As a long-time journalist once said to me when I was in graduate school, "You're not a writer until you've written your first one million words."

So, it's time to get writing.

As with photography, local newspapers are a great place for budding writers to start. They are by no means the only way to go, but that's how I got on board as a freelance writer with little background. You will quickly learn a great deal about writing concisely and in a well-constructed manner when you have to write for editors under a deadline. Most of the time, they will not go easy on you.

Those interested in pursuing journalism, reporting or editing should sign up with IRE NICAR, an invaluable resource for acquiring and analyzing data.

Another place to start is ghostwriting. Many authors at various publications will look for people to do research and write for them, uncredited. While not exactly thrilling work, it is a way to prove your chops as a writer and build a relationship.

To break into the (freelance) writing profession, you have to have samples of your work. If you have absolutely nothing to show, you can ask the employer about sending college theses or relevant papers. Sometimes this is permitted. You won't get anywhere without them because editors won't bother taking on a writer that can't prove his/her worth. Once you have some sample clips, you can build an online portfolio and website to display your work. Certain websites, like Contently, will aggregate your work for you.

From there you can start to expand to more freelance gigs you find online (resources listed in the "Best Freelancing Resources" section) and even try to voluntarily get involved with some editorial boards. Over time, you will get to be choosier about your work. (Eventually you may find yourself wanting to submit to certain journals or magazines and build an ongoing rapport. Submit your work to platforms YOU READ. Send them material that sounds like what they print. If possible, never submit to email addresses such as "pitches@xyz.com." Try instead to find a senior editor or someone who can put you in touch with a senior editor. This will hopefully keep your work from ending up in the slush pile (rumor has it, some slush piles never even get touched). Remember: even if you are rejected the first time, the more you send your best work out, the more likely someone is to remember your name. Connections, connections, connections!

Scripted is another great resource for writers. Scripted uses an algorithm to pair high quality writers with the businesses that need them. You may not love the stories you end up writing, but, again, it's another launching point.

Freelance writing is by no means limited to writing for newspapers or journals. Writing jobs run the gamut, so it's important to establish your particular niche. If you've worked in the medical field (or have done a lot of research), there are always job openings for medical writers. Travel writing is also popular though it can be more difficult to break into (who doesn't want to be a travel writer?).

Now, a brief pause for HOW TO PITCH:

(Another note on pitching-if you're new to this particular platform, you will want to briefly let them know where you have written before and provide some relevant writing samples.)

Now, if you're interested in being an author but don't want to play the endless-submitting-of-manuscripts game, or get involved with literary agents or publishers, there are always ways you can upload your books online and watch the profits (hopefully) roll in. Consider a site like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, where you can upload your work and sell it. You should also check out Jane Friedman's Advice: Writing, Reading and Publishing in the Digital Age. Mark Coker of the Huffington Post has more predictions on self-publishing in the coming years. There are always e-guide sites as well, like Acel.io!

According to the information currently available, the self-publishing trend over the years looks approximately like this, with 2008 being the year more books were self-published than traditionally published (clearly there is a lot of fluctuation and uncertainty as more and more writers flood the market):

Finally, below is a screenshot of my own website, AlissaFleck.com, where I file all my stories under the appropriate headers as well as keeping a running blog of story updates. I try to share on social media every time I do update to drive traffic back to my site. Also, by including keywords (SEO-friendly), in my posts, strangers end up on my site as well, through search engines. Occasionally people will use this means to contact me for a story. Make a website-it can be simple (WordPress, Wix.com, BlogSpot, etc.)-and include all your relevant work.

Keep in mind that there are endless routes to becoming a freelance writer and these examples might be entirely different from the route you take. YOU NEED NOT STICK TO ONE KIND OF WRITING. These are simply suggestions, but by all means you should try anything that seems like a promising lead. Always apply for opportunities, remember you can turn them down later (if/when you are accepted).