Wall Street Journal best selling author Ann Handley knows a thing or two about writing, which is something a lot of us struggle with!
We’ve talked extensively about the dreaded “fear of the blank page” (which Lately can help with by the way) but what are some solutions for other woes that surround writing?
How do I develop a strong sense of brand voice so I don’t just fade into the crowd? How should I make my writing better as a whole? How do I connect with an audience?
These problems are enough to make most of us want to cower in a corner hiding from our laptop with the blank Word document awaiting us, but Ann has an answer for just about every question you could have around writing! Really, what could we do without her??
Something we’ve all heard countless times now, but it really makes all the difference in writing! People gravitate towards those who are unapologetically themselves, so simply being yourself through your writing could make all the difference in someone’s choice to listen to what you have to say!
Ann puts this perfectly, saying, “The more that I allow myself to be the quirky person that I am, I find the more it resonates with people”.
So don’t be afraid to say something a little weird, try to inject some humor, or let people in on what it’s like to be you.
This can only help you. If you make sure that every piece of media you put out has your same quirky and fun touch to it, your brand will stick out and sound different than the other rigid brand voices out there. Have fun with it!
It might seem hard at first to really know what your “voice” is through writing, and the only solution we have to share is: PRACTICE! And I know, I know, that may sound tedious or frustrating, but once you get a grasp on your voice as a writer you can take everything your business does to the next level.
We’ve already established Ann is brilliant, so you might as well take her advice! She shares with us her process in developing a strong voice. Her secret: write every day. (shhhh now that you know the secret… you can’t just go around telling everyone! Lets keep this between you and me, ok?)
Why write every day? Great question! Ann’s answer is, “Once you sort of write with more regularity, you can get a feel for your style and that’s how you define your voice. Whatever just feels more authentically you.”
Listen, if you’re not totally obsessed with Ann Handley at this point, I don’t know what to tell ya! If you want to hear more of the amazing tips she had to share on her episode of Lately Live (and trust me, there’s some GOLD in there) check it out here! https://bit.ly/3cmKQyK
So get out there and get writing!
Ann has mastered the art of writing and now is using her skills to help show others how to go from mediocre to the marvelous. Her company MarketingProfs trains and educates marketers to help them reach their full potential. Her books “Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content” and “Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business” help spread her brilliance to an even wider audience. Shop them here!
