by Ruth Belena

Created on: October 17, 2009

Writing for money can also be fun, but it would be a big mistake not to consider the difference between writing as a business and writing for fun. In the business of writing, it is highly important to be adaptable, open to constructive criticism, and to accept rejection. As every successful writer knows, writing for publication is not the same as writing only for yourself .

* Following guidelines

Writing as a business requires more skill and knowledge than writing for fun. Magazine editors have specific requirements for their own publications, and book publishers want books they can market and that will satisfy readers of a particular genre. Business clients who commission freelance writers will expect content to be written according to their instructions, and to be suitable for its purpose.

* Using the correct format and writing style

It is really important to know the difference between writing website content and writing for print publications. Success in writing as a business often involves writing website articles and blog postsfor the purposes of earning residual income from ads.

Online text should be presented so it is easy to read on a screen. Web content needs to be written in short paragraphs, use subheadings and show clearly defined points. When writing for publication on a website or blog and content must be written effectively for search optimization (SEO), with correct keyword density and well presented for viewing online .

For the purpose of marketing and promotion, anyone in the business of writing will become involved in networking, posting on message boards, participating in online forums or blogging. All these activities require more careful thought and attention to detail when they are not being done just for fun.

* Careful fact-checking and research.

When writing as a business it is necessary to establish facts, and to back up claims, without committing plagiarism or breaking copyright regulations. Factual articles and business blog posts require clearly defined quotations, citing of original sources and provision of links to official sites.

The law of copyright and issues of plagiarism should never be ignored when writing for publication in print or online. In this respect, there is no difference between writing as a business and writing for fun.

* Writing as a means of self expression

Anyone can have fun with writing. Many people enjoy posting a blog, participating on message boards and sharing opinions in online forums. Others love to express themselves writing stories and poetry, or using a personal journal.

An aspiring writer can produce first person narratives, create imaginative stories or write emotional poetry. The subject and quality of creative writing, when it is done for fun, is freely determined by the writer.

The main difference between writing as a business and writing for fun is that the business of writing is done to meet the needs of others, and writing for fun only has to please the writer, without the need to consider the response of editors, publishers and readers.

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