by Jinianne Lutz

Created on: June 10, 2009   Last Updated: June 11, 2009

Presenting yourself as a professional could make the difference between a writing career and journaling.

One definition of professional is one who conforms to certain ethical, technical, or moral standards. Usually a professional is courteous, caring, and maintains a businesslike manner at all times.

There are many guidelines for presenting a professional appearance on Helium, so I will list only a few, in no particular order of importance.

Grammar and proper spelling are equally important. Unfortunately, in today's society, purposeful misspelling is found on many products on store's shelves. Texting has further encouraged the use of deliberately misspelled words. As a professional writer, you must take the time to read your work and check it carefully for misused or misspelled words. Spell check is vital, but it will not always find the incorrect use of words. Seasoned editors often recommend putting the work aside for a day, then reading it again. Often, that is when errors will be found.

Your name is important. It's difficult to take a writer seriously if your name is wolf_man_friend. However, an alias is acceptable. In some cases, a writer will use a shortened version of his name. Some writers use their middle name and a different last name, perhaps their mother's maiden name.

A biography that is complete, true, and accurate is important. This is not the place to make up awards or embellish the truth. Write a biography that leaves an editor or publisher interested in you as a writer and a person.

If you are involved in church or charitable activities, remember that those are personal aspects of your life and should be added after the professional accolades are included.

Explain what writing you've done in the past, especially if it is a writing project for which you've been paid. However, if you are new to being an author, be sure to include any writing experience that was part of a previous position. If you have specialized in writing, include that in this section.

When writing to a subject or debate on Helium, consider spending a little time in research. You may have a strong opinion on a subject, but have little actual knowledge. Presenting yourself professionally also means being able to admit you don't know a lot about a subject, but you are willing and able to research it appropriately.

Include a recent photo of yourself on the site. Don't use a photo that was taken at a masquerade party or while you were out for a night on the town. Try to ensure that the picture is clear.

Be cautious of some of the famous misused words. Use your and you're correctly. Some other commonly misused words are accept and except, affect and effect, capital and capitol, and principle and principal. If you are unsure of the use of a word, spend the extra few minutes looking it up to ensure the proper word is used.

Read books that are well-written and contain proper grammar and sentence structure. Again, if you are unsure of grammar or punctuation, take the time to look it up either in a reference manual or online. You will be thankful that you researched and wrote correctly.

This being said, I'm going to read my biography and make some changes. I would like to be considered as a professional who is capable of writing solid articles and, eventually, books.

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