Writing Look Like Dead Grass? Fertilizer for Your Fingers.
By Michael Stelzner
Has your writing dried out? Feel like your creative energy has been leached? Are you growing?
Whether you are writing white papers, web content, blog entries, brochures or any other copy, you MUST be fed. Eventually your writing will turn from healthy green to an ugly shade of brown if you do not take regular and proactive steps to fertilize your writing.
Like healthy grass, a good writer needs fertilizer, regularly applied. Here are few ideas to keep your writing crisp and green:
- Apply fertilizer: Once every few weeks, seek out excellent writing and get inspired. Look to industries outside yours to find examples. Think outside the garden. An excellent place to add fertilizer is the Successful Blog. Read some of the entries on writing and start turning your writing green again.
- Mow regularly: Be sure to cut, hack and edit your writing on a regular basis. By trimming away the extra words, your writing becomes tighter. Always force yourself to sit on your writing and revisit it—even when you think it is complete. Good editing results in more enjoyable words for your readers.
- Avoid too much sun: Take a break from your writing. Come back fresh and new after a small rest. Walk around for a bit. Listen to some tunes. Grab a snack. Forced distractions often result in creative bursts.
What are some of the strategies you use to keep your writing green?
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August 17th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Like you, Michael, I write white papers, among other things. Recently, a blogging evangelist criticized me for doing so and told me that blogs were a much more potent marketing tool than white papers. “White papers are just marketing speak,” he said, perhaps referring to the fact that they are often produced by marketing departments. People prefer reading blogs, because they know blogs tell the truth, he insisted. Any thoughts?
August 17th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Hey Bob - Great to hear from you! Yes you write other things. How about more than 60 books! I am honored you came by and said hello. I have to say that blogs are pretty great, but I think we both agree white papers are much more powerful marketing tools.
It is true many white papers are marketing speak, but so are many blogs! Hmmm. If it is in writing it must be true, huh? I think blogs are actually run under less scrutiny than white papers are. There are a lot more quality checks that go into white papers than blog entries.
By the way, looking forward to your forthcoming book on Blogs! Check it out here folks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078521576X
So Bob, a bigger question for you: How do you keep your writing green. You write a ton. Please share your thoughts!
Mike
August 17th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
Great suggestions for keeping your writing fresh. To add some more commentary related to blogs, I would say that a blog can also be a great writing tool. Although not always true, a blog does not necessarily have to be as polished as something like a whitepaper. Instead, it benefits more from appearing as more thoughtlike and free-flowing. In other words, you don’t have to always edit and re-edit them. In addition, by regularly writing in a blog your writing skills stay honed for times the times when they really need to shine (e.g. a white paper).
August 18th, 2006 at 7:10 am
Good ideas, Michael. Regarding editing your own writing, I would add have *someone else* edit your writing — like a real editor. I have found this tactic particularly beneficial.
And of course, going on vacation always works.
August 18th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Michael and Dianna;
Michael - Good points on blog writing sharpening your general writing pencil.
Dianna - Enjoy your vacation (I happen to know you have one coming), your work will benefit as a result.
Mike
August 20th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Many of you have probably seen this little tip noted elsewhere… I call it “blurt writing.” You just jump in and start typing like a madman. The method works best right after you’ve digested a large volume of background material. It helps keep your writing green, and it also helps you get started and interested when you’re procrastinating. Great discussion & original entry.
August 21st, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Hi Phil - I have tried that and it does take discipline if you are a perfectionist and need every word to sound good on the first pass. I wish I could do more of it - Mike
September 6th, 2006 at 10:22 am
Hi,
For me, I try to break the writer’s block by reading around. If I’m writing a blog entry, I’ll take a look at blog entries. If it’s an informative article, I’ll scrounge around for articles. Just anything that’ll give me new perspective on writing–sentence structures, openers, flow, transitions, diction, etc.
Other methods I’ve tried include using one random word (ie. “button”) and generating as many things I can about it– a fictional paragraph with the word in it, types of buttons, word-play, what buttons do, etc. Sounds weird, but it works for me when I need to push the writing ^u^
October 26th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Hi Micheal - i cmae here trhough a link on Successful Blog.
I like your attitude in this post. The mowing regularly - sometimes I delete that which was written all together. Sometimes I write by hand in my journal then turn it into a blog post.
I do the dishes to take a break from writing and also try a new medium other than wiritng such as drawing or painting. Recently I pulled another artists drawing and just played with them in photoshop. I sent them to her. It made her smile and a new idea was born in this transaction. I hope to make it real soon.
cheers!
October 26th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Hi Jessica - Welcome and good to hear from you! It is real important to take lots of breaks to keep things sharp! - MIKE
July 21st, 2007 at 11:18 am
I live in San Antonio tx. - we just experienced 14 ” of rain . I’ve been advised I need to fertizer when its drys - Its for my lawn st.A.- what should use and when.
thanks bob