[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/how-to-get-started-as-a-digital-writer\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/how-to-get-started-as-a-digital-writer\/","headline":"How to Get Started as a Digital Writer","name":"How to Get Started as a Digital Writer","description":"Writing is an adventure. It\u2019s a never-ending journey; there\u2019s no conceivable start or end, and it continues \u2013 whether unwittingly or not \u2013 through our lives. We start writing at a tender age of five (or even younger if you attended pre-kindergarten sessions), stringing together alphabets in a bid to make sense of the written […]","datePublished":"2020-11-19","dateModified":"2022-04-16","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/#Person","name":"E-lyn Tham","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/","identifier":66,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1605233450225_youth_digital_writer_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1605233450225_youth_digital_writer_featured.jpg","height":838,"width":1600},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/how-to-get-started-as-a-digital-writer\/","about":["Community","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":954,"articleBody":"Writing is an adventure. It\u2019s a never-ending journey; there\u2019s no conceivable start or end, and it continues \u2013 whether unwittingly or not \u2013 through our lives. We start writing at a tender age of five (or even younger if you attended pre-kindergarten sessions), stringing together alphabets in a bid to make sense of the written word. This continues as we get older \u2013 in the form of school assignments, text messages, or even social media posts.Indeed, everyone is \u2013 and can be! \u2013 a writer. The tricky part comes when you look to make a career out of it. And with so many digital writers out there, how can you make your works cut through the noise and stand out among the crowd?Here are some tips for those looking to kickstart their digital writing journey:Familiarise yourself with the different types of writing stylesVlada Karpovich\/PexelsIn the publishing world, there are so many different types of writing. Long-form writing refers to articles; short-form writing is also known as copywriting, which can encompass slogans, social media captions, and so on.\u00a0The skills for the two naturally vary; long-form writing gives you the breathing room to elaborate on what you want to say, allowing you to deliver a researched, well-thought-out piece. Copywriting is naturally a little harder, as you have to pack a punch as concisely as possible. With copywriting, every word counts and yes, less is more!Figure out what kind of writing you\u2019d like to be doingBuilding on the above point, it\u2019s important to sit down, and have a think about what kind of writing you\u2019d like to be doing. Would you like to write descriptive itineraries for travel sites, or would you like to go out in the field and interview individuals for an investigative story? Would you enjoy covering the latest fashion trends for a cutting-edge fashion magazine, or would you prefer to cover short bite-sized news commentaries?Knowing and identifying your interests might be one additional step towards figuring out what kind of writer you want to be, and give you an indication of how you should proceed.Create a portfolioJournoPortfolioIn the writing world, the first thing any potential employers look out for is a portfolio. This allows companies to get a sense of your writing style, and assess if you\u2019d be a good fit. This portfolio is also a chance for you to showcase your personality!Sites like WordPress and Journoportfolio are good places to start. You can write about anything and everything. However, do note that a portfolio shouldn\u2019t sound like a blog \u2013 steer away from making too informal references, or using slang. Professionalism is key!Get publishedOnce you\u2019re armed with some writing samples, start writing to companies. Take a look on job sites and see if they\u2019re hiring; scoring some freelance gigs will be great for your resume. Plus, these pay \u2013 it\u2019s a win-win situation!The key is to persevere. Try to get yourself published on as many sites as possible; this will help to beef up your portfolio. You might have a certain industry that you want to work for (e.g., fashion), but it\u2019s always good to cast a wide net, and write for as many industries or companies as you can. After all, you might find yourself falling in love with something that you never even considered at the start!Put yourself in your (potential) readers\u2019 shoesKaboompics.com\/PexelsThis is one valuable piece of advice that I swear by. Sometimes, what you want to write may not be what people want to read. It\u2019s the harsh truth! Start by reading widely, following relevant social media pages, and subscribing to online magazines. Get a feel of what type of content people are drawn to, and see what you can offer. Always try to look at your article from a third person\u2019s point of view!When writing, it\u2019s also good to consider how the article will be presented on different devices. On a laptop or computer monitor, everything is enlarged. On a mobile interface, however, everything is compressed. In the digital world, the majority of content is consumed on-the-go via mobile phones. It\u2019s hence apt to cater your content for optimal mobile viewing. Try breaking up large chunks of text with pictures, as well as include headings and subheadings for better clarity.Get rid of writer\u2019s egoThis is one thing that plenty of new writers suffer from. Yes, writing is subjective; but as a budding digital writer, one thing you should always remember is that no matter how good you think a piece of writing is, it can always, always, be improved!Writer\u2019s ego is something that isn\u2019t welcome in this industry. Stay humble, and keep improving!Be open to new experiencesKeane Chua\/UnsplashFinally, good writing not only comes from within, but it also comes from what you experience. Take that trip \u2013 when the situation allows it! \u2013, embark on that new adventure, try a new activity. Sometimes, even taking a walk around your local neighbourhood, or trying a new caf\u00e9, helps!\u00a0Writer\u2019s block is real, and it always helps to break from routine and expose yourself to something different. You\u2019ll be able to come back refreshed, and armed with new ammunition to tackle a new piece.The hardest part is taking the first step. So, start researching, start building your portfolio, and start connecting with companies. Writing has brought me so much joy, and I hope that you\u2019ll feel the same! Join the conversations on THG’s\u00a0Facebook\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram, and get the latest updates via\u00a0Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Get Started as a Digital Writer","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/how-to-get-started-as-a-digital-writer\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]