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Here is my advice to those pondering a career as a writer: "Don't become a writer unless you can't help yourself."

It sounds harsh but the truth is that anyone who is, at heart, a writer will be unable to help themselves. Here, though, is what the beginning writer must face: Making a living as a writer is hard work.

Jobs are few and low-paying, especially entry level jobs. It's tough to get a job at one of the few remaining local newspapers and even toughter to nab a secure spot at a large-circulation newspaper like the Los Angeles Times. You can do it, if you set your mind to it, but the preparation for a career in journalism is tougher than ever. You need to have clips, lots of them, which often means starting off writing for free or, as the saying goes, for peanuts.

So how do you get clips, or samples of your published work, if you haven't yet obtained employment at a publication? Sites like Helium.com are a good way to amass samples of your writing because you can give the URLs for your articles directly to employers. Make sure, however, that they are well-written and well-edited or else these examples of your work will do you more harm than good. You can also get some impressive clips together by working for a student publication. You can work for the student newspaper or magazine while you are pursuing a degree.

If you already have a degree, or if getting a degree is not a priority right nowor if you need to start at the very beginning with your educationconsider your local community college. Oftentimes, you will find that there are a few options within driving distance. Do a little legwork. Does the college have a student publication? If so, is there a good adviser and an active staff who work to get out at least a few issues per semester? Are they active in any journalism associations through which students can compete with other budding journalists and perhaps win some awards. Pick the best college and write up a storm.

Consider becoming an editor, vying for journalism awards and looking for grants and scholarships. As one mildly hard-bitten journalist I used to know used to say, "That's some serious resume porn."

You will also probably need to do an internship, both to receive a degree or certificate in journalism and to help beef up your resume. Some internships are paid and there are a few grants around that will help fund internships. The vast amount of internships, however, are unpaid. It's the kind of indentured servitude that comes with the territory

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