10 Writing Tips
Clarity. Empathy. Editing.
The trifecta of great writing
A rainy day is a writer's best friend. Armed with a big mug of coffee and a window view of mist rolling in, it's the perfect romantic vision we have of what it takes to create. But all of us who have had to craft a proposal, a blog post or an email newsletter know that it takes more than a romantic notion to come up with the right words. It takes consistently sitting down to create content.
In "Rework," a book on how we do business today, the writers have a "chapter" (all their chapters are about a page) called Hire Great Writers. They recommend this no matter what the position "because being a good writer is about more than writing. Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking. Great writers can put themselves in someone else's shoes. They know what to omit. And these are the qualities you want in any candidate."Clarity, empathy, editing. The holy trifecta of great writing. To me, the ability to omit is the hidden gem in that statement.
As Mark Twain famously quipped, "Writing is easy. You just have to cross out the wrong words."But to get to that point where you can begin the real craft of editing, you simply need to begin to write, and then keep going. Many of you have asked me for more on writing so I've put together 10 ways, in no particular order, on how to create better content, write more, and really enjoy it.
1. Have an aim and goal. Map it out. Even a one-word theme on your calendar is a good start.
2. Make time to create. Block out the time on your calendar and treat it with as much importance as you would a meeting.
3. Find a routine. Write when you have the time, or energy. Energy management is just as important as time management. Schedule time to create for when you have the most energy.
4. Add an insight or a quote from someone else. Blogs and newsletters, even social media posts are richer when layered with different voices.
5. As you go into those quotes, experiment with them, make sure they tie in to what goes before and after. You can go far afield for awhile. Just start circling back so you end up close to your original premise by the last paragraph.
6. Take a physical break. Even standing up for a minute can give you a new perspective. Get a cup of coffee or take a walk outside.
7. Let it marinate. If I have the time, I let writing such as proposals and blogs marinate in my head for an evening -- the old "sleep on it" trick. The times I have sent something off too fast are the times I always then think of a better line, or a better angle.
8. Perfection is the enemy of progress. That quest for perfection is often the biggest obstacle for many of us. Get as close as you can to it, then hit "publish" anyway.
9. Even if there isn't an outside pressure (a client, a launch date), give yourself a deadline. They are, as Ann Handley so aptly puts it in "Everybody Writes," the WD40 of writing. Nothing will grease the wheels of creativity more than a deadline.
10. Take a mental break. Schedule one blog or newsletter that is easy to create such as a round-up post of the week's best photos, events, thoughts, or quotes.
11. (Because, as they say in Spinal Tap, all the best things go to 11) Repurpose your content. You've spent a lot of time creating it, now find ways to use it across all your platforms. Here is a content roadmap I use when working with clients and for my Brand Therapy members.I'll be here if you want to talk more about what you are struggling with, be it content creation, marketing in the time of Covid or simply how to make the best cup of coffee for window gazing on a rainy day -- for me it begins with Urth Caffe's Manhattan Mud beans.