8 Tips for Aspiring Writers
in the Philippines
By Naveen Ganglani
Becoming a writer might not be the sexiest or most fulfilling profession in the Philippines, but it’s no secret that the field still holds its appeal.
There are many opinionated people who would love to have an avenue in order to share their thoughts, but doing it as a job isn’t an easy task. There will be a bunch of competition, standing out is a must, and writing for work instead of as a hobby is an underrated challenge to overcome.
Here are 8 tips for those serious about taking up writing as a profession in the Philippines:
8. Put yourself out there
That means to not be shy about contacting media outlets and pitching ideas on articles you’re interested in tackling. Truth be told, you’re going to get more rejections than replies like, “Sure, go ahead and write that for us!” But sometimes, all you need is that one website to open the doors for you. However, you may never get that chance unless you take the leap and volunteer your talents.
7. Don’t expect to get rich, at least not right away
There’s no sugarcoating it: writing, or most media jobs in general, don’t pay a lot in the Philippines. For a stretch in your writing journey, you’re going to need to rely on your passion instead of financial aspirations to keep you going. But eventually, once your work is valued to a certain degree, there’s a great chance you’ll be paid a more than suitable salary. Just keep grinding.
6. Being a freelance writer isn’t a bad thing
Most writers in the country today started off as freelance workers who tried to gather as many assignments as they could in order to make enough to pay the bills. There’s no shame in that. A lot of new graduates won’t get hired to be a full-time writer right away, but that doesn’t mean they’re not good enough or it’s the end of the road.
Sometimes, you’ll have to write for a couple of outlets before one recognizes your talents and secures you long term. For others, being a freelance writer pays even better than signing a contract to become a full-time employee for one media company.
5. Read as much as you can
You’d be surprised how, out of nowhere, it feels as if your writing improved after you spent days reading books. It’s important to learn as much as you can if you want to succeed in any field, and in writing, that means reading as many books, articles, journals, or other works as you can.
4. Practice every day
If athletes need to train each day to get better, or if singers need to practice their vocal cords every few hours to remain on point, then the same principle applies to writing. In order to become confident in your abilities – and confidence is the key to writing great works – you need to hone your skills as much as you can, so it becomes like second nature to you. Even if it’s just a simple journal entry, take the opportunity to write every day in order to be the best you can be.
3. Find interesting, unique topics
No one wants to read the same stuff every day. Moreover, in an era where websites are publishing articles left and right, the time you spent working on something might go to waste because another writer already posted the same piece the day before. Be as unique and interesting as possible, and you will have a viewership.
2. Dare to be different
No one ever made a difference by staying the same. If that means you might ruffle some feathers or don’t get so along with co-writers during an event, that’s fine. After all – you’re doing what’s best for your career.
1. Be fearless
Why? Because fortune favors the brave. So go out there and be courageous.
What other tips do you have? Share them with us below!
