4 Things Online Writing Taught Me That My Degree Never Could — And I Studied Journalism
Writing is better as a tool, not a career
College taught me how to follow the rules.
My professors wanted things done their way, but the Internet doesn’t have a strict grading system. Online, we make our own syllabus.
These four realizations have changed my entire perspective on writing.
1. There's no money in traditional media, but there is online
I've seen the results for myself.
Publishing articles in my spare time has given me a financial cushion. At the very least, it pays for my car insurance. To me, that’s powerful because that’s one less expense I have to worry about.
Your first internet paycheck will open your eyes to all sorts of possibilities.
I made my first freelance money in a tiki bar in 2017.
The writing gig paid $300. I probably spent 12 hours in meetings, interviewing, writing, and editing the article.
I can make more money in a third of the time now.
If I were a journalist in my city, I wouldn't make nearly as much as I do now. Print media is dying a slow and painful death. Advertisers are taking their ads elsewhere, and media buyers work for trendy startups instead.
Go where the money is.
2. Writing is a tool, not a career
Writing is just one vehicle for ideas.
There are others, and the most successful writers use them. They understand what the general public wants to see. Because the fact is, many busy adults don't have time to read your 6-minute article.
The sooner you realize this, the better.
Social media in 2023 is still trending toward video content. It's neither fortunate nor unfortunate; it's just how things are. So either you adapt or get stuck.
But writing is still the best way to bring your ideas to life.
After you spend the time to develop an idea, publish it, and get feedback from your audience. Then repurpose the sh!t out of it.
Gary V is the founding father of this idea. Every idea is a pillar for multiple sub-ideas. One article can become 30 pieces of content.
Step one is putting your article on every article-friendly platform out there.
Medium
LinkedIn
Step 2 is taking the best pieces of your article and making Tweets from them. Even summarize your article as a Tweet or even a Tweet thread.
Step 3 has the most significant learning curve for writers. Make video content. Thankfully, you already have the baseline of a script.
Make a lengthy Youtube video: read your article on camera. Post.
Then, repurpose the best parts of the video and make shorts. Tell a complete story in each one.
Post the shorts on TikTok, Youtube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.
Your career as a full-time content creator can include all of the above. Writing is just a tiny but essential part of it.
3. Writing applies to any job
My principal of a mother told me this.
She told me to pick the journalism degree because writing is the most important skill anyone can have. She was right. Writing makes up 1/10th of my 9–5, but it's one that helped me get the job and keep it.
People know me as an uber-organized person, probably thanks to my well-written and thought-out project updates in Slack.
Good Writing = Rock Solid Communication
“Good communication in the workplace ensures employees have the information they need to perform well, builds a positive work environment, and eliminates inefficiencies. Effective communication should accurately convey information while maintaining or improving human relationships.” — Coursera
Every job description asks for a candidate with strong communication skills. You don't need a communications degree, but you need to practice what you preach daily.
4. Online writing is peace of mind
You are investing in your personal portfolio.
Call this a “portfolio of bets.” Whether you write to make enough money to offset inflation or you want to replace your full-time job one day, it's nice knowing you're fostering a skill that can make you a little extra money.
The other side of the coin is that writing is peaceful. It sets my mind right before I start the work day. Writing helps me set my intentions.
I write in the morning after taking my first sip of coffee. It's my version of meditation. I make my coffee before my bed for a reason.
When do you write?