10 Key Steps to Become a Columnist

Columns are one of the most powerful ways to build a recognizable voice, establish authority, and serve a loyal audience—especially for experts, entrepreneurs, and advocates. In this guide, you’ll learn 10 key steps to becoming a columnist, from understanding the genre and defining your reader to choosing a publishing strategy and standing out in the age of AI. You’ll also discover how to use AI as a helpful assistant without losing the human stories, insight, and personality that make your column uniquely yours.

Columns are a powerful way to share ideas, promote your business or cause, and build a recognizable personal brand. A good column does more than fill space on a page: it shapes how readers think, helps them solve problems, and keeps them coming back because they trust you.

And today, there’s a new wrinkle: you’re not just competing with other writers—you’re also publishing in a world where AI can churn out content in seconds. That can feel intimidating, but it can also be an advantage if you know how to stand out.

This guide walks you through how to become a columnist, grow a loyal audience, and stay relevant—even in the age of AI.

What Is a Column, Really?

Columns are shorter than most magazine or long-form articles, often ranging from 350 to 1,000 words (though online, you’ll see plenty that are longer). They tend to:

• Follow a consistent theme or subject area (e.g., entrepreneurship, personal finance, parenting, local politics).
• Show up on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, etc.).
• Feature a distinctive voice—you read them as much for how the writer speaks as for what they say.

Unlike news stories, which emphasize neutrality and facts, columns usually foreground you: your take, your interpretation, your experience.

Table 1: Common Column Types and What They Deliver

Your first job is to understand which type of column you want to write, who it serves, and what you want it to be known for.

1. Understand the Genre (So You Can Bend It)

To write a strong column, you need to know the rules before you break them.

• Length and pacing. Columns are usually tightly written. Every sentence should move the piece forward—no wandering paragraphs that never land.
• Predictable topic, fresh angle. Readers should know broadly what your column covers (e.g., “small business growth for solopreneurs”), but they should not be able to guess your specific angle each week.
• Recurring structure. Many successful columnists have subtle patterns: stories first, then analysis, then a takeaway; Q&A format; “three lessons” structure; or a recurring closing line or question.

When you know the core expectations of the genre, you can make conscious choices about where you’ll be conventional and where you’ll be different.

2. Learn From the Masters (Deliberately, Not Passively)

You don’t become a columnist by staring at a blank page. You become one by reading columnists like an apprentice.

Pick three to five columnists whose work you admire—across different publications and niches. Over a few weeks, read them with a pen in hand (or a notetaking app open):

• Dissect their openings. How do they hook you in the first 2–3 sentences? Story? Question? Surprising fact?
• Map their structure. Do they move from anecdote → explanation → takeaway? From problem → tension → solution?
• Study their transitions. Notice how they move between ideas without losing momentum.
• Highlight their voice. Are they blunt, playful, poetic, academic, sarcastic? How do word choice and sentence rhythm create that voice?
• Watch how they end. Strong columns end on a punch: a memorable line, a call to action, or a question that lingers.

Don’t copy them. Instead, create a “toolbox” of techniques you can adapt to your own style.

3. Clarify Your Goals as a Columnist

Columns are a vehicle, not the destination. Before you write, ask: Where do I want this to take me?

Some possible goals:

• Build authority in a niche (e.g., small business finance, digital marketing, parenting).
• Promote a business (your services, your products, your coaching or consulting).
• Grow a personal brand that leads to speaking, consulting, or book deals.
• Advocate for a cause—climate resilience, disability inclusion, financial literacy.
• Practice your craft in preparation for larger projects like books.

Write down your 1-, 2-, and 3-year goals. Then ask:

• What kind of column will support these goals?
• Where does my ideal reader hang out—local paper, industry sites, LinkedIn, Substack, my own blog?
• What topics and storylines will move me toward the future I want?

When you’re clear on the why, it becomes much easier to decide what to say yes to and what to ignore.

4. Ask the Hard Question: Can You Do This Consistently?

Writing a one-off article is like running a 5K. Writing a column is like training for a marathon that never really ends.

Before you commit, ask yourself:

• Can I realistically produce a column every week or month for at least a year?
• Do I have enough ideas in this niche to sustain a long-term series?
• Where will this fit in my life, alongside work, family, and other commitments?

A few practical tips:

• Choose a manageable cadence. Weekly is ideal for building momentum, but monthly can work if the pieces are substantial and shareable.
• Create an idea bank. Jot down ideas as they occur to you—questions readers ask, problems clients face, stories you hear.
• Batch your work. Draft 2–3 columns at a time when you’re in a writing groove, so you’re not always up against a deadline.

If you can’t commit to regular output, consider starting with a limited series (e.g., six columns on a specific theme) to see how it feels.

5. Serve Others First

The most successful columns are not about the columnist; they are about the reader.

