Welcome back to The Killer-Poet, for the writer who knows their worth.
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Did you see Brian's big news this week? He stepped down as Copyblogger CEO. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details about what's next.
I'm Stefanie, Copyblogger's Editor-in-Chief, and I appreciate spending the next couple of minutes with you in your inbox. Below you'll find skill-strengthening resources -- and make sure to stick around for the writing tip I crafted exclusively for this email. :-)
Try This to Find an Extra 30 Minutes to Write, Even on Your Busiest Days
If you want to find more time to write, you first have to review all of the activities you do each day so that you can plan better.
It's not an accident when you get a lot done one day and then get behind on your work the following day.
There's something you do on days you get a lot done that you might overlook. Check out this smart habit to find more time to write.
The Rise of the Personal Enterprise
You know how to start a lucrative business, right?
First, you have a brilliant idea that you put into a business plan. Then you raise a ton of money and burn through it with excessive hiring, lavish parties, and an impressive office featuring foosball tables and lunches catered personally by Wolfgang Puck.
Next, magically, Facebook buys you for a cool billion. Or maybe you go the IPO route and ring that bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
If that sounds implausible, that's because it is. And yet that's the narrative traditional media loves.
Most people who end up developing their own personal business empire start out as freelancers, or in some other client services role.
This week on 7-Figure Small, Brian Clark reflects on his journey from starting small to developing his own successful personal enterprise that attracts constant opportunity.
Listen here, or find the episode on Apple Podcasts.
Quit Annoying Your Audience! Take 3 Simple Steps to Focus Your Content
Ever have a friend who tells stories that never seem to get to the point?
It sounds okay at first, then it spins off to a tangent about how they met their spouse, then we go into their first college dorm room, with a side trip to that deeply formative event that happened in third grade, then ...
There might be a point in there somewhere. But by the time it's arrived, your eyes have rolled back in your head and you're hoping to get struck by lightning so you can get out of this conversation.
It's boring. And it's annoying. So let's make sure your audience never feels that way about your content.
Creativity Grab Bag
- Content Marketing: A Modern Guide
- The Structure of Persuasive Copy
- 20 Call to Action Examples that Create Instant Leads
- Every Editor's Sneaky Secret
- 3 Ways to Get What You Want by Doing Your Homework
Nail Great Writing (When You're Not Feeling Great)
Imagine your ideal writing circumstances and environment for a moment.
Perhaps you want to make sure you:
- Got enough sleep the night before
- Ate a proper breakfast
- Have a clean desk in a temperature-controlled room
- Put on the right background music
- Drank a sufficient amount of caffeine
We all have our versions of these "perfect" conditions ... and now it's time to forget them, because they don't matter. See, even when you've checked off all of the boxes next to the items listed above, sometimes the writing you produce still might not be that great.
It's certainly happened to me. The "perfect" conditions don't guarantee solid writing. Then, other times, when nothing seems to be going right according to my version of "ideal," my writing turns out crisp, clear, and meaningful. I joke that I'm at my best when I'm at my worst.
Professional writers have the ability to show up and write, even when they're not feeling great. That's one of the biggest factors that separates working writers from those who write as a hobby.
A hobby is a luxury. Your job when you're a writer is a responsibility.
If you take your dog out for a walk, even when you're not feeling well, that's because proper care for your pooch is a responsibility. And when you write, even when you're not feeling well, that's because translating thoughts into precise words is a responsibility.
You get better at producing great writing under any conditions when you write regularly, regardless of how things look around you. So, rather than curse that poor night's sleep or weak breakfast, remember it's not only possible to keep writing, those factors might even contribute to a powerful breakthrough in the quality of your work.
Talk with you again soon,
Stefanie Flaxman
Editor-in-Chief, Copyblogger Media
Check out more Copyblogger articles here
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