You know how grown-ups are always reading things online, on their phones, tablets or computers? Well, somebody has to write all those things for them to read. And that somebody could be you!
Becoming a professional article writer is one of the neatest jobs around. As a professional article writer, your job is to craft all kinds of cool articles and content for websites, blogs, magazines and more.
Sound fun? It really is! Let me explain why this could be your dream job someday.
Who Exactly is a Professional Article Writer?
Okay, first things first – what does a professional article writer actually do?
Well, their main task is to create all sorts of written content that helps teach people new things or entertains them. This could be:
- Articles that share advice, tips and information (like this one!)
- Entertaining stories or fictional tales
- Descriptive articles that paint pictures with words
- Persuasive writing that encourages people to try a product or service
- And so much more!
Basically, if you see any sort of writing online or in magazines, a professional article writer probably crafted that content. Cool, right?
As a professional article writer, you’d get to exercise your creativity every single day while helping others learn or have fun through your words. What’s better than that?
Plus, you’d get to write about pretty much any topic that interests you – whether that’s sports, video games, science, movies, animals, history, or anything else you can think of. The options are endless!
What Skills Do You Need? (Don’t Worry, You Can Learn Them!)
To become a stellar professional article writer, there are some key skills you’ll want to pick up. But don’t stress – you can totally learn and master these skills over time. The main ones are:
Great writing abilities This one’s kind of obvious – you’ll need to be a talented writer to make your articles shine. But skills like vocabulary, grammar, spelling and structuring good paragraphs can absolutely be learned.
Research expertise Before writing articles, you have to really know your stuff on that topic. So you’ll get great at researching and learning new information.
Creativity and “idea machine” skills The best writers are creative idea machines who can constantly come up with fresh new article concepts. Over time, you’ll build this very valuable skill.
Time management Meeting deadlines is crucial. With practice, you’ll get super awesome at managing your time and schedule efficiently.
Does This Sound Like Your Dream Job Yet?
I know what you’re thinking: “This professional article writer gig sounds pretty sweet so far!” And you’re absolutely right – it’s one of the coolest jobs around, especially for kids who love writing, learning new things, and being creative.
But there’s more! Here are some other reasons why being a professional article writer is so awesome:
You Can Work from Anywhere One of the biggest perks of this job is that you can do it from wherever you want – a home office, a cozy coffee shop, maybe even a fort in your bedroom! As long as you have a computer and an internet connection, you can get writing.
Your Writing Reaches Tons of People With your articles published online and in magazines, your writing will be seen and read by thousands (or maybe millions!) of people all over the world. How rewarding is that?
You’re Always Learning New Things To write about different topics, you’ll constantly be researching and learning new facts and information. Talk about an exciting way to grow your knowledge!
You Can Make Really Good Money While beginning writers typically start out making $20-30 per article, established professional writers can earn $300+ per piece! The more experience you gain, the more you can make. And best of all…you get paid to use your creativity and do something you truly enjoy – writing!
How to Become a Professional Article Writer
Does this sound like the perfect job for you? Then you’ll want to start preparing now to become a professional article writer someday. Here are some tips:
- Read as Much as You Can The more you read, the better writer you’ll become. Read articles, books, magazines – anything and everything you can get your hands on. It’ll expand your vocabulary and show you how great writing looks.
- Write Every Single Day Practice really does make perfect when it comes to writing. Start a journal, write short stories, craft descriptions of your day – whatever gets you writing consistently. It’ll make you a pro!
- Learn About Proper Writing Techniques Things like structuring good paragraphs, avoiding passive voice, showing instead of telling – these writing techniques are invaluable. Reading books on writing skills can teach you the essentials.
- Never Stop Being Curious The best writers have insatiable curiosity about different topics. Always keep learning new things – it’ll make you a better researcher and writer.
So if you love writing and want an awesome job working with words and ideas every day…well, becoming a professional article writer could be the gig for you!
Ready to get started on this fun career path? Then read on for a full run-down of what it’s REALLY like being a professional article writer.
