have enjoyed it immensely, and over the last few years I have written short stories and columns that have been published, a couple nationally. I have been looking at my particular skill sets, and feel that writing in some capacity is both my passion and my most marketable skill as I try to re-enter the workforce. I have considered technical writing or copy-writing as a possible career path for me. I recognize that I need to work on making myself more employable. What coursework should I pursue to prepare me for these positions? Should I go for a graduate degree, and if I do, which field would be most relevant? Are there other choices involving writing that I am missing?

I've got the will and the time to write - but about what?

nanojath — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:42:47 -0800

Am I crazy to think about trying to find a field or topic to write about purely based on potential popularity? If not, how? Extended version: writing is the thing I've done most consistently in my life. I feel like I'm okay at it, and could get better if I had more framing and constraints (I tend to ramble in circles, I need clear goals to stay focused and be concise. Cruel jokes about this post to follow). For a while in my life now, I'm in a stage (as a stay at home dad with a manageable part time research gig) that allows for some focus and time on writing as an avocation/maybe vocation?... but I can't decide what to write about. I tried some fiction experiments and that did not go well - I didn't enjoy the process or the product. The form of essays and factual exposition feel most natural to me and I tend to enjoy them the most. But what I've written has sort of meandered around a bunch of different topics with no cohesion or thematic unity.

I'm attracted to the idea of creating a regular writing space, like a blog, and actually trying to promote it, build an audience, and monetize it. But I don't feel a strong attraction to a particular topic. But I question if I'm cut out for popular. I look at things like Digg or del.ico.us' top links of the day and think about writing the next "101 top baseless platitudes to distract you from the need to pull your thumb out" and try to imagine writing that kind of gack and just, ugh. I'm very interested in science (I got a BA in chemistry in the early 90s and follow current events in science), alternative energy, new media, and self-publication/distribution. But these all seem so broad and vague.

So first: in theory (one theory, at least), trying to play to any hypothetical crowd will merely breed falseness and mediocrity. You have to create from the wellspring of genuine fascination. True or false? If I don't feel any special affinity to a subject calling me, should I try to fake it or just give it up?

Or if I reject that, and commit to trying to pick a likely topic or shtick, where to start? How to judge what might go over well, how to narrow it down? I'm clearly destined for a niche rather than a mainstream, but with seemingly infinite potential niches, how do you settle on something with concrete boundaries?

Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based]

dcbarker — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:22:38 -0800

CareerFilter: Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based] - LONG POST WARNING! Dear AskMeFi,

First let me say hi - this is my first question / post on MeFi (though I have been commenting recently). I'm sorry in advance for the long post but it might help provide a little context.

I'm a 20 year old student in my final semester of my BSc (Hons) Computer Network Management and Design course. I spent much last year in a work placement with a large multinational energy company. I worked in the Information Security and Telecoms departments on a healthy mix of large projects and self-led work. After completing my placement I started to question if this was what I wanted to do every day. I was good at the job and I learned a lot. I impressed the bosses so much that I took charge of a number of smaller projects. However I found myself wondering if I was really enjoying myself.

I've gone through a thousand jobs in my head and can't find anything that I think I would love doing every day. At the same time, on the side, I've been toying with ideas for blogs. Nothing that would make me any money but it would give my a creative outlet I have been desperately seeking. Thinking about it recently I have been drawn to magazine or new media journalism. It would be the creative outlet I need. It would be something I think I'd love doing. It would even let me exercise my tech savvy (it would be in the computing / IT / gadgets domain). My degree and passion for everything IT would not go to waste.

I am not looking to get rich - at the moment I want to pay off my mounting student debt. I do have a lot of drive and can see myself competing for Editor in Chief one day, but for now I just want to make enough money to get by and repay my debt. I am currently looking for a job (probably some flexible retail job while I complete my thesis for the next 3 months) so ideally I'd like to start soon or start slowly, working around my next job. I've bought a few books on writing and plan to hone my skills.

My question is - for anyone who knows anything about journalism - am I suited to this type of job?
If so, how do I get into it? (I'm in the UK). How much money would I expect to make? I have this preconception that creative or journalistic work is somewhat unstable unless you are really accomplished - is this true?

Please, any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! And again, I'm sorry for such a long post - I wanted to be sure you had enough context to help if you can.

Thanks MeFi!

Dave, UK

Can I get a job as a writer without a degree?

saileyn — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:18:59 -0800

I'm 23 and working as a sales assistant/helpdesk support/office admin/web designer/receptionist in my hometown. How do I go about getting a paying job as a writer, without formal qualifications? I've been working in this role for over 3 years and getting frustrated. My daily tasks are mundane and repetitive and, as our staff consists of five people (including my boss and myself), there's not a whole lot of room for growth. The low paying conditions of my town are terrible; a similar job in Melbourne (forty minutes by train) pays double my current salary. I’m planning on finding another position very soon, hopefully as a writer, or at least as something that will take me a step in the right direction to becoming one.

I have always planned to become a full-time writer. I worked hard to get excellent scores at high school (even taking on an extra subject) and got an awesome place at university in a professional writing course. Unfortunately due to financial difficulties I had to leave after first semester and have been in full-time employment ever since... As much as I'd love to, my partner and I have done our sums and there's no way finance-wise I can go back to university full or even part time.

