Don't Write Crap
Sounds simple enough right! The goal of writing and publishing articles is to not write crap. However we all have done it whether we wanted to or not especially me.
When I first started to blog I would run through a gamut of ideas and themes that I wanted to put out. The biggest roadblock I faced was thinking that my writing always had to have a specific format. For example; the 3 formats I focused on were 1000 words minimum, write on the day’s trend or put in a bunch intelligent words. Don't get me wrong this could help but it depends on who is your target audience is.
I remember the first articles I posted to myurbanplanner.com took forever to put out. I was in analysis by paralysis overload. My confidence was 80%, matter of fact not even close to 50%. I was constantly thinking what if this article doesn't click? What if I only had 800 words? Etc.
Eventually succumbing to unnecessary pressures (those put on by myself) I put out a few articles that were crap. Just straight garbage; three to be exact and it wasn't until a week later when I reviewed my site that I realized it was crap and then deleted those articles.
The reason why it was crap, was because it wasn't in my own voice. Sure it was mine but it wasn't from a place of creativity it was just purely out of fear; the fear that I didn't hit all the metrics and points that I thought I needed to cover.
When it comes to writing I usually ask myself will this article be of use to anyone today. If the answer is yes then I have done my job. If no, then to me it is considered crap.
The lesson I learned from that experience was to be true to myself. Trying to impress others by using complex language won’t get you anywhere. It results in the audience not connecting to you at all. You may not even connect to it yourself on a reread.
Simply put just don't write crap!
Recent Comments
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I think we forget we are our first audience. Yes, we are to write for our readers, but the easier audience to magnet is people like ourselves, as buyers. If we can't get them, then connecting to others will be even more difficult.
There is no reason to impress, just address - your reader's needs, by simply being yourself.
Good post Teronie. ^_~
You make an excellent point about us the writers being our first audience. Thanks for the reply.
I agree... When we just sit down and write what we feel on a topic, it comes out more congenial, human and readable. I think the more we try to do that, the better. I know some of my techno mumbo-jumbo comes out stiff when it has statistics in it, but there will be times you cannot be overly friendly ~ yet you can soften it with the opening and closing paragraphs. Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Teronie - I think writing to try and "be someone else" is damaging. Your visitors will see through your mock writing and know it is forced.
I try (I don't have to try very hard :) ) to not use words I don't understand just to impress... I take the training here very seriously, and that says to write as if you are talking to someone. So my punctuation or grammar may not be 100% Queens English, but it's how I interact with people who know me and understand me.
You of all people, know what audience you are targeting - so speak to them as you would if you meet them in a lift.
Your post to me is spot on - don't force rubbish out - it only means rubbish in - write naturally, and your visitors will connect with YOU!
All the best, Mark
Thanks for the reply Mark. I dont have any issues posting the way I talk to others and more since I speak in my voice - I think one of the biggest things that I have a hard time in letting go I my grammar. I will reread my articles every so often just to catch errors after. (I actually just edited this article right before I replied to you lol) I sometimes try to relax on that but that is hard. However when speaking to others I am never overly focused on the grammer just the interaction.
Hi Teronie - you're grammar to me is absolutely fine - and how you write defines you and your style. Just write - the message will/does come across well as it is genuine.
My suggestions if you are interested is, write an article, publish it - then a couple of days later, go back and re-read it - if you want to change anything, do it - if not - don't. These are your posts, you have to be happy with them - no-one else.
All the best mate, Mark
Yes! Agree 100%.
We are, however, constantly being told by writing gurus to write to 8th grade level or write for Homer and use all the correct keywords and emotional hooks to keep the reader or browser concentrating for more than half a second on what we've written.
To be true to yourself is essential.
Reverting to 8th grade when I write or talk to people would require a frontal lobotomy. Dumbing down. Lowest common denominator.
So - am I writing crap when I'm being myself - or when I'm trying to be someone else and regressing to Primary School levels?
:) george
Hey George! One way to figure out if you're writing crap is if you get a response from it. What's your market telling you? If you're collecting hits, it's not crap. It depends a lot on your audience. If you're writing to PhD's, then they'll love long, run-on sentences with multisyllabic prose and stuff that only a dictionary can love!
I think you are writing crap when its not being true to self.
One reply that I really liked that I recieved was from Caylynn when she said - we forget we are our first audience.
Trying to be someone else and regressing you writing to primary school levels only takes away from your brilliance.
Your audience matters for sure, but if you know your audience well you trueself will alway get your intended message across
The only way to gain trust from your readers is to write from your heart. Good article and thank you for sharing with all of us.
Lol. I was writing crap at first but it has gotten as I got more experienced. And yes I had to delete some articles too.
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You should write for yourself in order to reach the people you want to attract, which means - be true to yourself. If you are writing for the audience first, it may still be good writing, but you should ask yourself if you're targeting the right audience. They should want to connect with you because the understand what you have to to say, to offer them, and want to really engage with you. If you "dumb it down" or "smart it up" either way, you'll lose. Be as smart as you are.
Absolutely.