HORTICULTURAL WRITER

In high school, take courses in English and writing as well as biology and botany. Learn about plants and flowers by cultivating a small garden at home or by working for a farmer, landscaper, or nursery operator on your afternoons and summers off. Read as much as possible about plants and flowers in magazines, in books, and on Web sites.

To get hands-on writing experience, work on your high school newspaper, newsletter, or Web site. Any kind of writing will improve your research and writing skills. You can also suggest horticultural articles to the editor of your hometown newspaper.

Many full-time staff writing positions on magazines and journals require college degrees. However, if you can show samples of your writing, known as clippings, published in your school or local newspaper, you might be able to get your foot in the door. Freelance writers without college degrees can work for magazines, but they, too, need to show work samples to get assignments. If you're thinking about writing technical or scientific works, you'll need to get more specialized knowledge, either by working in the field or through courses.