Students in the Writing Studies major and Professional Writing minor at the University of Minnesota Duluth conducted many hours of interviews to compile this guide.  Some of the best tips they gained from their interviews don’t fit well with the themes and topics of other chapters — those are collected here.

Be Creative

Find a way to do something a little bit differently if you want to create long-lasting value.

 

Don’t Half-Heartedly Do It

If you feel like something is a calling, then you don’t half-heartedly do it.  You want to be the best writer you can be.”  Newman did freelance writing for a little bit and then moved to the Duluth area around 1986 and got his foot in the door at AMSOIL. “When I moved here, I brought my published work in a folder.  The ad club had a directory with businesses, and I called each person listed there.

and… Find a Happy Medium

[At first] I was very connected to everything everyone did… I backed off pretty strongly for the next few months. I found this to be just as bad… You have to find a happy medium in that role. Extremes won’t get you anywhere.

 

Read, Read, Read

Reading is important for those pursuing a career in writing.  She particularly recommends paying attention if you stop reading something (or if you really enjoy it) and reflect on why.  Losing reader interest is a common challenge for a writer, so analyzing pieces you read can provide tips about what to do/what not to do in your writing.  “If you don’t love to read, I wonder if you really love to write.”  Reading will expand your vocabulary, helping you carry out this tip in your work.

Have a Beginner’s Mindset

You always have to have a beginner’s mindset. Have that enthusiasm throughout the career and stay curious. I don’t think your education stops on graduation day–be a lifelong student.

Don’t be Afraid to Start

Don’t be afraid to start: you may not have all the tools or knowledge so find what you don’t have and know how to get it. If you wait for the stars to be aligned, that day may never come. If you’re passionate enough, there’s always a way and if you’re willing to put time and effort into it, why wouldn’t you go for it? It’s never a lack of resources, it’s a lack of resourcefulness.

Don’t be the one to tell yourself ‘no’. Let ‘them’ do that.  At the same time, Prepare for rejection. It’s going to happen and it’s not a big deal.”

I suppose I wish younger me had tried to get an internship with National Public Radio (NPR). I never did because I didn’t think I was good enough to do it.  Don’t dismiss an opportunity because you think that there is someone out there better at this than you are. Just go for it. If I had applied and not gotten it, at least I would have applied.” 

Make Connections

Don’t be afraid to make connections with people that you maybe don’t think are going to be beneficial to you in terms of having a relationship with them. You never know you know a connection that you make to what door that’s going to open for you. So a lot of times in public relations and community outreach which falls within marketing a lot the more people you know the more you’re able to do for your company or organization. So having really great strong relationships with multiple people across different areas and circles in the community is really beneficial.

You have to learn how to talk to people. Just knowing how to talk to people is a fantastic skill.

Listening

Listening is super important. When entering a potential sale, make sure you listen to what your client is telling you about their company. People like to talk about what they do. Start your sales pitch after listening carefully to what media might fit for them.

Time Management

Time management is a really big skill that is needed.