What are the best ways to develop credibility and reputation as a writer?

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   joanwzposted 11 years ago

   What are the best ways to develop credibility and reputation as a writer?

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 11 years ago

   I think people who write well, do their research and remain objective are the ones who build credibility.  I have seen many hubs that are poorly written and state things that are not factual or mislead readers.  This is not the route to success for any writer.

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      joanwzposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent point. Thanks.

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   Milli Thorntonposted 11 years ago

   Quality writing comes first. Care for your writing enough to be a rewriter, as opposed to dishing up the first version that comes out of your keyboard.
   
   Presentation is very important: a friendly but professional-looking photo to go with an interesting bio, care taken with layout and formatting whenever publishing anything online, attention to proofreading (clean copy) and presenting information in a way that's easy for readers to digest.
   
   Longevity is another key. Writers who want to be successful know they're in it for the long haul. Being consistent (whether on your own blog or on a site like HubPages) helps build a following. People know you'll always be there, representing your chosen genre or your own unique take on your topics.
   
   Tasteful self-promotion is next, balanced with plenty of other types of communication so you don't sound like all you're doing is promoting yourself. Even though it can feel uncomfortable at first, some self-promotion is necessary if you want to get known. Becoming comfortable and sounding natural when you're marketing yourself and your writing products is better than a massive volume of promotion, which tends to get annoying or even boring.
   
   Being genuinely interested in others is paramount. The online writing community is generous and supportive, and chock-full of talented writers/artists/artisans. It's not hard to spread the love. Being unselfish and willing to showcase others (because they deserve it, not as a tactic) can works wonders for a writer's online presence.

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   joanwzposted 11 years ago

   Thank you Milli. What a profound and wonderful response. I truly apreciate the full response.

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   M. T. Dremerposted 11 years ago

   If you're planning to build your writing career outside of HubPages (and the internet in general) I would suggest focusing on short fiction magazines (if you're a fiction writer) and local newspapers (if you're a non-fiction writer). Later in your writing career, agents and publishers look for your publishing credits first and your writing talent second. It's sad, but it's true. They want to see that you can go the distance and you have some experience under your belt. It will make future writing avenues considerably easier to get into.

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      Milli Thorntonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great advice. Voted up.

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      joanwzposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with Milli Tornton. This is wonderful advice. Thanks.

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