This post is written for the Damn Fine Words Writing Contest.
Thank you, James Chartrand for this tremendous opportunity.
Thank you, James Chartrand for this tremendous opportunity.
As a freelance copy and content writer, words are my business. Writing is a profession that I fell into, almost by accident. While working as a manager at a retail store and attending studying Chinese Medicine in school, I accepted a part-time, work-from-home writing job. I figured it was a scam. After all, is writing even a real job? Turned out, not only did I get paid, but I got referrals and was eventually able to pursue my writing full-time.
Suddenly, my accidental career became my burning passion. I discovered that I love working with words. As a shy child and an introverted adult, the thought of speaking to a group sends me spiraling into a world of nightmares. However, with the power of my keyboard, I became a communication super-hero. I was able to write emails that people opened and read and sales pages that inspired people to buy. I wrote articles that both educated and entertained readers.
But now that I have been writing for a couple of years, I find myself hitting a wall. I am at a point where I want to ask for higher commissions and fees and start my own business writing and selling information products. Yet, despite my previous experience, I find my confidence is lacking. And while I saw constant improvement as a beginning writer, I find my skill-level stagnating.
My sales pages sell well, but most don't reach the level of excellent. My articles get traffic, but are lacking in social shares. My clients request edits to add detail and emotion that I am not always sure how to make. And writing quality material takes long hours and endless stress until the deadline finally arrives and I settle for good enough.
One thing I have learned is that words have immense power. A story well told gathers the reader into another world where they can observe, feel and experience all the writer has to offer. The outside world fades away until all that remains is the imagined world created by the writer -- a world so vivid and true that when the story ends, the emotion remains and the reader is forever changed.
I aspire to be that writer. I am working to become the writer that rises above good enough and whose every piece of content is excellent. To learn the skills necessary to reach that level of mastery would transform my business, my finances and my life.
To have the skills to create quality content that converts, whether it be an article, sales page, email or book, would give me the credibility and leverage to raise my rates and sell my own material. To be able to create that content more quickly would allow me to take on bigger, more exciting projects. And the increase in my income would allow me to pay of my student loans and experience greater financial freedom. But most importantly, to become that writer would give me the opportunity to provide a greater service to all of my clients and give me deeper satisfaction in the value of my work.
Suddenly, my accidental career became my burning passion. I discovered that I love working with words. As a shy child and an introverted adult, the thought of speaking to a group sends me spiraling into a world of nightmares. However, with the power of my keyboard, I became a communication super-hero. I was able to write emails that people opened and read and sales pages that inspired people to buy. I wrote articles that both educated and entertained readers.
But now that I have been writing for a couple of years, I find myself hitting a wall. I am at a point where I want to ask for higher commissions and fees and start my own business writing and selling information products. Yet, despite my previous experience, I find my confidence is lacking. And while I saw constant improvement as a beginning writer, I find my skill-level stagnating.
My sales pages sell well, but most don't reach the level of excellent. My articles get traffic, but are lacking in social shares. My clients request edits to add detail and emotion that I am not always sure how to make. And writing quality material takes long hours and endless stress until the deadline finally arrives and I settle for good enough.
One thing I have learned is that words have immense power. A story well told gathers the reader into another world where they can observe, feel and experience all the writer has to offer. The outside world fades away until all that remains is the imagined world created by the writer -- a world so vivid and true that when the story ends, the emotion remains and the reader is forever changed.
I aspire to be that writer. I am working to become the writer that rises above good enough and whose every piece of content is excellent. To learn the skills necessary to reach that level of mastery would transform my business, my finances and my life.
To have the skills to create quality content that converts, whether it be an article, sales page, email or book, would give me the credibility and leverage to raise my rates and sell my own material. To be able to create that content more quickly would allow me to take on bigger, more exciting projects. And the increase in my income would allow me to pay of my student loans and experience greater financial freedom. But most importantly, to become that writer would give me the opportunity to provide a greater service to all of my clients and give me deeper satisfaction in the value of my work.