Your readers are busy. They’re constantly choosing between your column, their inbox, social media, and a thousand other distractions. They will only choose you if they’re getting something valuable:

• Clear, practical advice they can act on.
• Insight that reframes a problem.
• Inspiration that helps them keep going.
• A sense of being seen and understood.

Ask yourself before every column:

“What problem am I helping my reader solve or understand better today?”

The more you write from a posture of service, the more likely your column becomes essential reading—not just “nice to have.”

6. Attract the Right Reader (Not Everyone)

You are not writing for “everyone who might be interested in business” or “people who like to read.” That’s too vague.

Instead, define your column avatar: a specific type of person you mentally write for.

Consider:

• Age and life stage
• Career or business situation
• Goals and worries
• Education and reading level
• Values and beliefs
• Where they live (global vs local, urban vs rural)

Then, tailor your:

• Examples: Use scenarios and stories that feel like their life.
• Language: Use jargon only if your reader uses it too; otherwise, keep it clear and accessible.
• Topics: Write about things that are pressing for them, not just interesting to you.

When you talk directly to a clearly defined reader, your writing becomes sharper—and much more attractive to the right people.

7. Play With Format and Structure

Columns may be short, but there’s a lot of creative flexibility in how you structure them. Your format should be:

• Replicable. Something you can use again and again without feeling trapped.
• Reader-friendly. Easy to skim, but still rewarding for people who read every word.
• Aligned with your topic. A “Q&A with readers” format may work perfectly for a business advice column but not for a reflective personal essay.

Some popular column formats:

• Problem → Solution: Present a challenge, then offer a clear framework or steps.
• List or “10 lessons”: Organize insights into numbered points or rules.
• Story → Lesson: Start with a client story or personal experience, then extract lessons.
• Q&A: Answer a reader’s question in each installment.
• Debate: Present both sides of an issue, then stake your position.

Table 2: Example Column Formats You Can Use

Experiment with different formats when you’re starting out. As you develop a rhythm, you’ll naturally discover what feels most like “you.”

8. Develop Your Voice and Point of View

In the age of AI, voice is your biggest competitive edge.

AI can mimic stylistic patterns, but it doesn’t live a human life. It doesn’t coach clients, raise kids, run a business, or sit in traffic wondering if it made the right career choice. You do—and that’s what gives your writing depth and resonance.

To develop a distinctive voice:

• Write the way you talk, then tighten. Draft conversationally, then edit for clarity.
• Use specific details. “I was terrified to hit publish” is better than “I felt nervous.”
• Don’t hide your opinions. Columns are not meant to be bland; they’re meant to be argued with.
• Allow contradictions and nuance. Real life is messy; your writing can acknowledge that.

Ask trusted readers: “If you read something with no byline, would you recognize it as mine?” If not, keep leaning into the quirks that make your voice yours.

9. Develop Prototypes (Before You Pitch)

Don’t pitch your dream column based on one sample. Editors—and subscribers—want to see how you handle a topic over time.

Write five to seven prototype columns before you approach anyone:

• Use your chosen format and topic focus.
• Experiment enough to refine your structure and voice.
• Edit ruthlessly for clarity, flow, and value.

These prototypes help you:

1. Work out the kinks in private before you go public.
2. Show editors what a real series will look like, not just a one-off.

When you’re ready to pitch, you can share:

• A short overview of your column concept.
• A few sample headlines.
• 3–5 finished columns as proof of concept.
• A brief paragraph on why their readers will care.

10. Choose Your Marketing and Distribution Strategy

There are more ways than ever to publish a column. Each path has trade-offs in control, reach, and revenue.

• Traditional syndication. You sell your column to a syndicate, which then sells it to newspapers or sites. Harder to break into, but can offer wide distribution.
• Self-syndication. You pitch your column directly to individual publications—local newspapers, industry magazines, niche websites.
• Owned platforms. You publish on your own blog, newsletter, or podcast and promote via email and social media.
• Hybrid approach. Many modern columnists mix platforms: they might write for a major site and republish a version on their own Substack, or create “director’s cut” versions for their email list.

Think strategically:

• Where are my readers already paying attention?
• Do I want to grow my own platform, or primarily reach other people’s audiences?
• How will I build an email list or other direct connection so I’m not at the mercy of algorithms?

You don’t have to choose a single channel forever, but you do need a starting point and a basic plan.

11. Be Patient and Measure What Matters

Columns rarely explode overnight. They build momentum slowly, as readers discover you, share your work, and begin to trust you.

In the early months, focus on:

• Consistency. Show up on schedule, even when you’re tired or uninspired.
• Improvement. Re-read your own work. What got the most engagement? Where did you lose people?
• Reader connection. Pay attention to comments, replies, and questions—they’re pure gold for future topics.

