For the past four years, I have been transitioning from writing solely for print to writing for the web. At first, I didn’t think I needed to make adjustments. I mistakenly believed that writing articles was the same for all mediums. After a bumpy start filled with numerous rejections and frustrations, I started to change my old habits and slightly tweaked my writing style to become more sleek, more readable and much more profitable. Since learning these lessons, my writing career has blossomed, and I now make a very good and satisfying living as a writer.
I Now Cut to the Chase:
When I wrote for print, I usually set the tone with my first two paragraphs. While in the old days, this type of writing created mood, yet in the cyber world this was a brick wall. People were never going to read this or just turn away from my article altogether. I learned that to capture a reader’s attention, you need to start with the point of the article at the very beginning, or you will lose your audience by the second paragraph. Now, I start out with my subject. No flowery prose, or unnecessary introductions. Instead, I will carefully add descriptive adjectives to convey the mood and emotion within the body of the piece.
I Am More Focused:
I discovered that my best articles were when I focused on one major or two minor themes. When I focused on a single theme, my writing became more clear and I had more room to add specific details that enhanced the piece. While a theme can certainly be huge, as a piece on saving money, I found that I could break down a larger them and write several pieces, each focusing on different aspects of saving money: such as paying off a student loan, keeping to a budget or shopping my closet. This way, I could offer my suggestions and really write an interesting piece.
I Tell My Unique Story:
When I first started to write for the web, I was writing generalized articles. When I started to include my own experiences, my personal suggestions or even my own interests, my readership significantly improved. I quickly discovered that people did appreciate my thoughts as to where to take a mosaic class and were interested in whatever happened to that former tennis great. The best part of this? I have started to establish myself as an expert. There is nothing more rewarding than this!
I Am A Faster Writer:
Since focusing on a single theme, presenting my unique view and as writing 400-word articles are often the online norm, I have become a much faster writer. In the past, I would labor and get stuck. I would go out for a walk, paint my nails or even clean the kitchen before I came back to the mental stress of completing an article. Now, I can write an interesting article in under an hour. Why? Because now, I don’t have to labor with a flowery beginning. Instead, I am focused on a manageable topic and I am injecting myself into the piece and because of this, the words just spill out. In turn, my confidence as a writer has really grown. I am writing and finishing pieces 99% of the time! I could not claim even half of that percentage in the past!