The Day-to-Day Life of a Professional Article Writer
To give you an inside look into this cool career, let’s walk through a typical day as a professional article writer:
8:00 AM – Wake Up & Map Out Your Day After waking up, you’ll check your schedule and make a quick plan for what needs to get done today. Maybe you need to finish drafting an article on skateboarding tricks by noon. And you’ve got a team call at 2pm to discuss ideas for a client’s eco-blog. Knowing your must-do tasks for the day is key.
9:00 AM – Research & Outline With your game plan set, you’ll spend the morning hours researching and outlining that skateboarding article. You’ll read other articles and watch videos on skating tricks, taking detailed notes. Then you’ll organize all that info into an outline to follow as you start writing.
12:00 PM – Draft that Article! It’s writing time! You’ll settle in with a hot drink and snack to crank out a first draft of the skateboarding tricks article, following that outline you prepped earlier. Getting words down is hard work, but you’re a pro at transforming information into an educational and entertaining piece.
2:30 PM – Join an Editorial Call After a lunch break, you’ll hop on a call with the editorial team you write for. You’ll all discuss upcoming content ideas and goals for that eco-blog. Your brainstorming skills kick into gear as you collaboratively plan out a monthly editorial calendar.
4:00 PM – Research & Pitch New Ideas This afternoon is all about developing fresh article ideas to pitch to other clients and publications. You’ll spend a few hours researching a topic that interests you – like new sustainable technology – then craft a compelling pitch to share your article idea with relevant websites and magazines.
6:30 PM – Call it a Day After logging a solid day’s work, you’ll shut down the computer for some well-deserved leisure time. Being a professional article writer isn’t like having a normal 9-to-5 job where you’re stuck at the same desk all day. That’s the beauty of this career – you have the flexibility to work wherever and whenever you’re feeling most productive and creative!
And that’s a “day in the life” as a professional article writer! It’s engaging and dynamic work that lets you constantly flex your writing and creative muscles. While no job is perfect, you’d be hard-pressed to find many careers as interesting and rewarding as being a professional article writer.
The Awesome Benefits of Being a Professional Article Writer
Beyond just getting to write cool articles all day, this career comes with some super neat benefits and perks:
Benefit #1: Ability to Work as a “Digital Nomad”
One of the biggest draws of being a professional article writer? Having the ability to be a digital nomad and work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. That freedom and flexibility is huge.
Many writers will spend summers writing from cozy coffee shops in Italy, winters crafting articles from a beach bungalow in Thailand, and everywhere in between. How incredible is the thought of traveling the world while making a living as a writer?
For a lot of people, one of the worst parts of a 9-to-5 office job is being confined to the same cubicle or desk all day every day. As an article writer, you can say goodbye to that cage. Work from new and inspiring locales every week if you want!
Benefit #2: Constantly Learning New Things
Another awesome benefit of this job is how much you’ll be expanding your knowledge and expertise on different topics. As a writer, you can’t just scratch out an article on nuclear physics or cryptocurrency out of nowhere.
You need to really dive deep into researching and understanding those topics first. So you’ll constantly find yourself immersed in learning all about new and fascinating subjects. Few other careers provide such an opportunity to essentially get paid to learn.
In today’s fast-changing world, being a lifelong learner is extremely valuable. As a professional article writer, that ongoing education comes baked right into the job itself!
Benefit #3: Build Your Personal Brand & Portfolio
The work you create as a professional article writer also allows you to build a powerful personal brand and writing portfolio that can open doors to all kinds of other opportunities down the road.
Imagine getting your articles published on big-time publications and having thousands (or millions!) of people reading your work. That level of exposure and those writing samples are a dream for writers.
Plus, having a strong portfolio of published articles shows off your diverse expertise and writing abilities. Think of all the cool gigs you could land – from book deals to paid public speaking opportunities and more.
Many professional writers launch their own blogs and personal brands too. That expands their reach even further while letting them build a loyal audience around the topics they’re most passionate about.
