writing as growth process

September 12th, 2008

This morning, someone gave me a huge compliment. I’m going to share it with you, not to brag, but because it’s about the art and life of writing (and blogging)…and because you are an important part of my writing community.

She said, ‘Do you realize how much you’ve grown as a writer since you first started this business? I always thought you were a good writer, but at the beginning, you were hesitant. Now that holding back is gone. I can hear you, you fill up the page.’

Admittedly, I’m not great at taking compliments so I brushed it away a bit and said thanks - and needed to be by myself to really take it in. And as I’m sitting here, absorbing, I’m also asking ‘why?’. Why have I gotten better? I have 2 answers.

1. Knowledge. I do a lot of public speaking and it’s something that I love and comes easily to me - because I talk about things that I really know and understand. Because my topics are so familiar, because I am so knowledgeable, it’s insanely easy for me to talk about it.

My writing is similar - I research my clients and their businesses so thoroughly, it becomes easy for me to write about them, second nature. My business is similar - I’ve learned (and continue to learn) so much about writing, marketing, blogging, social marketing, that I’m in comfortable territory. I’m doing what I know (and partnering with great people for what I don’t). Doing what I know, staying focused and getting better and better at those things is key for moi.

2. This blog. As a creative writer, I’ve set myself up for many challenges - journaling, morning pages, writing exercises, writing groups, etc. - all in a vain attempt to get myself to write and practice my craft everyday. But the longest I was able to maintain that flow was about 7 months.

Still, I was onto something - writing everyday does make my writing exponentially better - I just had to find the medium to sustain the writing and the writing development. Lo and behold, it’s this blog that makes me do it. Almost without fail (I am human and shit happens), I write this blog every day. How do I sustain the momentum? I love this medium, it fits so perfectly; and, the community that has grown around the blog is a mega-fueler. Because of this blog, something amazing happens to me every day: a new connection, a business opportunity, a quality referral, a highlight for my business, good old conversation.

Writing this blog is a true process. Sometimes I start writing about one topic and end up somewhere completely different. I love that because what it says to me is that I’m open - I have no agenda, my inner critic is surprisingly silent, I own this page and I’m making all of the editorial decisions, I feel like I’m connecting to people (which feeds me because I’m a very social animal), and I’m always delighted that people read and engage back through comments, emails, features and links.

*My hope is that every three years, my complimenter says these words to me again. That I keep learning, growing, developing - getting better. That I keep filling up my place as a writer and ‘filling up the page’ - full to burst.

How do you develop your skill, talent, craft, expertise? How do you measure this growth?

Filed under Blogging, Critical Copywriting | Tags: blog comments, blog networking, Blogging, copywriter, copywriting, Julie Roads, writing, Writing Roads | Comments (3)

and that’s what it’s all about: blogs, comments, tweets and conversations

September 5th, 2008

So…I’ve been a bit political lately (just a weeeeeee bit). And it’s brought me mad traffic and some nice commenting to boot. It’s fairly phenomenal that people who have spent days, months, years talking about other things are now talking, debating, writing, shouting about our political system, oh, and our futures, with such vigor. Think we’re hungry for change? There is a sense that we, the people, can actually make a difference - and that we have no choice but to try.

People are actually motivated to participate at a higher level and the internet is the perfect place to do it; it’s fast and it’s fluid - it’s a connector of people and ideas. We feel like we’re actually being heard - especially when people answer back - through comments, comment replies, Facebook, Twitter, etc…

On this blog, of the many great things that have happened as a result of the brouhaha, my favorite has been the commenting. When people are so moved (positively or negatively) by something they read that they just have to chime in, it’s, well, what we’re here for. I’ve learned much from listening to my readers - you are all so darn smart.

And as always, I’ve commented back because I don’t think that your efforts should go unanswered. I don’t want to be a one-sided blogger. Believe it or not, I’m here for the conversation. So, thank you to all that have commented - keep it coming.

As for Twitter, I’ve gotten new followers and watched older Twitter ‘relationships’ burst (in both directions)…but the conversations, the back and forth, are alive and well.

Another perk of the comments and the tweets? URLs. Everytime you comment or follow, you show me your website, which I then peruse with unfettered abandon…and I’ve found some great blogs to introduce you to:

1. The Cleaner Plate Club. Hormones in milk. Pesticides on produce. Feces on meat. Say what? I’m not a foodie, I’m rarely a cook, and I don’t have the time for slow food. Truth is, all I’m looking for is a decent meal - preferably one that my kids will eat, as well. So I begin my quest for a cleaner plate….Terrific writing, fab topic - check Ali out.

2. Punctuality Rules. A must for us writers who are more content than grammar (especially in these heated times!) Deb dishes the dirt on how to write, right, rite the rite, right, write way.

3. Green Your Decor. Jennae’s all about green interior design and doing good for the old planet. Also, she’s using the Thesis wordpress theme very, very well!

Hmmm…just noticed these are all women’s blogs. And I’m a woman…so that must mean that I will ignore all of Sarah Palin’s political ideals and just vote for her! Aw, geez, did I have to go there? Why yes, I did.

Filed under Blogging, Networking | Tags: blog comments, blogs, copywriter, copywriting, Facebook, freelance writer, Julie Roads, marketing writer, Social Media, Twitter, Writing Roads | Comments (10)

the target market of one: finding your blog audience

August 11th, 2008

Blogging is about the conversation, right? That said, there are certain ‘big’ blogs that I read where I can tell the writer is talking to thousands of people - I feel it, I feel like I’m just one of the many. There are other ‘big’ blogs that always leave me feeling like I’m the only one in the room - and that’s the goal - for any kind of marketing writing, perhaps any kind of writing.

Some of my readers have gone out of their way to tell me that they feel like I’m talking directly to them…which I find superb, because I am. I’m most certainly talking to one person - and that intimacy is able to come through. I’ve picked one person to write my blog to, and every time I sit down to write, I imagine this person sitting in front of me. I purpose my message to this individual allowing my conversational style to be authentic.

So, why then, you may ask, do so many of my readers feel like I’m writing to them personally? They, possibly you, feel that connection because it’s a contact high. It’s catharsis at its best. My best example of this phenomenon has to be the movies. Note: I am a writer with a very potent imagination, this might not show up for you in exactly the same way it does for me.

Take any romantic movie, throw George Clooney (still my favorite) in (or whoever does it for you) and let him/her romance the hell out of someone (could be a girl or a boy - have you seen the Ocean’s movies?)…somehow, sitting there, watching that movie, the viewer gets the sensation that George is talking to them, that they are in love and being loved by GC…and they literally feel full of bliss. Catharsis by movie: you get to revel in your emotions by watching someone else’s experience.

Anyway, as I write to my one and only, you pick up on our intimacy, our connection. I hope it makes you feel included, like you’re part of something. Because you are. This is an excellent writing tool that enables you to meet your audience and influence them. It’s the difference between talking to them and shouting at them, really. The difference between inviting them over to try your fabulous new coffee maker and telling them that they BETTER GET ONE BEFORE THEY’RE ALL GONE! Think about it.

The best part is, with the blog platform, you (the audience) get to talk back. You can keep that conversation going - say what you like, reveal what you don’t, ask for what’s missing. A conversation wants two or more - it can’t exist with just one. In effect, I am writing to you. And, I love it when you join me with emails or comments. I promise to always talk back.