It’s common for non-writers to have trouble understanding how writing for a living actually works.
They imagine bespectacled introverts pounding away at their keyboards, detached from social settings and business transactions.
How is a reclusive life compatible with a sustainable job?
Writing is solitary work, but professional writers know publishing is a collaborative process.
And in-demand writers know how the seven practices below foster the solid relationships they have with their editors, clients, and bosses that enable their thriving careers.
This guidance applies to a number of situations, including:
Your aim is to demonstrate your dedication to clear communication, whether you’re speaking, composing an email, or educating with content.
1. Provide value upfront
Providing value as quickly as possible applies to a number of situations.
When you write articles, if you wait until the last paragraph to give a smart takeaway, you’re asking a lot of your readers.
Do you like sticking around if you don’t know you’ll receive a payoff?
A thoughtful writer uses his introduction to assure you his article is the right fit for your needs and then continues to add intriguing elements to guide you through the text.
Providing value upfront also includes considering the needs of any other people you may be working with.
If you’re not done with your project yet, but you’ve completed a task someone else is waiting for you to finish, pass along that part of the project to them early.
It shows you care about the project as a whole, and not just your contribution.
2. Choose the right words to connect
Impeccable word choice is the ability to select the words that effortlessly resonate with your target reader.
It’s often not the most fancy or complicated word.
So, research who you’re talking to and do your homework.
3. Write short paragraphs to persuade
Short paragraphs may seem like a minor detail, but they actually contain a critical benefit.
They are simply easier to read, which means they’re more likely to get read word for word.
When your words get read — rather than skimmed — you are more likely to persuade.
4. Add well-chosen hyperlinks
Be selective when you hyperlink to sources.
Too many hyperlinks can be overwhelming and lead to confusing or unfocused writing. But showing someone the right hyperlink at the right time can also lead to a satisfied colleague, editor, or reader.
Balance is key.
5. Don’t hand off fact-checking
In addition to article writing,…
