How Writing at Examiner Changed My Life for Good

Last year a need to generate an extra income joined my inner passion to become a writer, and I started a journey that has led me to a whole new world. How did I become an online writer? Well, it was kind of an accident, but the good kind. I was looking for a part-time job as a translator, but instead I found an opportunity to become a contributor at Examiner.com.

They were looking for writers for several topics, but none of them were of my interest. I kept looking and evaluating the site, and I applied to be the Puerto Rico Travel Examiner, which was not being offered. A couple of days later, I received an invitation to start writing for my suggested topic.

Everything that has to deal with tourism has always been attracting to me. I held various tourism related jobs at hotels, and cruise lines. Once I started writing about what Puerto Rico has to offer as a travel destination, everything made perfect sense to me, and I understood how my previous experience gave me all the tools I needed to be good at it.

My local tourism adventures were the subject of most of my first articles. Positive feedback started flowing almost immediately from people I didn't even know. It was such a feeling of accomplishment to have people far away that were reading and enjoying what I had to say.

Writing has become my contribution to my country

As a conscious citizen, the Island's economy has always been one of my concerns. Puerto Rico depends very much on tourism as source of income. Through my writing I feel I am making a difference. By sharing insightful information about the Island, current events, and travel deals, I know I can get more people interested in traveling to Puerto Rico.

As a writer on Examiner.com I have learned how to use tools such as Google Analytics to measure the success of my writing efforts. It is very satisfying to enter this tool and see my articles being read throughout the United States, and places as far away as Hawaii, India, China, or Germany, just to mention a few.

I have found my true passion in life

When you are willing to do something even without getting paid for it, and you still enjoy it, you've found your true passion in life. Well, even though I do get paid, I don't earn a living through Examiner, but I have gained so much in knowledge, experience, self-confidence in my writing, and so much more. Writing that little column has opened so many doors for me, that I never thought existed.

Thanks to my writing I have met all kinds of wonderful people. I receive emails of people looking for my advice, and I feel so glad that I can help.

By participating in the forums, I learned about many other online writing options, such as Associated Content, and Textbroker, which I have joined, and keep me busy writing for money. I have also gotten invitations to write at local publications, and already got published twice.

I always thought that being a writer was an interesting career option. I was wrong, it is so much better!