Track metrics that matter:

• Subscribers or regular readers
• Replies and comments
• Social shares and saves
• Opportunities (speaking, consulting, clients) that arise from your column

Over time, a body of work accumulates—and that body of work becomes one of your most valuable career assets.

How to Become a Good Columnist in the Face of AI

Now the big question: What does it mean to be a strong columnist when AI can produce “content” on almost any topic in seconds?

The answer: you don’t try to beat AI at being a machine. You double down on everything that makes you human.

What AI Can Do—and What It Can’t

AI tools are very good at:

• Drafting basic explanatory content
• Generating lists of ideas or outline options
• Summarizing existing information
• Mimicking simple stylistic patterns

But AI struggles with:

• Lived experience (it has none)
• Fresh, original insights that come from actually doing the work
• Deep reporting—interviews, investigations, on-the-ground observation
• Ethical judgment and real-world consequences
• Authentic relationships with a readership over years

Your job as a columnist is to operate in the zone where human skills matter most and use AI (if you choose to) as a helper, not a replacement.

Table 3: Human Columnist vs AI Tool

Strategies to Stand Out as a Columnist in an AI World

1. Lean hard into your lived experience.
   Share the messy details: the failed launch, the embarrassing mistake, the tough decision. AI can’t compete with real, specific stories.
2. Develop a recognizable point of view.
   Don’t aim for safe, middle-of-the-road content. Take clear positions. Explain why you believe what you believe. Readers will follow you because they know where you stand.
3. Do real reporting when appropriate.
   Interview clients, experts, or community members. Visit places. Gather quotes and insights that do not exist anywhere else online.
4. Create frameworks, not just tips.
   Anyone (or any AI) can list “10 ways to improve your marketing.” Distinguish yourself by developing frameworks and mental models your readers can remember and use.
5. Build a two-way relationship.
   Invite reader questions. Run Q&A columns. Respond to comments and emails. You’re not just broadcasting; you’re building a community.
6. Use AI as a junior assistant, not as the columnist.
   You might use AI to:
   • Brainstorm headline variations
   • Suggest alternative examples or metaphors
   • Spot grammar mistakes or clunky sentences
   • Generate lists of questions to ask in an interview
   But the final decisions—what you say, how you say it, and what you stand for—are yours.
7. Be transparent and ethical.
   If you use AI heavily in your process, consider disclosing that in a general way and always ensure your final work is accurate, fair, and genuinely yours. Never pass off AI-generated plagiarism or factual errors as your own thinking.

If you commit to deep thinking, real stories, and genuine service to your readers, AI becomes less a threat and more a tool you can bend to your goals.

Getting Started: A Simple 30-Day Plan

If you want to become a columnist, you don’t need permission to start. Here’s a simple launch plan:

Week 1: Research & Clarify

• Choose your column topic and ideal reader.
• Study 3–5 columnists and take notes on their structure and voice.
• Draft a one-page concept: title, who it’s for, what problems it solves.

Week 2: Write Prototypes

• Draft 3 prototype columns in your chosen format.
• Focus on clarity and usefulness, not perfection.
• Ask two trusted people in your target audience for honest feedback.

Week 3: Refine & Plan

• Revise based on feedback.
• Draft 2–3 more columns.
• Create a simple editorial calendar for the next 8–12 weeks.

Week 4: Launch & Pitch

• Publish your column on your own platform (blog, LinkedIn, newsletter) or pitch it to one small publication.
• Share it with your network and invite replies.
• Commit to your next three deadlines, no matter what.

Over time, you can expand to more publications, build a list, and explore syndication. But the key first step is simple: start writing as if you already were the columnist you want to become.

Key Takeaways

• Columns are recurring, focused pieces with a consistent voice and subject area that help you build authority and a loyal audience.
• To succeed, you must understand the column genre, study strong columnists, clarify your goals, and commit to consistent output.
• Serving a clearly defined reader is more important than trying to appeal to everyone.
• Format and structure matter—find patterns you can repeat, so you’re not reinventing the wheel every week.
• Your biggest advantage over AI is your lived experience, point of view, real-world research, and relationship with readers.
• AI can be a useful assistant for ideas, drafts, and editing, but it should not replace your thinking or your voice.
• A simple 30-day plan—research, prototypes, refinement, and launch—can move you from “aspiring columnist” to “publishing regularly.”

FAQ: Becoming a Columnist in the Age of AI

Recommended Books on How to Become a Columnist:

• The Art of Opinion Writing: Insider Secrets from Top Op-Ed Columnists
• The Art of Column Writing: Insider Secrets from Art Buchwald, Dave Barry, Arianna Huffington, Pete Hamill and Other Great Columnists
• Beat the Bots: A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI
• Writing for Impact: 8 Secrets from Science That Will Fire Up Your Readers’ Brains

 Article was originally published on December 27, 2013 and updated on November 25, 2025.