My top tip for writing content – Freedom
I think we all know the saying ‘do as I say not as I do’ and I have been very guilty of this recently, I’ve been wrapped up in writing for all our clients on some fantastic, creative and exciting projects that I put no time aside for me! I knew we were exceptionally busy but like many of you say to me, I was struggling to find time to write a blog post or two for Citrus. It seems silly really that I was not practising what I was preaching, especially when I have such a passion for writing.
I was chatting to a very wise friend of mine a couple of nights ago, although she talked more than she listened (she is a talker) it was just what I needed. This one conversation seemed to unblock something and reminded me that yes, my work may be my passion but I find true freedom when I am writing for myself. That night I put pen to paper and just wrote, it wasn’t a blog post or a work of fiction, just a series of thoughts, but once I opened the flood gates it was hard to stop!
They will never take our FREEDOM!
When training people to write, I always encourage them to open themselves up and give themselves the freedom to just go for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s crap or right, it’s just about letting go. As soon as you put pen to paper without judgement something amazing happens, you actually become to enjoy what you are doing, and you learn to love to write.
There is a time for everything
We can all be too self-critical of our work, some will begin editing the first paragraph and even the first sentence as they are still writing it. What does this do for your creativity? It crushes it and makes it harder to continue, the more we edit and criticise the more we become disillusioned with what we are doing. Yes, of course, there is a time and place for editing but it’s not at the start it’s at the end. I am sure my first draft of this post will be full of the welcomed red pen when I’ve finished it.
Nobody’s perfect
I sometimes find I write a piece and it’s not flowing, and when this happens it comes across in the writing. There is nothing wrong with ditching it all together but before you hastily press delete, or in my case, place the paper in the bin (I am a pen and paper girl), read through it, there may be a fantastic little nugget in there that you can use as inspiration for another piece.
My soundtrack to creativity
At Citrus Central our office is open plan, so can be filled with noises and conversations which can be very distracting. Many of you work in similar environments so how can you ensure that you create the right setting for writing? My method is simple, one snazzy pair of headphones and some music, now I’m not talking those tunes you sing loudly to in the car as lyrics can often distract us as well. I love movie scores, give me a bit of Zimmer, Williams, Horner and Barry and I am in my happy place. Trying to write when you are not giving yourself the environment to do so can be very frustrating not to mention you will not be letting go completely.
Room with a view
When I’m out of the office I get inspired by the landscape, a beautiful view, hypnotic scenery and the words flow quicker that my pen and move across the paper. Why make life difficult for yourself, take yourself off to somewhere that inspires you and see how much easier you find it to write.
Frozen
For the thousands of parents out there that are sick of ‘Let it go’, I’m sorry but this is your motto from now on because all successful writing starts when you give yourself……
Freedom.
Tips on content writing http://www.citruscontent.com/blog/
Looking for content? Andrea Morgan 07872 329 151
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