Can anyone be a writer?
First of all – the world needs great writers. From a marketing perspective, we read adverts, instructions, and general words daily – as in all the time. All those words, sentences, and paragraphs need people like you to write them, and we need people like you to write them well. For anyone who enjoys writing but does not think they have what it takes to produce expressive and engaging copy: think again.
Like art, not everyone will like your writing - it is subjective. But there are many ways to make more people like your work. Many of us have been made to believe that we are either born writers or not. Although having an affinity for reading or writing may make it easier, we are here to tell you anyone can write.
Like anything else worth having, it takes a lot of practice. It doesn't happen overnight. Even the most renowned writers had to start their journey somewhere, with some of the best writers we know today rejected at some point in their writing careers. J.K. Rowling faced perilous rejection, with 12 publishing houses declining to sign her on. Eventually, Bloomsbury took the plunge and published the Harry Potter series. She is now worth $1 billion.
Still not convinced?
If you want to be a good writer, it may take some time and a whole lot of hard work to be successful. You must have grit, dedication, and the stamina to never give up. Never compare your starting work and first drafts to those who have already found success. They have years of knowledge and experience. If you want to write badly enough and are willing to put the time in, you can be an ace writer. Technology has made our lives a lot easier with grammar checks and rephrasing websites, too - which takes a lot of the pressure off of the novice writer.
Want to write but feel like you have no idea where to start? We have tips and tricks for you to formulate your own secret writing recipe. Ready to learn? Pick up those proverbial pens, and read on for the best tips that helped us get started!
Rules are there to be broken
Especially at the beginning.)We implore you to just start writing. We know that we must follow standard grammar and spelling rules, but ignore that at first and let your mind wander. Once you have written a substantial amount of text, you can always go back and edit it. When the writing mood strikes, just get started and put pen to paper. Let go and let the words flow!
Keep your tone active
Wait, what?
Many writers have no idea what this means when they start, but the difference between an active and passive voice can make or break your writing. It can mean the difference between being a success and a failure.
Here is an example of an active voice: Stacy knocked the TV over. Now the passive voice: The TV was knocked over by Stacy. As you can see, the active phrase is lively, clear, and dynamic. While there is a time and a place for a passive voice, it makes writing a little less exciting and engaging, which means that fewer people will read it.
Be your own critic
Unfortunately, because writing comes from our creative energy, we writers are an emotional bunch, and we can end up getting a bit too attached to our work. No matter what plan to write, whether it be a script, book, or even a blog post designed to entertain, read your work from an outsider’s perspective. Even if you are proud of a clever metaphor or a well-structured sentence, try to view your work objectively and scrap the parts that don’t need to be there.
Don't overcomplicate
Research has shown that not even doctors or lawyers want to read complicated, long, and jargon-filled posts. Try and always keep your writing succinct and to the point. We also don’t read content online. Our brains actively search for something relevant to grab our attention, and we scan the content in the shape of an F. Yep - you are doing it right now.
Read
Ok, this tip is our two for the price of one.
Firstly, read as much as you can. Reading can increase our vocabulary, expand our creativity, and even reduce stress. But reading articles and books written by writers you revere can sharpen your writing skills. As a writer, you need to get inspiration daily. If we read work and content that we are passionate about, in turn, we will end up writing passionately.
Our second “read” tip? Read your work out loud. While it may unsettle everyone around you, you get to view your work as the reader rather than the writer, improving the quality of your writing and ensuring others want to read it too.
What we think
We could write a book on how we believe writing is an art form. Unlike physical art, though, there are formulas and rules you need to follow to ensure your final work is actually art, but your first, private drafts can be the catalyst for producing writing that your audience wants to read.
As an education marketing agency, we believe in the power of the pen. There is a valid reason we hire writers – writing forms the basis for creating strategies, while the content we produce targets each audience eloquently - as if the very words were created for them. The strength formed in the words we write directly influences how audiences view brands, and that is what makes our work so important.
While having vast experience and knowledge forms the foundation of those who write, we all started somewhere. If you are passionate about writing and feel like the words escape you, we encourage you to put pen to paper and start practising! There are heaps of undiscovered, talented writers that haven’t dared to start.
