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.
You can apply this guidance when:
- Relationship-building with influencers
- Pitching article ideas
- Drafting a content marketing strategy
- Writing articles
- Editing your content
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 helps you out in 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 when you’re not sure if you’ll receive the payoff you’re looking for?
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, fact-checking also applies to pitching article topics or proposing an idea to a collaborator — you don’t want to send outdated or incorrect details.
For a writing assignment, your editor, client, or boss should just have to verify your text.
It’s disappointing when they have to correct a misspelled name or replace a broken hyperlink. It’s even more aggravating when a portion of your draft needs to be deleted or revised because it has inaccurate information.
Fact-checkers, proofreaders, and editors love the writers who don’t create more work for them.
6. Finish your final draft a few days early
This is the jolt of energy that supercharges all of the other tips.
When you finish a draft a few days before you need to turn it in, you have the extra time to properly implement the five practices I’ve already mentioned.
Some people like the 24-hour rule where you take a break from your draft before you edit it. My view is that truly compelling content needs even more time to marinate.
It’s not about being a perfectionist. It’s about creating an environment that allows you to do your best work.
In order for me to successfully implement this lesson, I’ve learned that I need to leave more time to write because it always takes longer than I think it will.
One of the reasons it takes longer is because when I’m working on one article, I tend to get new ideas.
Those new ideas give me momentum that I want to follow, which leads to me outlining or researching another article or articles.
Now when I’m setting aside time to write, I think: “In theory, I only need three more hours to write, edit, and proofread the article I’m working on, but I need to set aside six or more hours.”
That extra time is especially helpful if you’re juggling more daily responsibilities than just writing your article. (And who isn’t?)
7. Give deadlines
LL Cool J says, “DDHD (Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines).�
I say, “DAD (Deadlines Aren’t Demanding).�
You might think editors are the ones giving deadlines to writers, but sometimes you have a question for the person who assigned your writing project. Or, you may need information from someone else so you can complete your work.
When you send your request, give a deadline for when you need them to get back to you.
This boils down to effective email communication.
To illustrate why deadlines are helpful, and not demanding, let me show you what it looks like if someone asks me to review their writing and they don’t give me a deadline for when they need the work completed.
Innocent Email Request: “Stefanie, can you look at this?�
Stefanie’s Internal Reaction: Panic. I already have a full plate — when am I going to fit this in? I have a lot of other important work to do, but I don’t want to let this person down either. I need to ask them for a deadline.
Stefanie’s Question: “Sure, when do you need it back?�
Innocent Reply: “Oh, by the end of the week would be great.�
Stefanie’s Mind: Relief.
Stefanie’s Confirmation: “Sounds great, will do!�
Notice how much extra back-and-forth and potential panic/frustration could have been avoided if that first Innocent Email Request said: “Stefanie, can you look at this by the end of the week?�
That whole middle part of the communication wouldn’t have happened, and we would have skipped to Stefanie’s Confirmation that satisfies everyone’s needs in this situation: “Sounds great, will do!�
I hope that inspires you to overcome feeling shy about giving a deadline when you have a request for someone else.
Remember, that extra bit of information will likely help them manage their schedule and reduce the time you both spend writing emails. 🙂
What impresses you?
If you’re an editor or you manage content, how can writers impress you?
And writers … what practices have you learned that keep you in the good graces of your editors, clients, and bosses?
Let us know in the comments below.
Reader Comments (7)
Adedapo Olatunde says
As an editor, I love it when the writer has done the job perfectly –
– proofread the write-up and formatted the it very well. It makes my job easy, and I don’t have to start correcting mistakes or re-wording sentences.
Andrea Arthur Owan says
Thank you, Stefanie! For me, all of these points boil down to creating that kind of environment where you can do your best work (as much as is possible with you). I get a lot of requests for people to do freebie editing or critiquing of their pieces (friends, writing peers), and I’ve had to blend my “want to help” attitude with asking them exactly when they need the piece evaluated and telling them when I can realistically get to it. Then the ball’s in their court. Keeps me from getting irritated at them for emailing me with last-minute requests; and keeps me on schedule with my own (paid-for) work.
I really need to spend time working on #1, though. As an inspirational magazine article writer, I often need to wait until the end of the piece to provide the takeaway. Just the nature of the genre and the publication’s expectations. Writing my inspirational blog is another story. Thanks for reminding me that I always need to know my audience and their needs!
Stefanie Flaxman says
That’s a great tip for handling your non-paid editing work, Andrea!
When you do a favor for someone, you can often cut out asking them for a deadline and just be upfront about what you can do for them and when you can complete the request. It helps manage their expectations too. 🙂
For your inspirational articles, making sure that the benefits of reading are in the headline (and perhaps expanded on a bit in the introduction) might be all you need to provide value upfront, if the style of the articles require you to provide the full takeaway at the end.
Randy Cox says
An idea hits me. Then the headline forms. I start envisioning what the image might look like. The flow of the subheads start to take shape…
Articles hit me hard, and I need to stop what I’m doing and go with it, or they are lost. I’m guilty of riding that wave of enthusiasm all the way to hitting the “Publish” button or dashing it off to an editor without building any kind of “marinade time” into my process. After reading this, I can look back and recall times when I wished I had waiting one more day or so because of a last-minute insight I got and would have liked to include. I just added a new column to my Trello Article Pipeline board.
Thanks Stefanie!
Stefanie Flaxman says
Glad to hear the article inspired you to add a new step to your routine, Randy!
I love that momentum — you have to ride it. And when you can balance it with time to rest, reflect, and improve, that’s powerful. 🙂
LJ Sedgwick says
I’ve definitely found that implementing any feedback on style etc. that I receive on the first couple of articles helps – it proves you’re willing to listen, and it gives the client less to do at their end.
Stefanie Flaxman says
Yes! It absolutely shows that you want to have a working relationship with them, rather than blindly do everything your way and make the same *what-they-see-as* mistakes again and again. 🙂
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