[pmera]

It is my future goal to have a health and fitness column. How do I make that a reality, how does one break into the newspaper or magazine columist industry?

[Wondergirl]

Do you get weekly hometown newspaper? Call and ask about writing such a column. My weekly newspaper is always open to article and column ideas. Your idea for a health and fitness column sounds very timely, in light of Michelle Obama's efforts on the national scene.

[Clough]

Hi, pmera!

What sort of education and experience at writing do you already have, please?

Thanks!

[pmera]

Hi Clough!

I will be honest I do not have writing experience and I know I will have to get some education in writing and technique but I'm not sure what I need to do in regards to this goal. I have experience in public and motivational speaking which aids my knowledge of the subject but doesn't help with grammar. This is a recent goal of mine that I would like to accomplish within 3/4 years. I'm gathering information now to make aplan so I can achieve this goal. Do you know what writing education I would need other than doing 4 years of university for a bachelors in english?

[Wondergirl]

Do you know what writing education I would need other than doing 4 years of university for a bachelors in english?

You don't need a bachelor's in English to be a writer. Many colleges now have a Creative Writing major that is more practical than a traditional English degree. Also, consider a journalism program or a technical writing program.

As far as knowing English grammar, you should have had that in grade school. Rarely is that offered in college. And as a writer, you can always find (and usually pay) someone good in grammar to proofread and edit your writing before you submit it.

[Clough]

Hi Clough!

I will be honest I do not have writting experience and I know I will have to get some education in writting and technique but I'm not sure what I need to do in regards to this goal. I have experience in public and motivational speaking which aids my knowledge of the subject but doesn't help with grammer. This is a recent goal of mine that I would like to accomplish within 3/4 years. I'm gathering information now to make aplan so I can achieve this goal. Do you know what writing education I would need other than doing 4 years of university for a bachelors in english?

You can do some practice right on this site, pmera!

I can show you how you can do that!

[Clough]

You could start practicing right now, pmera!

You could start drafts here of what you want to write. A number of us have been teachers. Some of the members here are also established, published writers.

If you practice here by posting drafts of what you might write, we can suggest to you ways that you might make improvements to what you write.

The texts of things in Microsoft Word and Excel can be added as attachments to a post.

[Shah Zad Khan]

It is my future goal to have a health and fitness column. How do I make that a reality, how does one break into the newspaper or magazine columist industry?

Life is Beautiful, Pray it for the sake of Future and Past.