Category Archives for Articles
4 Weird Ways a Decade in PR Has Made Me a Stronger Writer
What sort of image comes to mind when you picture a public relations (PR) professional?
Perhaps you envision a glamorous life, filled with high-profile events and parties or long days spent bopping from client meeting to client meeting in sky-high heels. Unfortunately, most movies and TV shows get PR completely wrong.
Here’s a more accurate image of a day in the life of a PR professional: head down, at a computer, tap-tap-tapping away at the keyboard.
Most people think because PR professionals work to attract the attention of the media that we aren’t doing much writing ourselves, but that simply isn’t true.
With nearly a decade of experience in the PR industry, first at a hospital, then at a tourism bureau, and now as the CEO of Jessica Lawlor & Company (JL&Co) working with my own clients, I know first-hand just how much time I spend each day writing.
Spoiler: It’s a lot.
What I Learned About My Own Writing From Writing Reviews
Review. Criticism. Feedback. Three words that scare many writers. It’s arguably human nature to feel alarmed when someone points out mistakes and shortcomings. Most of us learn to cope with criticism.
But how many authors realize that writing a review can actually help their own writing?
I have worked with countless reviews as a writer-reader—the two are a bit like the concept of space-time; two facets of the same underlying reality. In other words, I have written reviews for others, and I have read reviews written by other authors.
As a result, I have realized that writing reviews can be an enlightening experience.
What Writers Can Learn From Writing Poetry
Poetry seems to be one of those things that you either love or hate.
Were you the kid making begrudging rhymes in your high school English class, or the one putting their heart and soul into every cheesy metaphor? Either way, you turned out to be a writer, which means you have something to learn from revisiting poetry.
Here at Craft Your Content, Amanda Stein has already explored how reading poetry benefits writers, but what about writing poetry?
Attempted by few since their student days, writing poetry is a creative, fun method of boosting your writing skills in ways that you might not expect. Whether you are used to writing no-nonsense copy, chatty blogs, or high-fantasy novels, consider making poetry part of your writing practice. Let’s take a look at what writing poetry can do for you.
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The Secrets of Thriving As a Highly Creative Person
Ray Bradbury famously said, “I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me.” In that sentiment lies much of the reality of life for highly creative writers. It is a condition marked by a drive to constantly assess new ideas, innovate processes, and tackle projects and challenges that ultimately will provide a high level of satisfaction.
If that’s you, it’s a benefit in a lot of ways because it means you’re naturally inclined to approach your life’s work with the innovation and grit needed to succeed. But, it isn’t without its challenges.