Let’s consider Dorothy Parker, high priestess of the Algonquin Round Table (the 1920’s oh-so legendary group of New York City’s most sarcastic, witty, and often inebriated writers). Dorothy’s unique genius and the vibe of the times were a perfect creative combination. As a journalist, writer, and poet she wrote for The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, published short stories and poems and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Though Mrs. Parker was well-known for her quips she was also able to make a living via her myriad compositions. Of course, it wasn’t much of a living in her opinion, but her aspirations were quite high. As she once said, “I don’t know much about being a millionaire, but I’ll bet I’d be darling at it.” How was she able to make it all work? She switched between personal and professional writing, albeit not too quickly.
Just like any writer, she suffered from writer’s block. In one instance, she sent a telegram to her Viking Press editor stating, “all I have is a pile of paper with wrong words. Can only keep at it and hope to heaven to get it done.”
Remember why you’re writing content for your client.
If you’ve found yourself struggling with switching from personal to professional writing, you’re not alone. Heed these tips and get yourself back on the professional page!
It’s time to get excited!
There’s a reason your client is your client – you’re just as invested in them as they are in you. A simple way to get back on track to success is to revisit the past. Check out your client’s Google Analytics and social media and take a look at the top performing content. Are there additional ideas that could be culled from the topic? Could you get more granular with the topic and share even more information readers would enjoy? Think long tail keywords and search queries.
Plumb new resources.
Sure, you have your go-to industry news sources for timely topics, but have you taken the time to dig deeper? Check out an industry source’s social media posts. This is a perfect way to view the online discussions resulting from their content – think Facebook comments and how people are responding to their posts. What are they asking? This is a great way to get topic ideas as well as answer some frequently asked
questions in your client’s industry. Additionally, take a deeper look into those who are sharing your client’s social media posts. These interested parties can also be new resources for topics. Get to know their personas and learn more about what their interests are.
Just say hello.
Have you visited your client recently? Had a conference call with them? In this day and age, we forget about the true wonders of communication – the old school kind, like talking to each other. Your client is an industry expert and they’re as passionate about what they do as you are about what you do. A meeting or a call is a great way to touch base, make a personal connection, and get the latest on what your client is excited about. Plus, any potential topics can be brainstormed by the both of you – and two heads are better than one.
Don’t forget, communication should always be encouraged. It can be as simple as your client emailing you a link to a cool news article now and again. Bonus: don’t be afraid to ask if you can speak with brand evangelists or customer service reps to make sure you know what their real customers are thinking about.
Finally, consider the fabulous feeling you get at the end of a project and our gal Dorothy, who said: “I hate writing, I love having written.”
And if these tips don’t help…
Don’t give up. You could always publish a (very short) book on writer’s block and make a killing. So sayeth, Mrs. Parker, “I’d like to have money. And I’d like to be a good writer. These two can come together, and I hope they will, but if that’s too adorable, I’d rather have money.”
