If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a writer yourself or someone who knows one. Maybe you’re even considering making the transition to become a full-time freelance copywriter (myself being one of those people…)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down to write a blog post, only to discover that the ideas and sentences on the page aren’t coming out right. When this happens, I feel deflated. Like I’m not living up to my potential.
It’s not that the idea and the words aren’t there โ it’s that I’m not putting them together in the right way. Writing is a lot like playing the guitar: you can pick up the instrument and play along with any song, yet still feel inept when trying to play your favorite song by yourself. This is why, when I sit down to write, I always have a few backing tracks playing in the background. Songs that I know will give me the best chance at sounding believable and professional when I write.
This is also why, when I’m writing a blog post, I’ll often listen to multiple podcasts or audiobooks while I work. Sometimes it’s helpful to have someone else’s opinion to bounce off of. Plus, when you do this, you often find yourself learning something new along with the character you’re reading or listening to. (Yes, I learned alliteration and used it in a recent blog post! But it wasn’t something I’d encountered before. So it was a new experience for me. And maybe for you, the reader. Learning something new about prose and composition is what makes this process so valuable. (Though, to be fair, having new words and phrases under my belt does make me sound more professional when speaking with potential clients. (More on that later…))
A Few Tips From Experience
To tell you the truth, even though I’ve been doing this for a while, I still feel like I’m learning something new every day. Just because you’re experienced doesn’t mean that you know everything. As with most things in life, there’s always more to learn.
With that in mind, here are a few tips from experience that can help you get the most out of writing.
Take Your Time
I think we’ve all been there; put off writing a blog post because you have more important things to do or because you feel like you’re not creative enough to pull it off. (I’ve definitely been there.)
But here’s the thing: you’ll never know how good you can be at something if you don’t give it a try. So, if you’re feeling intimidated or that your ideas aren’t sophisticated enough for the blogosphere, then go for it. Write something that you know will piss off people. (And it will. But that’s okay.)
The only thing worse than not trying something is not knowing how good you are at it. So, even if it’s not perfect, at least you wrote something. And if it is perfect, then you have something valuable to show for yourself.
Be Confident
There are many reasons why you might be hesitant to write something down. Maybe you think you’ll sound stupid. Maybe you’re worried about spelling errors. (I’ve been there, too.)
But here’s the thing: you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying. (In fact, you might even learn something. (Again, more on this later.))
Believing in yourself and your talents is the best policy when it comes to becoming a successful writer. (No one else will do this for you. (Well, aside from your mom and dad, but you know what I mean.))
This is also why I don’t believe in self-doubt. The only way to go through life is believing in yourself, and the only way to be yourself is without any self-doubt. (See what I did there?)
When you write, you’re essentially performing. (Yes, even if you’re writing something for yourself, you’re still performing. (Which is why it’s best to write before you speak. (Though this is easier said than done.)))
The fact that you’re performing for an audience โ be it a real person or a group of people you’ve never met โ means that you’re not only responsible for what you write, you’re also responsible for how you write it. (Which is a lot of pressure. (I know what you’re thinking.)) But it’s a pressure that can be exhilarating, making you work harder than you ever have before. (At least, that’s how it’s worked for me.)
Don’t Be Foolish
This tip might seem obvious, yet people will still go through life being foolish. (Yes, even writers. We’re humans, too. (Except, maybe, when it comes to spelling. (Though I’m working on that.)))
A major problem that I face as a writer is people trying to trick me into believing something that isn’t true. (Usually something about diet or health.) (Or, in the case of spam blogs, trying to trick me into reading their content.)
Usually, these blog posts or emails will have good intentions, yet they’re still trying to get something off the back of a web surfer. (Not a professional writer, maybe even not a native English speaker.)
So, in these cases, it’s not about tricking you or being malicious. It’s more about being foolish. About thinking that because something sounds plausible or makes sense, then it must be true. (Even if it doesn’t. (And it usually doesn’t. (Unless, of course, you’re reading a science blog. (I read a lot of those.))))
Even worse is when people try to do this through deception or fraud. (Though, to be fair, this happens more with businesses than with individuals.)
Sometimes a blogger will interview you, then promote your upcoming book or product on their site. (This is called an affiliate marketing strategy, and it’s one of the most popular ways to make money online.)
Yet, even when you’re being paid to write a blog post, you’re still responsible for what you write. (Though the person paying you might have some expectations, too.) (This is also why you should always disclose affiliate marketing when someone is paying you to blog. (Even if it’s just one person. (Though, to be fair, if it’s just one person, then maybe they don’t mind being associated with something they knew nothing about.)))
Do Your Research
This is more of a tip for when you’ve already written something, but have trouble figuring out what to do next. (Or, as in the case of a blog post, once you’ve written the first draft. (Though, to be fair, some blog posts are more difficult to draft than others. (Somebody always has an idea how they want their blog to sound, for example. (Though, to be fair, it can be difficult to find a voice that fits in with today’s blogosphere. (Even if you want to write a thoughtful, researched piece about international trade relations. (Which, incidentally, I did once.))))))
The fact is, to become a good writer, you have to know how to do a lot of things. (Yes, even if you’re writing something for yourself.) (Though, to be fair, some can be tricks of the trade; others aren’t. (For example, knowing how to find your voice is a skill that can be learned. (Though, to be fair, this is something that many accomplished writers had to figure out for themselves. (Like me. Though, to be fair, I had some help.))))