Learn More to Grow a Writing Career – ABC's for Growing a Writing Career

Invest in opportunities to learn if you want to build a successful writing career. If you are not growing then you are stagnant – and stagnant things always die. Learning opens up new ideas, expands old ideas and refreshes stale ideas. Learning is the gateway to possibilities. One of the most important investments you can make for your writing is the investment of time and resources into learning.

Best Places to Learn to Grow a Writing Career

Online challenges – the great thing about most of these challenges are that they are completely free. You may even end up winning some valuable prizes because of your participation. Search the internet for websites in your niche or that focus on your general genre. A quick search landed me a challenge at The Father Writers Writing Challenge, the Creative Every Day Challenge, and Ezinearticles.com (which offers a wide range of challenge or the option to build your own.)


Community classes – many local organizations offer free (or very inexpensive) classes on everything from aerobics to zither lessons – and pretty much anything in between. Call your local senior center, community center or community college and see if there is anything that you might want to learn, expand or just try.

Groups – people with similar interests often form groups where they can share ideas or learn new elements of their particular interests. Find one of these groups and become active in it and through it. Most of these will require very little monetary investment. Some may even give you the opportunity to step up and lead. Look for ones that challenge you to discover and expand on what you already know.

Conferences – there are no limits to the conferences that are available around the globe and throughout the year. You will have to determine what you want to invest and why you want to attend. Start local so that you can get a feel for the conference environment (and will not have the added expense of accommodations). A great location may be exciting, but it may not be the learning opportunity that you seek. Look for those conferences where you will have the greatest opportunities to learn.

Learning is not just about focusing in on your particular career choice or niche. It is about expanding beyond the ordinary and expected. Learn something that has nothing to do with what you are doing, but then look for ways to apply what you have learned to where you are going. Let the things that you learn begin to guide you to a place where boxes no longer exist. Learn something that will grow you in boldness for your own purpose. Learn something and discover that learning helps grow the writing career that you desire.