Tips for getting into the industry?

[darksable]

Hey guys - I'm new here, but have been hanging out on tech forums for years.

 

I'm a student of English and computer science, and am facing student loans. When it comes to English, I'm a writer and a very good editor, and when it comes to computer science, I'm crazy about small form factor computers, community designed cases, audio, and UX design. I also love helping out on forums and ensuring that people are getting good buys for their money.

 

Anyways, like I said, I'm facing student loans and building a career; I have three things that would satisfy me in life, and that's being a writer, being a chef in control of my restaurant, or... being a tech writer / editor. (I'm not pretty enough to be on camera. ) What I'd love to hear your guys' advice on is what the best way to go about making it in the industry would be. I have a few websites that do tech news that publish articles - do I blind-submit to them, do I submit an outline like what one would do in traditional journalism, do I submit a proposal about where I would fit in their stable of freelancers...?

 

I've yet to write tech articles or reviews, but would be able to do so easily, at the drop of a hat - I spend far too much money on new parts, and far too much time researching anything and everything tech related for my own good.

 

Thanks for being patient with me,

 

DarkSable.

[SPAS-ID]

just get Decent 1080p 60fps camera, and use your phone as lightning, learn free stuff on the Internet

[ShadowCaptain]

Start up a website doing some reviews / tech articles, and do your best wit them

 

build up a portfolio that you can submit to big publications 

[darksable]

Start up a website doing some reviews / tech articles, and do your best wit them

 

build up a portfolio that you can submit to big publications 

 

So you'd say it would be better to have a portfolio to show what I've done as opposed to a submission so they could see what they could have immediately?

[ShadowCaptain]

So you'd say it would be better to have a portfolio to show what I've done as opposed to a submission so they could see what they could have immediately?

It really depends, you could write up a really in depth article / review, with the intention that this is what could be expected of your quality

 

but I think if you already have a small established set of articles, they would see thats its not a one off, and you can consistently produce quality work, then when you submit an article to them you can also say "hey check out my other articles, and let me know what you think, I try to keep a consistent quality and I hope you agree"

 

Its how I have started to build up my YouTube channel, the more videos i make, the more credible it looks to anybody wanting to use my services

[darksable]

Fair enough, that makes good sense. Now for the trickier question:

 

How specifically should I market myself?

 

Should I fill my portfolio with articles specifically about small form factor parts and market myself as "the SFF guy," or should I write about everything I've had access to on my limited budget over the years, showing more that I generally know what I'm talking about and have more evidence that I can write well?

 

Thank you so much for the help, mate. I don't know the industry well.

[LogicalDrm]

Fair enough, that makes good sense. Now for the trickier question:

 

How specifically should I market myself?

 

Should I fill my portfolio with articles specifically about small form factor parts and market myself as "the SFF guy," or should I write about everything I've had access to on my limited budget over the years, showing more that I generally know what I'm talking about and have more evidence that I can write well?

 

Thank you so much for the help, mate. I don't know the industry well.

Do bit of everything if you are going with own site path. Its only bad to limit yourself to one special thing since you need to reach for audience. If you are going to work under someone (paid per written article), you can do more special work. But that will require that your writing and things you do are done with quality and mostly with neutral tone.

[darksable]

Alright, that makes sense, I think.

 

Thanks guys!