Ground Floor - Blogs, Ezines and Social Media

There’s a catch 22 in publishing. You have to be published to get published. Well, that’s not entirely true, but close. Major publishers often want to see a list of publishing credits when you send in submissions, so where do you start?

On the ground floor.

Think in terms of supply and demand.  As traditional publishing sources disappear, more writers are clammering for the limited space that remains. But, while many of these sources are drying up, new ones are emerging. Book reviews are a good example of this media evolution. As many newspapers make cut backs, book reviews are quickly disappearing from their traditional sources. However, there is still a market for book reviews book and most publishers will quickly acknowledge that internet reviews now play a vital role in book sales.

So what does this mean to you?

In the world of traditional print journals, space is valuable real estate. Even good writers can be rejected due to a lack of it. The internet, however, is a vast sea of publishing opportunities.

How should you get started?

First of all, I highly recommend blogging as a way to hoan your talent. It will push you to constantly develop new content ideas–as long as you make an honest attempt to post regularly. Free blog services, like wordpress.com, will not only provide you with a writing platform, but statistics on page views, search engine referrals, and incoming links. Analyzing this information will help you recognize successful writing. Once you’ve mastered the art of blogging, apply as a co-contributor to a more reputable blog. You’ll now have your own blog as a referrence.

Another great place to begin is with the rapidly growing world of ezines. New electronic journals are popping up everyday, and they are all looking for quality content. Start with new publications. Like you, they are trying to build their reputations. Try writing communities like editred.com for new ezine listings and referrals from fellow writers.

Finally, get paid for your writing. Head to social media groups like Associated Content were they will pay up front for unpublished articles and offer you performance bonuses. You won’t get rich working for these websites, but you will earn a little extra cash while gaining valuable experience and a few publishing credits.