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November 2005 |
Published by Dianna Huff |
Volume 5, Number 11 |
Reclaiming Your Writing Passion
Tired? Depressed? Edgy? Can't find the energy to write that product brochure? Feel like you're a writing machine churning out copy day after day? Me too, and it wasn't until I came back from vacation in California still feeling drained and exhausted that I realized something was wrong. Very wrong. The problem? A very fine case of writer's burnout. The worst thing about it is the panic: It is very scary indeed to lose your enthusiasm for something you love. I'm feeling much better now, but during my recuperative semi-sabbatical, I did some research into writer's burnout, which is a very real ailment that affects writers everywhere -- even us "corporate" types. Treating writer's burnout depends on what got you there in the first place. For me, it was simply too many hours over a long period of time. If you're feeling tired and your writing is lacking that special "oomph," here are my suggestions for reclaiming your writing passion: 1. Take care of yourself -- A cliché, I know, but getting plenty of rest and exercise goes a long way toward restoring and maintaining your creative energy. I was a little surprised at how good I felt once I started getting eight hours of sleep and exercising every day. 2. Recharge your batteries regularly -- Creativity doesn't just happen on demand -- you have to nurture it, which means giving yourself that important downtime when ideas ferment. For me, this means not working weekends and reading "fluff" fiction. For you, this might mean going for a walk at lunch, taking time off after a particularly grueling project, or cleaning out your office while you mull over your next project. 3. Find inspiration in another company's marketing -- Ok, so I admit it. I'm a Red Hat groupie. So of course, I was thrilled to see Chris Grams, Red Hat's director of marketing, and my marketing hero, at MarketingSherpa's Boston Lead Gen Summit and listen to him talk about the company. While my clients aren't Red Hat, nor do they want that type of marketing, I look to Red Hat to remind me I'm supposed to be having fun. 4. Find another writing outlet -- Writing for the same company or industry can dull a writer's edge after awhile. One way to find joy in writing again, and stretch your writing muscles, is by writing for other venues. My colleague, Tom Ahern, who normally writes for non-profits, also writes a food column for Rhode Island Monthly magazine. David Scott, author of Cashing In with Content, wrote an article about his stint as a male model in Japan, which was published in the North American Review. My good friend and PR expert Jane Ward recently wrote an article about her dog for The Pet Gazette. 5. Set specific writing times -- Professional writers set specific writing times or goals each day: Some writers set word or page limits -- for example 1,500 - 2,000 words a day. Others write for a set number of hours each morning. More important, they write without interruption. Keeping to a specific, uninterrupted time or word limit helps prevent burn out because you're not writing all day; plus, you'll get more done in half the time. Trust me. Have you suffered writer's burnout? If so, what caused it and how did you recuperate? Let me know your story -- info@dhcommunications.com. |
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Become a Powerful Writer: Attend Bob Bly's Boot CampSays Bob, "This is not a wanna-be boot camp where you'll learn one secret or two. We'll show you how to write copy that sends response rates through the roof. You'll work directly with either me or Fred Gleeck -- one of America's top copywriters -- for three information-packed days." Piqued your interest? You can read all about it at the "World's Best-Kept Copywriting Secrets" Boot Camp page. Reservations are limited, so sign up early! |
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Top Ten Web Design MistakesJakob Nielsen polled his Alertbox readers to find the Web design mistakes that irked them the most. The top three? Illegible fonts (as in teeny type and low contrast between font and background color), non-standard links, and Flash. |
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Worry-free MarCom You'll get someone who 1) understands how to write copy that generates leads; 2) delivers copy that needs little revision; and 3) won't miss your deadline. Ever. Dianna Huff--She makes you look good. |
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Previous Issues Three Tips for Writing Effective B2B Direct Mail Copy Direct Mail Tips from Alan Rosenspan August Vacation and Celebration Issue |
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