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How Do I Become a Dog Writer?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

A dog writer is a person who writes primarily about dogs and issues relating to dogs. In order to become a dog writer, you need to do two important things: first, you must develop a passion for dogs and all issues pertaining to dogs; second, you must develop strong writing skills that will prove invaluable in all facets of publishing. This may mean enrolling in a college writing program that will help you become a dog writer in the future. If you have natural writing talent, you may try to write for a publication without first getting an education.

Enrolling in a college program has many advantages. First, college professors will be able to help you hone your skills while helping you learn the trade. Some writing programs will help you establish connections in the publishing world that will help you become a dog writer after you graduate. While you are in school, you should practice writing as much as possible and write for any publications you have access to. If the writing department at the school will help you find an internship during your tenure as a student, take advantage of such services and see if you can do an internship with a publication that will help you become a dog writer after graduation.

A dog.
A dog.

Experience with dogs will also be very important to help you become a dog writer. If possible, try to take a job within the industry, perhaps at an animal shelter or with a dog breeder or a veterinarian. Explore options in your area to find the ones that would be most relevant and interesting to you. If none exist in your area, you may be able to work for an online website that produces content related to dogs. Study as much on your own about dog breeds, dog events, and other information that will help establish you as an expert in the field.

Once you have honed your skills as a writer and a dog expert, you will need to find a job that will help you become a dog writer. This may not be easy, and you may be left up to your own devices. Try starting a blog on the Internet that focuses primarily on dog writing. Try to write in this blog daily or at the very least weekly, and periodically send out articles and other items you have written to print and online publications. Be sure to refer to your blog often as well to ensure you get continued exposure to your writing.

Discussion Comments

bythewell

@Ana1234 - Another way people might want to try these days is self-publishing an e-book if they think they have a unique topic. That can be quite a process as well, and expensive, since you really have to make sure your book is well edited and the cover is professional, but it's perfect for niche topics that might not interest large publishers.

As for how you become a writer of e-books, it's very simple. Just start writing.

Ana1234

@Mor - Dogs aren't really a subject that you can study for a traditional qualification though, and a lot of people who love dogs might not want to go the long way around of getting a degree in zoology or something like that, just so that they can cover kennel club meetings for a local magazine.

There are all kinds of routes to being a writer. If you love dogs and have worked with them, you might have a book inside you. And maybe the writing is the part you need help with, rather than the subject matter.

I would also suggest that people spend time on writer's forums if they are interested in the process of getting articles or books published. Non-fiction is a completely different beast to fiction in terms of the process you have to go through to be published.

Mor

The thing is, there are a lot of writers around at the moment. There are a lot of people who know how to make something sound good and there are a lot of people who have studied writing of some kind at university.

If you're sure you want to write about something in particular, like dogs, you're far better off getting a qualification relating to your subject, rather than relating to writing itself. Writing is something you will improve with practice anyway. And companies want to be able to say that you're an expert in their subject, not in writing, when they put your biography in next to your article.

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    • A dog.
      A dog.