1. Write about whatever you want

The primary reason why I wanted to join Odyssey was that there were no limitations or restrictions on content I could post. Like I mentioned before, Odyssey easily became my outlet to publically rant about the things I care most about in this world. With that being said, another tip is to write whatever despite the number of page views. Not every article makes it to Odyssey's national Facebook page but that does not mean it is not good. If anything, Odyssey is more about you than about anyone else. It is your profile, your article, with your name on it...so write about what you want, not what you think will make the trending page.

2. Be conscious of what you write

This is more of a precautious tip that I have, but it is definitely important. Anything posted on Odyssey is published under your name. Everything that is written happens to be your words, and it is your responsibility to use and express them properly. Too often than not in our society, an article's poor structure of words can easily be twisted to negatively reflect the writer, tainting their status as a writer. In the end, you would never want an article with your name written across it to be misunderstood so that it would damage your reputation.

3. Re-read your articles

I realized that I have over 50 articles since last July, and I like re-reading them so that I can notice the change in not only my voice but also in my thoughts and opinions. Even after just a year, I can sense how my writing and personality have matured, and that is definitely something to be proud of when I reflect on my past articles.

4. Get to know other members of your Odyssey team

One thing that I am extremely grateful for after joining the Odyssey community was being welcomed with my university team. I remember having an hour-long phone call with our Editor-in-Chief before joining Odyssey, and once I did, she and I became close friends. I always enjoyed the few meetings our university team had throughout the semester. It allowed me the chance to meet some creators face-to-face rather than behind my laptop screen. Also, knowing more people can never hurt, so reach out to the members of your Odyssey team, get to know them, and maybe even read their articles.

5. Accept any praise you may get...you deserve it

Shortly after my first article published on Odyssey, I was desperate for people to read my articles. I even asked my mom to share my first article, which was about my advice to high school seniors. Immediately, my mom's hundreds of Facebook friends flocked to my article, and most had daughters in high school, so they were quick to forward my article around. I would constantly look at the post, reading through the comments. After reading a positive comment, I would feel so flattered. I remember the same feeling when another one of my articles was mentioned on Odyssey's national Facebook page.

So, aside from my own story, accept any sort of praise or recognition you get for writing for Odyssey. Whether it be from your mom's Facebook friends, your high school teachers, random people at Church, or Odyssey themselves, make sure to pat yourself on the back because your work, your story, and your articles deserve to be recognized.