You Can Be a Columnist: Writing and Selling Your Way to Prestige

This book can help anyone break into column writing or help a published columnist improve skills. It's the best book I've read covering the subject. For example, the chapter on "The Informational Column" for professionals in any field--business, counseling, health care, etc.-- who want to provide information to lay people, is extremely valuable to those such as myself. This book gives useful critiques of columns, ample style examples, and extensive details on successfully marketing a column. It gives valuable instruction to any columnist.You Can Be a Columnist: Writing and Selling Your Way to Prestige

This book is unique for various reasons. It gets at the heart of what a column really is, and how it is different from other types of journalistic writing. Further, the sample columns really teach a freelance writer to understand the basics/style of column writing. In addition, the details on marketing a column and approaching editors are very logical and revealing. The author is not only skilled at instructing aspiring writers, but she truly knows how to get editors to publish your work.

As an educator, I think this is a wonderful book for anyone interested in sharing their knowledge with others. The author explains different types of columnists, includes the basics of column writing, and provides some background on how to market a column. It is geared for the person with an interest in sharing their knowledge or opinion with others. Very understandable and helpful. Young and old would feel comfortable learning from this author.

"Becoming a columnist can not only bring you a larger professional practice and an enhanced image, but it can also unlock rewarding avenues, such as lucrative speaking engagements with associations and civic organizations, and consultations." ~ Charlotte Digregorio Charlotte Digregorio is a nationally known writing teacher who has built a freelance career on a good foundation of research. She believes that the job of a writer is to find a new angle and to see what isn't being covered in your area of expertise. She has taught journalism at colleges and also gives workshops to aspiring columnists. You Can Be A Columnist shows you how to not only gain local exposure but gain regional and national exposure with your column. For aspiring writers this can seem like a dream come true and this book presents a step-by-step approach to breaking into a lucrative writing career. Charlotte Digregorio will also show you how to: Identify the specific type of column you want to write Find entertaining topics on a regular basis Sell your column Develop your own writing style Learn how to gather facts and present them professionally Write a cover letter Convince editors of the need for your column Establish a track record by writing a regular column Offer your expertise to the public Decide on the type of column you want to write Communicate with your readers Regardless of your background or interests this book shows you how to become an authority in your field of expertise. Authors will appreciate her ideas on how to market their books more effectively through writing articles. Reading this book gave me a good idea of what it takes to be a columnist. You can embrace the lifestyle or even become a guest columnist in your spare time. ~The Rebecca Review

YOU CAN BE A COLUMNIST is an extremely helpful guide for anyone entering this field. As a travel writer & columnist myself I tend to examine books both for their practical information and for the quality of the writing. This book is excellent on both counts. Anyone contemplating becoming a columnist MUST buy this book.