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Changes in Column Writing
by Mary Emma Allen

Many writers dream of producing columns like Erma Bombeck, Ann Landers, George Wills, Ellen Goodwin...any one of the many syndicated columnists whose work is or has been carried by numerous newspapers throughout their country or the world.

"How do I get started?" "How do I write for many publications?"

Start With Community Newspapers

Traditionally, most writers in the print world began by writing for a community newspaper, either a weekly or daily. When they proved they could produce a column week after week, or biweekly, that readers enjoyed, they often desired to attract a syndicate and branch out to more newspapers. Or they might decide to self-syndicate.

Writing for a smaller newspaper generally was, and still can be, the way columnists got started. Then they branched out. However, today, there is the Internet.

Changes Today

Today columnists will find changes which affect their writing world...some pro and some con.

• The Internet has opened up a whole new world of writing and a call for columns in ezines and on web sites. This gives the columnist many more opportunities for writing. New columnists can find opportunities for publication that they might not so quickly with print magazines and newspapers. This enables the writer to determine whether he/she can maintain the pace and meet the deadlines.

  Some of these online opportunities are non-paying. However, they do give the new columnist a way to get started and achieve success.

• The Internet can be a testing ground for your columns, to see if your columns have long life and would do well in a book or e-book. They also are a way to get your name known throughout the world, not simply in your hometown.

  From the feedback you receive, you'll discover whether you're on the right track or whether you want to make changes. You'll get an idea whether there are readers for your columns who would purchase them in book form. You may find print publications to carry your columns, too.

Copyright © 2002 Mary Emma Allen

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