If you create advertisements, sales letters, and other marketing materials, you might think that fiction writers don’t have a lot of useful advice to give you—but you’d be wrong.
Sure, writing a press release is very different from writing a novel, but you might be surprised by the number of similarities as well. After all, good writing is good writing.
Here’s some advice that you can apply on your next project.
1. Writing Is a Process
Writing is a process, so get your ideas down and go from there.
Don’t worry about making it great the first time—you can write as many drafts as you need to get it right.
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2. Get Over Perfectionism
Perfectionism can be destructive for any kind of creative work—whether that’s writing, painting, programming, or marketing.
Let go of the pressure to write the perfect ad or brochure. It will never happen. Strive for your best, but don’t expect it to be absolutely perfect.
3. Writing Requires Discipline
Writing involves discipline and patience. It’s often hard to have the self-discipline to sit down and write, but that’s what it takes.
If you find yourself procrastinating on a big marketing project, a little discipline can go a long way. Committing to a schedule can also help—such as writing an hour a day or producing 2,000 words every week.
4. Writing Is Hard
Writing can be tough work. Even winners of the Pulitzer Prize feel that way, so don’t feel bad when it gets difficult—you’re not alone. If you put in the time to craft your marketing materials, good things will come.
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5. Good Ideas Can Strike When You Least Expect Them
You never know when your best ideas will strike. That doesn’t mean you should sit around, procrastinating on your work and waiting for great ideas to suddenly come to you.
It does mean you can’t always force brainstorming—so be patient. Research shows that insights often come to people while they’re doing routine activities.
“Jogging, swimming, knitting, or sipping brew at the coffeehouse may be your stimulus of choice,” write John J. Ruszkiewics and Jay T. Dolman in their book How to Write Anything. “Such routine activities keep the body occupied, allowing insights to mature.”
6. There’s No Secret Formula
Again, writing is a process, and even the pros don’t have a secret formula for success. So instead of focusing on the outcome, focus on putting in the effort.
For example, instead of saying, “This social media campaign needs to generate five leads a week,” say, “We’ll put in three hours per week on our social media campaign.”
7. Be Concise
Be efficient and economical. Don’t say something in a whole paragraph when a simple sentence will do.
Write simply, clearly, and concisely—your readers will appreciate it.
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8. Editing Is Crucial
Don’t underestimate the importance of editing.
As Capote’s quote illustrates, editing can often be more effective than writing. Even the pros don’t get it right on their first drafts—they need revisions and editing to polish their material and make it come to life.
If you’re looking for a copy editing team that understands marketing and solid writing principles, contact Super Copy Editors now to learn more about our professional editing services for marketers.
