The green industry is one of the hottest industries to work in these days. But contrary to the antiquated perception of green, working in the industry doesn't really mean working in the fields.

The concept that green businesses literally toil away is hilarious, but a very real misconception of the past.

It wasn't until Hollywood emphasized green living, that eco-consciousness really took off.

Fortunately, with that many industries also realized the importance of going green. Realizing it would save them money and serve as great PR, today's green business are some of the most competitive businesses that offer some of the best products or services.

Just about any profession can find their niche in the green workforce. However, some of us have it tougher than others. For writers, the first thing you have to do is educate yourself on your subject. Give yourself enough time to check out all the different resources there are for green living. This includes green blogs, green businesses, green ideas, green policies...the wealth of resources are unlimited. With there being so much out there, it's important to have an idea about what type of green writing you want to do? Do you want to focus more on urban living, home ideas, businesses, etc etc? Once you have a clearer idea, you can streamline your search.

Whatever specific subcategory you choose to focus on, make sure you become an expert in the field. Go to events and conferences, borrow or purchase some books on the subject. The more you know about your subject, the better you can write about it.

What You Can't Do

You can't just waltz into a company, whether figuratively or literally, and demand a writing job. You have to show you have experience in the field; you have to demonstrate a skill. While you may be a great writer in another area, you may not necessarily translate well to a green industry. Writing for this industry can be different from writing for other industry.

Here again we go back to the subcategory you want to work in. If you want to be a part policy changes, or business services, your writing has to be more technical. If anything else, is has to be more conversational and friendly, yet informative.

This is why it's best to do the research and test out the field.

How You Can Get Started

Find a pitch - whether it's green energy, air quality trends, anything in health, technology, or latest green news. I have an extensive list of contacts in the industry and if your piece is good (perhaps with some slight editing), we can both work together to see if it can be placed in a print/online publication. Always cite your source, use stock free or public images, and link to higher quality publications such as .edu and .gov. And remember, the average piece shouldn't be more than 900 words, and your pitch to me should be 50-200 words max.

Most publications will be happy to feature well-written quality content, out of which you get a piece for your portfolio, and a byline. But before you clickety-click away, send me a quick pitch and let's see if we can guide you in the right direction.

However, if you choose to go on it your own, then take in the advice here and give it your best shot.

Shireen Qudosi is a green expert working with www.air-conditioner-home.com to help them maximize consumer awareness on eco-friendly issues. She can be reached at shirin.shah@live.com

Green Resources
• *The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience
• *Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden))
• *Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
• *It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

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