So you want to be a writer…

Aspiring writers reach out on LinkedIn asking for advice on how to land their first job. I am flattered , but I am no expert. My advice is a very common one, “Build your own portfolio”. But I don’t give it for the reason you think…

I believe you should build your own portfolio because to do so, you will have to… WRITE!

And only by writing will you really discover if you ENJOY doing it.

Start by writing about something you love. Set a routine and stick to it, dedicating a few hours every week. At this stage, don’t worry too much about creativity There is a more important point to consider.

How do you feel?

– Do you like weaving words, sentences, paragraphs together? Or does the grind of typing, editing, re-typing drive you up the proverbial wall ?

– Do you write and rewrite a complicated bit because you WANT it to be clear to your readers—whether real, potential, or imaginary? Or do you focus solely on yourself, with little concern about what your audience may ignore or not understand?

– Do you enjoy making complex ideas simple for others? Or do you struggle to explain intricate concepts in an accessible way?

– Do you keenly dive into the literature when you miss some key info? Or does the idea make you itchier than your aunt’s Christmas sweater ?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that you must refrain from looking for your first writing role until you have these questions answered.

But before embarking on a long and often gruelling job search, you should try to answer a simple, and yet crucial, question:

can you picture yourself writing for a living, day in and day out?