Benefit #4: A Career That Exercises Your Creativity Daily
For those who value creativity, few careers out there allow you to flex your creative muscles on a daily basis quite like being a professional article writer. Think about it:
Every single day, your “job” is coming up with fresh new ideas and cool new ways to convey information through writing. That constant idea generation and creative expression is so mentally stimulating – the opposite of being stuck in an unchallenging daily routine.
Not only do you get paid to be creative through your writing itself, but you’ll also have opportunities to exercise your creative skills through things like:
- Crafting persuasive article titles and headlines
- Designing calls-to-action or click-worthy introductions
- Choosing vivid examples and metaphors to illustrate points
- Structuring content flow and narrative in unique ways
- And so much more
For free-thinking creatives, it’s hard to find a more fulfilling career outlet for your ideas than writing!
Benefit #5: Join a Growing & Always-Needed Industry
Beyond all the other awesome benefits, one major perk of being a professional article writer is tapping into a growing and always-needed industry – content creation and digital marketing.
It’s no secret that content marketing is more crucial than ever. Every company and brand needs fresh website copy, blogs, videos, ads, and more to capture people’s attention in an increasingly digital and crowded landscape.
But beyond corporate needs, there will always be a demand for educational articles, news reporting, entertaining stories, and other information that needs to be created by talented professional writers.
Basically, you’re leveling up in a career field that has been around forever and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In an ever-changing job market, establishing yourself in a necessary service role like writing is extremely valuable.
Becoming a Professional Article Writer (Step by Step)
Okay, this professional article writer gig is sounding pretty awesome, right? If you’re convinced this could be your dream job, let me walk you through exactly how to become a professional article writer.
Step 1: Identify and Hone Your Writing Niche
The most successful professional writers don’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades. They find a specialized niche or set of niches to become an authority in. So start thinking about what specific topics or types of writing most interest and excite you. Some potential niches could include:
- Industries (e.g. healthcare, finance, technology, travel)
- Skill focus (e.g. creative writing, journalism, copywriting, ghostwriting)
- Publication styles (e.g. blogging, magazines, books, web copy)
Choosing and developing an expertise in 2-3 niches will make you a much stronger professional writer that clients seek out.
Step 2: Learn the Core Writing Skills
Whatever niche(s) you focus on, there are some fundamental skills that ALL great professional writers must hone. Make sure to work on mastering things like:
- Proper grammar and punctuation
- Compelling storytelling and descriptions
- Structuring clear points and arguments
- Conducting thorough research
- Meeting deadlines and time management
Consider taking a writing class, reading instructional books, or finding a writing mentor early on to instill these core competencies.
Step 3: Gain Experience Through Writing Practice
They always say practice makes perfect. And there’s no better way to improve your professional writing chops than…writing! Start a blog to build your portfolio. Join the school newspaper. Complete freelance gigs on sites like Fiverr to rack up experience.
Even if it’s unpaid at first, treat every writing opportunity as a chance to strengthen your skills and learn what works for crafting stellar content. That experience will be invaluable.
Step 4: Build Your Personal Brand as a Writer
As you gain more writing experience, start thinking about your personal brand and how to market yourself as a professional-level writer. Things like creating a portfolio website, developing a social media presence, and establishing a specialty niche all play into this.
The strongest professional writers become known for their unique voice, area of expertise, and the high quality of their work. Building that brand reputation takes time but adds major value.
Step 5: Explore Writing Job Opportunities
With a budding portfolio and personal brand in tow, you’ll be ready to start exploring different job opportunities for professional writers, such as:
- Freelance writing and taking on individual clients
- Joining the in-house writing staff at a company
- Contributing to magazines, websites or other publications
- Self-publishing books or other longer content
Take the time to explore different potential paths and figure out which style of professional writing work is the best fit for your goals and lifestyle.
There’s no one “right” way to make it as a professional article writer. But if you put in the work to develop your skills, experience and personal brand, you’ll have countless opportunities to turn your passion for writing into a fun and fulfilling career!
So if you love writing, prize creativity and crave the freedom to learn about new topics every day…well, start sharpening those writing skills now! A career as a professional article writer could be in your future.
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