Let's face it, we get most of our daily reading done via the internet. Whether you are reading news articles or a random listicle you found on Pinterest, the internet's algorithms control a lot of what we see everyday. Everything you read has a writer behind it, what if you can be that writer? Well, you can! Odyssey is an online platform that you are reading this very article on. It is geared toward young folks, but the range of topics can be applied to anyone! If you have ever been in interested in writing, Odyssey is a great place to start! Even if you don't consider yourself much of a writer, this is a great place to build your skills. I never considered writing until I took a chance and applied to be a part of Humboldt State's Odyssey team. I didn't hear back for a long time because our team was non-existent, but one message changed everything! Still unsure about writing? Take a look at these reasons you should write for Odyssey.
1. It's fun!
Most experiences we have with writing is for school, which can be tedious and boring and makes the idea of writing more than you need to sound highly unpleasant. If you write for Odyssey, you have the freedom to write about anything you want. I've written about everything from school to travel and I take inspiration from my daily life. It's exciting to have a sudden spark and realize exactly what you'll be writing about for the week. The best part is nobody is controlling what you say.
2. Meeting new people.
While there are only a couple people on my Odyssey that I've actually met in real life due to being in another country, I've virtually met a lot of my team members and we have mini conversations in our GroupMe chat all the time. Becoming part of a team is a great way to meet people who have similar interests as you.
3. It's good experience.
Whether or not you want to go into a profession that requires you to write, the experience is nothing but helpful to your skills. Practicing writing can really develops your ability to communicate effectively, a skill that everyone needs! There are also at least two editors who read your articles every week and they can give you tips on how to improve your writing without the fear of a teacher giving out a bad grade.
4. Your voice is heard.
I don't have the most views or followers on my articles, but I know at least a couple people are reading my work every week, and that makes me happy. There are people out there that care what you have to say and are willing to click on your articles and value your opinion in some way. It can be daunting putting your ideas out there and knowing that it's on the internet forever, but that makes it all the more fun!
5. You don't have to write.
If you still aren't comfortable with putting your writing out there, you can also make videos with Odyssey! YouTube is a great option, but is highly saturated. Videos fall under the same rules as articles, they can be about anything and they are easy to make. I love using the video feature to document my travels.
So if you've been convinced to write for Odyssey, check out the website for the application. There are communities all over the country and aside from the weekly deadlines, it's not demanding! I highly encourage anyone who is interested to give it a try!
