When is it enough experienceI am in my mid-twenties, with a B.A. in English (Nonfiction/Editing major). I'm not one of those "I want to be a writer and be on Oprah and on the fast-track to success before 25" people. I am aware of the real world and I found out very quickly that finding a writing job wouldn't be possible because the average low-level copy-writer has 1-3 years of experience under their belt. So I went out trying to find "experience". I doubt that anyone here could suggest anything I haven't already done. Internship? Done it. Local paper? Tried that. Temping? I'm with about 4 agencies. Blog? Yes. Editing for free? Yes. Teaching? Taught myself into a stupor. Wrote for free? Doing that now. Made a portfolio? Uh-huh. Business cards? Got 'em. Website? In the process. What else is there??? I'm sorry to sound so frustrated, but this stupid so-called "real world" wants me to wait, wait, wait and I have bills that can't, can't, can't. I've put myself in debt....even traveled to the other side of the world twice to work so I wouldn't be mooching off of my family. When am I going to have enough of this "experience" my rejection letters keep throwing at me? I became a writer because that is the only thing I know how to do. Plain and simple. But I'm a little discouraged since I've been living on a couch in my sister's apartment with no job for three months. Any ideas/advice? To quote Doctor Phil- you have to do it "until". Until it is enough, it isn't enough. So far, it isn't enough. If you're in your mid-twenties and we can assume you were probably 22 when you graduated, and you've been doing the things on your list sequentially (even with some overlap), you probably don't have a full year of doing any one thing under your belt. You need to consider if you can hold out for the "dream job" of non-fiction/editing or if you need to get a more realistic job to pay your bills and continue to do the volunteer, blog, etc. stuff on the side "until" you build up enough. You should look at things like Admin Assistant. Look at non-profits (for volunteer work and for paid jobs). Every non-profit has a volunteer newsletter, donor brochures, outreach materials, etc. that need help. Many also have technical publications for their staff that you could be writing and editing. Non-profits are also more likely to overlook a lack of experience or other issues in trade for a lower salary than a corporation would offer. They're a great place to build experience.
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