Whether you have owned a farm for years, or you’re simply interested in the field of agriculture, there are plenty of ways to break into the writing scene with other freelance agriculture writers. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert on tilling the land and taking care of animals in order to write profound, informative pieces on agriculture; however, you do have to be creative, clear and concise.
Tips for Breaking into the Agriculture Writing Industry:
- Know how to market your education and background. For instance, I attended Michigan State University, one of the top agriculture colleges in the nation. When I am working with a client on an agriculture piece, I make sure that they know I have experience writing journalistic features about agriculture as well as experience working with some of the top professional researchers in the industry.
- Read about all things related to agriculture. According to Sue Edmonds, a member of the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists, this is the key to being truly successful in this writing niche. Read trade publications, read newspapers and always search online for the latest industry news.
- Gather your own agriculture focus group for peer editing. Consider asking established sources in the industry to read over some work samples and give you feedback. Ask friends who are unfamiliar with agriculture to read your pieces and tell you if they are clear, concise and informative. This focus group will help you hone your writing skills.
- Get involved in local agriculture organizations. Local organizations, such as 4-H, CropLife America and other industry trade organizations, will help point you to good story ideas. In addition, involvement in these organizations will help you boost your resume as well. If a client knows you are involved and informed, they will be more likely to trust you with their agriculture writing order.
While you may be striving to become an expert in the field of agriculture writing, it is never a bad idea to offer your clients wide and varied writing experience. Be sure to take the time to write for other types of industries, such as writing political blog posts and feature stories that use lots of description. You might even decide to whip out a few press releases. Show your clients that you offer more than just industry knowledge. Every experience you have with writing can help you build up a portfolio that lends itself to becoming one of the top freelance agriculture writers available.
Catherine C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
