To work as an advice columnist, you’ll need strong writing skills as well as a good understanding of your own limitations and abilities when it comes to giving advice to people dealing with personal or professional issues. Publishers may have their own set of qualifications for advice columnists, such as a background in counseling or psychology. Advice columnists who specialize in a particular topic, such as finances or sexuality, are often expected to have strong educational and claimant credentials in that field. Publishers may only require experience writing for publication for general advice columnists, though some may require a college or university degree as well. If you don’t have a specialized degree, your publisher may expect you to form a network of professional advisers who can assist you in providing specific direction to your letter writers.
Professional writing is a difficult field to break into, and there can be a lot of competition for writing jobs. Although it is possible to become an advice columnist without prior experience, the majority of successful columnists begin honing their writing skills. This usually entails reading good writing on a regular basis and then writing material to submit to different publications. Some writers begin writing blogs or newsletters for companies or churches, and then expand their writing to include a variety of writing styles and topics. You may also be able to take writing classes or join writers’ groups where you can receive feedback on your work, depending on where you live.
You may be in a better position to become an advice columnist if you have a degree or other credentials in a specialized profession or trade because you are recognized as an authority in your field. You will, however, need to hone your writing skills as well as your ability to collaborate with editors and publishers. Keep in mind, however, that the type of writing required of an advice columnist may differ from that required of academic or professional writers.
The most difficult aspect of your quest to become an advice columnist will likely be persuading an editor or publisher to hire you. Many publications prefer to buy the rights to syndicated advice columns rather than hiring their own columnist. Keep an eye out for notices about publications hiring advice columnists, and consider establishing a relationship with publications that you believe could benefit from your services. You could, for example, begin submitting articles to a magazine or newspaper on a regular basis and then ask your editor if she would consider starting an advice column and hiring you as a writer.