How can I make myself stand out through writing?

I'm not a journalist, but I've been a professional writer in male-dominated media for decades. Here's some general advice.

Obviously, to stand out your writing has to be exceptional, so work on your writing skills. Study what the great journalists do to make their work spark.

To stand out in competition with men, I recommend being ten times more prepared than anybody. Do ten times the research, get ten times the facts, have ten times the data at your command. Always be prepared and overprepared.

Learn to be thick-skinned and not take things too personally. That doesn't mean tolerating harassment. I refer more to criticism or critiques that seem to be sexist rather than genuine mentoring. Learn to tell the difference.

For example, I once had a man of a certain older age say, "I love working with your scripts. You write like a man." I was amused, because I could see that he was paying me a genuine compliment in the only way he knew how. I took it with the good will in which it was intended.

But otherwise, be tough and stand up for yourself. Act, don't react.

I hope some of this is helpful.

Hi Margaret,

While gender in the workplace and navigating a male-dominated environment is a valid issue to be thinking about, I would not consider it a barrier in terms of writing. In fact, I think diversity, in writing, is a great advantage. In a space that is dominated by one demographic, you have an opportunity to present a fresh, new perspective on any topic. I think that should be your focus -- and any good writer's focus. Plan on doing this by first conducting suitable research. Investigate the topic, see what's been written about and find a new way to tell the story (new angle, new insights, etc). If you write well and engage readers, gender issues should not be a writing hurdle.

You are right, however. Gender biases do exist and are a top-of-mind for women who question whether it will influence their goals and career development. As far as standing out in a male dominated workplace, it's important you make sure you find a confident, emboldened voice. It also helps to surround yourself by other female peers. You can do this by joining professional communities or networks. There are a few examples of these in the suggested next steps below. Best of luck to you! Keep writing,

Stefania Revelli, CCSP