With the internet growing at an estimated 65% every year, more and more writers are turning to the web to help launch their career in writing. Before you join the ever-growing number of online writers, here are a few do’s and don’ts to consider:
The Writing Do’s:
1. Do join a writing community to find people that share your same passion for writing. The initial fear you may experience is a small price to pay for the feedback, encouragement, friends and following you will make online.
2. Do edit your writing. Too many writers are afraid to edit their poem, article or story because they feel it somehow takes away from the raw emotion. Editing is simply a tool used to turn your art into a masterpiece. Use it to make your writing the best it can be.
3. Do use proper grammar. You may not know the difference between who and whom but many writers, readers and editors do. As a writer, it’s important that you have a solid grasp on grammar. Don’t be afraid to buy a book or two to brush up on it.
4. Do pay attention to your spelling. There is nothing more unprofessional than reading a poem or story filled with spelling errors. Every word processor has a spell-check (as do most writing sites) so make use of them before posting your writing online.
5. Do research the subject you are writing about. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but if yours is based on zero knowledge of the subject, it is not very interesting or useful to readers. Make sure you know what you are talking about before putting it down on paper.
6. Do take time to work on presentation. Make sure your stanza’s/paragraphs are neat and spaced out. Boldface any sub-titles and select a font face, size and color that is readable.
7. Do read and review writing by other writers. You can learn a great deal through reading and reviewing, not to mention, the review is often reciprocated.
8. Do develop a better understanding of the different writing types and genres so that you can accurately classify your own writing. Perhaps the difference between an article and column doesn’t mean anything to you, but it does to most writers and editors and will simply shine an unprofessional light on you if they find your article listed as a column or your short-story listed under poetry.
9. Do read up on copyright laws. The moment you create a piece of writing, you own the copyright to it but it is a good idea to register it with your federal Copyright Office. Make sure you have at least a basic understanding of the copyright laws in your country.
10. Do write often! As they say, practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you will get.
The Writing Don’ts:
1. Don’t plagiarize writing (fully or in part) and attempt to pass it off as your own. It is not only in poor taste to steal someone else’s intellectual property but it’s also illegal and can lead to law suits and other legal action against you. If you want to be a writer, then write!
2. Don’t ignore punctuation. Since the reader cannot hear your voice or see your facial expression, proper punctuation helps clarify the meaning in your sentences and also instructs the reader when to pause or stop. With such fierce competition amongst writers online, it can make all the difference in your writing.
3. Don’t assume every writer on the internet wants to steal your writing. The vast majority of writers take pride in their writing and are looking to make a name for themselves and showcase their own writing (not steal yours). Warning/threatening other writers against this without proof that the thought even entered their mind screams “I am an amateur”.
4. Don’t review writing recklessly. Most writing sites require you to post a certain number of reviews or earn points in order to write on the site and so you will often be faced with the challenge of reviewing poetry and other writing pieces. Do so respectfully, sensitively and always try to offer constructive advice. You should comment on the quality, style and content of the writing and steer clear of critiquing the author as a person.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your own writing style or even try writing from a different point of view. You won’t know what works for you unless you try it.
6. Don’t be afraid to write a bad poem/article/story. We are all guilty of at least one of those at some point and it’s usually a blessing in disguise. You can only grow through mistakes.
7. Don’t get discouraged by criticism. When exposing yourself online, you will most likely come into criticism every now and then. Not everyone will love everything your write and that is okay. Learn to take criticism with a grain of salt. Take the parts that you feel are constructive and can help improve your writing and disregard the rest.
8. Don’t be too verbose in your writing, especially when writing poetry. The essence of a good poem is the ability to convey a deep and memorable message using a short amount of words. Anyone can describe the beauty of the sun using a full page of text but only a good writer can do it in 6 lines. The same can be said about stories and articles–no one wants to read the never-ending story. Get the point across and move on!
9. Don’t ignore style. Showcase your own voice and personality without alienating your reader. Research various writing styles made famous by published writers by reading articles, novels and poems. It is through reading and observing that you will be able to learn and develop your own style that might someday make YOU famous.
10. Don’t forget to have fun!
You can learn more about writing as well as share your own poems, articles and stories in our free online writing community. Network with other writers and get honest feedback on your writing.