Writing is something that I love to do, and I challenge myself to write every day (fun fact: my writing muscle is the one and only muscle I exercise on a regular basis!).
If you read my introductory post you know that I am a freelance writer and reporter. I develop articles for a weekly newspaper and I publish stories in magazines and online. From time-to-time, organizations (like the University of Alberta or the Yellow Pages) ask me to write stories for them too.
How did I get there?On my very first day as a content creator, I was pretty overwhelmed. It was hard to know where to start because I didn’t know my own voice yet.
Knowing what you want to say is one thing, but actually getting the right words down on paper and finding your own style of writing can be challenging. Where do we start?
You can do this, and you can do it well.
To write content that people will want to read you need to develop a writing process. And by that, I mean develop your process. Every person on steemit has a different way they go about writing: your job is to figure out a process that works for you (something you can consistently stick with).
Think of your writing process as a step-by-step guide or a template you use each time you post something new. Maybe it's a formula you develop or maybe it's a checklist you use when reviewing a post's final draft.
Consider these elements as you build your template and your writing style:
What topic are you writing about and why? Always ask yourself: does this post align with the greater goal of what I’m trying to achieve with my blog. Basically, you’re deciding if your (potential) topic is on brand? Readers subscribe to you because they like your style, so aim for consistency.
Who is your audience? Are you creating content for yourself to read, or for others to read? Consider who your audience is and what aspects of your topic will appeal to them.
Be credible. Let readers know why you are a credible source. Why should I spend my time reading your story on the history of bitcoin, for example? Show me why you are the person in the know so I am more invested in what you have to say. Link to credible sources.
Use plain language and organize the layout your story in digestible pieces. Be concise and stay focused on the central theme of your topic (one central theme per post).
Draft, draft, draft. If you want to write quality content, don’t expect to punch out a story in one sitting. Your first draft should look different than your final draft. A good first draft will have all your ideas down on paper. Subsequent drafts are for shaping it into the final, polished story you want it to be. It helps to let a draft or two sit for a while and then return back to it later (it’s easier to see it with fresh eyes this way).
Include visual elements. Nobody wants to read a long block of text. It’s boring and people will lose interest fast; instead include accompanying pictures that stand out, illustrations, or a video. Break up your text by using headers and bolded words. White space is your friend, people.
Include a call-to-action. If you write a great story, that’s wonderful! But, what’s next? Be sure to include something more to keep readers interested: a link to another one of your stories, a push to sign-up for your newsletter, or a plug for your next video.
The more content you write, the stronger your voice will become and the more readers will be drawn to your work.
I leave you with one final piece of advice on developing content: plan ahead. With planning comes a greater chance of success because you can post with a strategy in mind. Click here to access a free printable planner I created for your posts (allowing you to plan your posts a week in advance).
Cheers.
