Where and how to write online

Our readers at Technically We Write span a range: many are professional or technical writers, others work in other roles but do a lot of writing as part of their work, and some are technical writing students who are looking to get started in the field. And that last group might wonder "How can I get started in a technical writing career?"

This is very similar to a question that came up fairly recently in an online forum. Actually, this question comes up a lot, in one form or other. If you're interested in writing online, where can you start?

There are really two ways to write online: paid and unpaid gigs. Paid opportunities have a higher "bar" to get hired, and publishers will look for a body of work so they can evaluate your writing style. So let's start with unpaid writing, since that is where write-for-hire opportunities will start anyway.

Write for a community

We recommend finding a community website that welcomes its readers to share articles. This sharing "from within" is why it's often called a "community" instead of a "free" website. There are many websites that operate on this model, and here's a secret: they are all looking for content.

These websites are very interested in hearing from new authors who would like to share an article. Look in the website's header or footer area for a link like "Write with us" or "Share an article" or "Contact the editors." Use that link, which might lead to a contact form or an email address, to connect with the editors.

As a new contributor, we recommend keeping your first communication short and respectful, but action-oriented. Don't ask "Can I write an article for you?" but instead write "I would like to write an article for you." Propose a topic that you might write about, centered squarely on the website's area of focus. For example, if the website is dedicated to open source software topics, you should propose an article that is about an open source application.

We know of several open communities that welcome new contributors, including:

• Technically We Write (that's us!) about technical writing tools, tips, and how-tos
• Coaching Buttons about leading within and across an organization
• Both.org about open source, Linux, and the command line
• Fedora Magazine about what you can do with Fedora Linux
• All Things Open about open source, programming, and applications

Your first contribution

Your first contribution doesn't need to be very long, but it does need to feel complete. When you're just starting out, 600 to 700 words might seem like a long target, but it's probably just what the website's editors will be interested in.

Articles can come in many forms, and cross many writing genres. The "how-to" article is an obvious start, especially for a new author. "My first experience" is another great topic for first-time writers. Don't discount your own experience here; many new contributors are afraid to write about what they have learned, thinking that someone else has said it better. But there's someone out there who will find your perspective useful and wants to hear from you.

As you gain more experience, we encourage exploring these article genres:

Explain how to do something. This is the classic "how-to" article where you walk the reader through a process. This can cover anything, such as how to count words from the command line or how to use a master document in LibreOffice or how to use a "docs as code" workflow. To write a "how-to" article, just start at the beginning with a brief paragraph about why you needed to do this task, then show the steps you used to do it.

Interview an expert. These are always popular, at least here on Technically We Write. Interview someone who works in the field, or has done something interesting, or who does anything connected to technical writing—and ask them questions about what they do. To write an "interview" article, we recommend writing a few brief paragraphs to introduce the person you're interviewing, then list your questions as section headings, and include their responses as paragraphs below it.

Poll your community. This is also called a "round-up" article, and can be very popular. To write this kind of article, start by posing a question to people you know, and ask them to write one or two paragraphs for their answer. Introduce the article by writing one or two brief paragraphs to "set the stage," then include each person's reply.

List 5 favorite things. This kind of article is often referred to as a "listicle" because it is effectively a list in article form. Listicles can be very popular, as long as the website doesn't run them too frequently. Start the listicle with one or two brief paragraphs to put some context around the topic, then use a section heading for each new "listicle item" plus a few paragraphs to provide more detail.

Writing for pay

If you aim to get paid for what you write, the "bar" will usually be set higher than community websites. When writing for pay, the editor will usually have a process where authors "pitch" and article, and the editor provides feedback. This strict gate-keeping is typical for paid writing because the editor needs to determine if that article will get enough "eyeballs" to earn sufficient revenue to pay you for the contribution, and leave enough left over for the website that it is worth the effort.

Websites that operate in this model may not have a clear "application" process, so you may need to look for a "Contact us" link in the website's header or footer. Your first communication will be similar to the message you might send to a community website, but you should also include links to other articles you have written online. You might also provide a list of article topics and genres you feel qualified to write about.

This is why it's important to start with community websites first. You can build up a body of work by writing for free, then use those as references or writing samples when you look for paid writing opportunities.

The editor will likely ask you for more information as a follow-up, to learn more about you. Expect questions like how frequently would you write new articles and what do you expect to earn. These are typical questions; don't take them personally.