conferences are great places to present your writing. They have call for abstracts and call for entries. Some pay most don't but at least you're getting your name out there more.

most you pay to present, though.

I posted this on another thread, but it applies here, since these can pay a few hundred bucks. I've yet to be paid for a conference paper...



One fairly easy way to get published in a more visible (though non-academic) way is to pen an editorial for the local paper. NOT a cranky-letter-to-the-editor, but a thoughtful piece (it can still be critical) focused on a particular topic. A proposed plan, new infrastructure project, controversial planning ordinance... that kind of thing.

Most newspaper editors are always looking for this kind of material. Find out who the appropriate person is at your city's paper and submit a piece for their consideration. I did this at the LA Times, then started to get requests for other editorials in the Sunday op-ed section.

Now, these are not career-builders, but a handful of such citations in your CV can help fill out a shorter list of more serious articles and cast you as a person who writes regularly for a range of audiences. Not a bad thing for someone applying for an academic gig.

Thanks for the advice. I'm a little warry about conferences because I'm not actually conducting research. I'm writing architectural reviews and opinion pieces. I presented one paper at a conference a couple years ago. It was great but took a long time to research and write and there was no money - but the experience was priceless.