How to Get Started as an Online Writer

How to be a Successful Online Writer

Whether you're a professional writer with articles printed in various venues in the brick and mortar world or whether you're just hoping to see your words published in a public forum but haven't made the leap yet, you've probably eyed and thought about or played around on the online writing playground.

There are many ways to get involved writing online.

Some venues require some (or a lot of) technical expertise. For example, you'll need to know some HTML (the codes that make words look the way you want them to look) and must download a ftp (file transfer protocol-a program that uploads your words, photos, and graphics to the world wide web) if you opt to write for a space like allinfoabout.com.

Others publishing options do not require anything beyond typed words and enough knowledge to send those words by email (or even by snail mail) or to paste writings in simple automatic forms with a "submit" button press.

For the techno-phobia, sites that take care of the technical details may be the best bet. Although it's not that difficult to learn the basics of web publishing, some writers simply freak when it comes to thinking about, discussing, or using web language and/or tools.

Traditional Offline Publication (Shoveled Online)

My mother is a writer specializing in nostalgia and mountain stories. She publishes in the local newspaper and with national magazines like "Good Old Days" and "Grit." She does not seek out online markets. In fact, she knows only two online tricks-(1) press email button and respond to mail and (2) go to home page which is google (the very basic version with the search bar right in the center) and type in topic of interest. If dad makes even minor changes to the desktop, mom can't or won't use the computer. I then visit and "fix" her computer.