Is there a way to get a position as a writer somewhere without a bachelor degree? Everywhere I look it says: 3 year bachelor degree essential. Could I apply for a position and hope my folio knocks a prospective employer off their feet and they don’t even notice/care I’m not “qualified”? Or will that just annoy them, and waste their time?

I've seen a lot of references to getting internships here on MF, but as far as I can tell, in Australia you have to be enrolled in some form of university course to be eligible. Cadetships at newspapers etc. are also aimed at school-leavers or graduates and have had their intake for next year anyway.

For those working as writers: What path did you take? Did you start in a company in a different position and work your way in? Or have you done the degree in order to secure a graduate position?

Any suggestions on how I may be able to get myself on the right track would be absolutely wonderful. Thanks in advance to all of you, MetaFilter is an amazing and supportive community.

Ink-Stained Wretch-to-be

Miko — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:07:16 -0800

Career change advice sought! Help me make the switch to editing/publishing. The background: I'm presently employed as Director of Ed. in a mid-size history museum, and have spent the bulk of my career in museum program administration. After recent soul-searching, I've decided that I'd rather manage content more and people less. I'd like to work more with words, I enjoy finite projects with deadlines, and I also would prefer to work more independently - perhaps with a small team, but with greater direct control over project outcomes than I presently have.

My inclinations seem to lead me in the direction of publishing, media, editing, etc.

My skill set: I have some background in the world of print media, but it's mostly from some time ago. Through college, I worked for a large daily paper in various roles --reporter, feature writer, proofer. I come from a family of journalists, and edited my college paper as well. It's been more than ten years, though, since I was employed in that field. I have done some freelance writing since them, and will be doing more this year, so I should be building a fresher clip file. However, I know almost nothing about book/textbook publishing and other related fields. I'd be interested in learning about the types of jobs that exist.

Through my career, I've built up strong knowledge of American history and literature, cultural history, arts, music, foodways, and traditions. I've done quite a bit of writing within the museum field -- promotional literature, research summaries, grant narratives, and curricula.

So at this point, my questions are extremely general. What varieties of jobs are available in editing and publishing? Should I be looking at educational publishers (given my background)? At what level might I be employable? What are the important web sites and job boards for people in publishing? Should I be considering web content developers? How can I show transferable skills? If you do work in publishing, what do you like/not like about it? What cautionary words do you have for me? All feedback encouraged. I'm at sqaure one with this idea, so assume I have not yet done any major research.

Also, I live 1 hour from Boston. I'm willing to commute up to an hour or so, but would rather not relocate. It seems as though there should be a fair number of opportunities in this region, but I'm aware. It might mean thinking outside the obvious sources of employment.

How do I make the transition to becoming a professional feature story and/or personal column writer

mirileh — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 02:13:52 -0800

I want to make the transition into professional writing, specifically feature story and/or personal column writing and I'm not sure which steps to take make this dream come true. As of yet I'm not ready to go out there. I still have to work on defining my style and area of writing to know exactly what I want to write. I could also use more knowledge about the world of journalism to feel more confident and have an idea of how to get published.

I have a feeling that going back to school to study journalism is not the right step for me now (I'm 36 and have a law degree). The emphasis there is usually on news reporting (which I don't want to go into) and I'm scared of losing my own style and point of view in the standardising which is part of news reporting.

I'm looking for a good writing course. I was thinking of some sort of assignment driven course which would take me through the steps of writing a few pieces or help me shape my column without aspiring to show me how to do it the "right way" but letting me feel how it's done and find my own voice (though I could use guidelines in research so I won't overdo it). I could also do with a course about the industry and how it works. I'd be grateful for recommendations. Online or correspondence courses or would especially be appreciated (I'm writing this from abroad).

thanks!

Rreelance writing and resumes.

COBRA! — Tue, 22 Jun 2004 14:45:49 -0800

Inside, there's a lengthy question about freelance writing and resumes. I've worked at a string of office-type day jobs for several years while doing freelance writing on the side. An editorial spot too good to pass up has just opened up in my town, and I'm hoping to sliiiide right into it. They want to see a resume, though, and I'm not sure how to approach that… my existing resume is completely centered on the string of office jobs I'm trying to escape, relating a string of museum administrative jobs with no reference to writing. But my cover letter and writing samples make it clear that I have writing experience. Should I send in the resume in its current state, seeing as that's my honest-to-god work history, and count on the letter and samples to establish my word cred? Or should I gin up a new resume that doesn't emphasize all of the museum admin, but instead lists my writing credits? And if I do that, what's the etiquette for listing freelance gigs on a resume, since you're never actually an employee?

How does one become a freelance writer?

Zosia Blue — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 12:46:25 -0800

How does one become a freelance writer? I've written for money before, but it's all been for assignments that fell in my lap. How do I begin to seek out places to write for? Do I just put together a portfolio and submit to various publications? Any tips would be appreciated, as I'm basically starting from square one. I should mention my previous writing gigs (though far and few between) have been in the arts -- music, theatre, etc. I'm also looking to start at a local scale with local publications, in case that wasn't clear.