How to Find a Mentor for Your Citizen Journalism

Citizen journalists need someone to bounce ideas off of, tips for writing technicalities, and new suggestions for topics. How do you find people to help you do this? They are all around you. These people are your family members, friends, and other professionals. Most of the time, they're eager to offer advice and constructive criticism.

Start your search at home first. Maybe your spouse can help you with the technical aspect of writing, such as cleaning up your grammar or editing out unnecessary words. Read your work aloud to your spouse and listen for mistakes.

Sometimes it's easy to overlook mistakes when you're reading silently. Reading out loud can help you detect phrases or sentences which don't belong or sound grammatically correct. You can always read aloud to yourself, but someone else can give you tips that can make your writing even better.

Children can also be helpful for your writing processes. How? Listen to them. You never know what they are likely to say or talk about. They can offer you new topics or thoughts about shows, toys, and games. If you're writing product reviews, your children can be really helpful. Most companies direct marketing toward children and want to know children's reactions to different toys, food, and drinks.

The next time you're talking to your friend or neighbor, ask his or her opinions about the topic you're writing on. They can offer a new twist that you may not have thought about. This insight will improve your article and keep your writing fresh.

There are also other people in the community who may be able to help for free. If you're taking classes, ask your teacher if they have some spare time to look over your work. Explain that you're writing as a citizen journalist and that you'd like to hear any suggestions or constructive criticism. Teachers are always helpful, but remember they have busy lives, too. You shouldn't take advantage of anyone who is willing to help you out.

There are educational classes for writers that can drastically improve skill and penmanship. Many towns and cities offer community education classes at universities and colleges. These are non-college credit classes taught by people with accreditation in their field of expertise. Adult education classes can help equip you with knowledge about using a computer and developing writing and English language skills.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are many times I ask my husband, "What do you think this topic is asking?" or "What do you think about how I worded this sentence?" I think it makes him feel good that I come to him for advice on writing. There are also several times that I've read my articles to my mom, asking her if it made sense. Clarity has never been a strong point for me. I work really hard to make sure my reader understands. You can find mentors, teachers, and anyone you need all around you. You just have to ask for their help.