Last time, I talked about the importance of becoming educated if you want to start a freelance writing business. I talked about becoming educated about business, about the nature of freelancing and about writing itself. I want to use that last concept as a jumping-off point for today’s post.
You see, in my mind, there is no more important task for the freelance writer than really understanding her own writing, seeing where it fits in the larger context of things, and improving her craft.
I’ve said it before: one of the great challenges that the Internet presents is preserving quality writing. You see, great writing matters online. There are plenty of websites out there with poorly-written content that serve only to attract search engine visitors and send them on their way. While this may be a successful business model for some, to make your living as a freelance writer you need to move beyond this kind of writing.
Honing your writing craft is a part of that process. It takes a dedication to quality, and a commitment to continual self-improvement.
Let me give a real-life example. One of the newer areas of freelance writing I’ve been exploring lately has been writing sales letters. Six months ago, when I sold my first sales letter, I can honestly say that my first attempt was pretty sad. I had a lot to learn about how sales pages work, about the progressions involved, and about the kinds of voice that a sales letter needs in order to convert.
So, what did I do? I worked at it. I researched it (we’re back to education here, of course). I discovered that there are a number of approaches to sales letters. I found one that fit my personal writing philosophy and my style, and I practiced. Today, I’m writing sales letters on a regular basis, and they’re vastly improved over those first efforts. Not only that, I’m getting positive feedback that they’re working.
So, how do you do it? How do you go about honing your craft, in preparation for starting your freelance writing business?
There are plenty of ways to improve your writing, but here are some general principles you should keep in mind:
- You write. Plain and simple. Write every day. Write many kinds of things, test out different ideas, and see what you’re capable of and interested in.
- Beyond that, you need to be willing to critique your own writing. Set your writing aside for a day or two, and come back at it. Slash it up with a highlighter and pen, and then rewrite it. Keep doing this until you feel like the finished product is something worth selling.
- You also need to be willing to put your work out there for others to critique. Join a writer’s forum, post to a ratings-based article directory like Helium, or find yourself a mentor. Find people who are willing to give you some honest feedback about your writing, and be willing to accept that feedback.
Like most things in life, becoming a great writer is less about being inspired, and more about being dedicated to the task.
Follow The Journey: Other Posts In This Series
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Introduction
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Education
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Honing Your Craft
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Planning
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Building Your Portfolio
How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Finding Work
photo credit: liveandrock
15 comments ↓
I try to stretch myself beyond what I am comfortable doing. It challenges my writing.
Taking online classes, attending conferences and even taking classes through the local college are also ways I work to increase my writing skills.
Kathryns last blog post..Peculiar Actions for Creative People
Sweet article, thanks for including the links to your other posts.
I’ve never heard of Helium? Interesting, joining a writing forum, makes sense to me. Being committed, that’s a question we cannot ignore. Am I committed to growth? Thanks!
Miguel Wickerts last blog post..Blog Action Day 08: Poverty
38. Let your writing sit 24 hours before publishing whenever possible.
I like this one. I think allowing ones article to sit, can give you the time to make significant changes.
Further, I think reading is the very best way to improve writing. No doubt about it.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Cultivating Awareness: The Sure Path to Reaching The Top
It was only thrown in at the end, but I liked your comment about not waiting for inspiration. I’ve found it is not like the moments of epiphany shown in the movies. It is more a case of just putting the work in and, occasionally, you even surprise yourself.
Cris Cohens last blog post..Hell on Wheels
“There are plenty of websites out there with poorly-written content that serve only to attract search engine visitors and send them on their way.”
I agree on this one. When I started writing on the web, I found it ridiculous that some clients put an emphasis on keywords even if the statements end up being nonsensical. And today, I still find that practice ridiculous.
“Set your writing aside for a day or two, and come back at it.”
In my case, what I do is take up an activity that’s different from writing like play the guitar or watch TV. I let it sit for around 15 minutes or so. It’s enough to give me a fresh eye, so to speak, to edit my work.
Cedric Solidons last blog post..Why Now is the Best Time to be a Freelancer or to Start a Business
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I’m like a sponge, always absorbing whatever knowledge I can. I read books and blogs and always try to stay humble and open to learning new things. I love studying to improve my writing skills.
Great post!
*smiles*
Michele
Micheles last blog post..Pulling the Reins: On Myself?
I had a client (no more) and sent her my first draft of the web site’s content. The company preferred their original content, which was essay-style, very dry, and not very clear.
I thought I was missing something if they thought the original was better. Had to do a sanity check and thank goodness… my friend pointed out mine was much better.
Sometimes you’ll have clients or work with people who don’t really know what makes strong web content even though they use web sites themselves.
Meryl Evanss last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008: Poverty
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As writers, we need to hear more of this, I think. I just wrote about this on my own blog – that we need to keep on growing and learning our trade, working to better at what we do. Great post!
To add to what Michele wrote, Stephen King has a line in his book “On Writing” where he says, “If you don’t have the time to read, then you don’t have the time or the tools to write.”
Cris Cohens last blog post..Hell on Wheels
[...] on “How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business,” and has an especially good post on honing your craft. Author Bob aptly summarizes the need to take the skills and technique involved in writing for [...]
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