I’d say probably so, but your blog doesn’t have to be about writing. Having a blog demonstrates your writing skills, but that doesn’t mean your blog needs to be writing-related. I believe this blog compliments the write-from-home.com website nicely, but if I didn’t run a website for writers I wouldn’t have a “writing blog” per se.
Lots of writers do maintain writing blogs, and they succeed doing it, but with all the other writing blogs on the net, you’d better offer something really special if you expect to get a lot of regular visitors. So, if not writing, what SHOULD freelance writers blog about?
Start a blog on whatever it is you’d like to get paid to write. Want to be a travel writer? Start a travel blog. Want to write on parenting topics? Blog about parenting. Dying to be a food writer? Begin a food blog. Why?
1. When you’re first starting out as a freelance writer, you’ll need to demonstrate to editors or employers that you’re able to write well on your chosen subject. Being able to point to your blog and say “I blog about (whatever subject) at (this address)” makes you look a little more like you mean business than if you don’t have any sample work to show.
2. Blogging jobs are becoming more popular. Why not cash in on a growing market? One of the best ways to break into blogging for someone else is to blog for yourself first. Maintaining your own blog shows those hiring for blogging jobs that you’re capable of blogging and dedicated to the process.
3. A blog gives you daily writing practice. Before I started blogging, I did very little unpaid writing. Aside from the occasional personal creative writing project, I wasn’t sitting around writing just for the sake of writing. If I wasn’t earning a paycheck, I wasn’t picking up the pen — or, rather, the keyboard. Blogging gives writers a reason to write, which means more potential inspiration for paid projects, as well as good practice.
Thinking of starting your own blog?
You might be wondering which blogging platform to choose. Should you choose WordPress.com or Blogger, TypePad or LiveJournal, or should you go another way? Personally, I recommend Blogger, especially if you’re on a budget and/or aren’t tech-savvy. If you’re curious about the benefits of Blogger (in my opinion), feel free to read my post Why Blogger is the Best Blogging Platform for Beginners over at Performancing.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Great information, Amy!
Actually, I hadn’t planned on blogging, but I’ve read that blogging leads to greater assignments.
When I first started “Writing the Cyber Highway”, I thought I’d share more markets than I have. It seems I’ve “fallen into a pattern” of inspirational content.
Oh, and thanks for your previous post “Blogging Jobs - 7 Points for Proposing Blogs to Corporate Clients” on blogging. The encouragement and advice you gave me led to me applying for a blogging gig.
I received a reply not long after I’d applied and apparently the guy checked out my blog. He said my strength was definitely encouraging others and he has something planned for me starting in 2008 (which isn’t that far away!)
Thanks, Amy! I’d probably never have applied if it weren’t for the above mentioned post and your inspiring words ;0)
Smiles,
Michele
Blogs are definitely great for working on one’s craft. But I’ve found that it sometimes gets in the way of writing more “serious” stuff, because I spend too much time on blog posts. Also, there is the pressure of feeling like you need to post something, anything, to keep readers interested.
So, I guess it is important to keep blogging in balance with other goals, which is not always easy to do (for me, anyway).
Thanks for the topic Amy - it looks like you are able to keep things in balance pretty well.
Michele,
That’s great! I’m so glad to hear that. Congratulations.
Dan,
I tend to fall into the black hole sometimes. It really is hard to keep things in balance. I try, but I’m not very good at it.
Please do comment and discuss.
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