The Joy of Writing - have you lost it?
PR land is an awfully busy place. Deadlines loom, releases and plans pile up and urgent media requests abound. We’re also fitting in reading news sites, blogs and newspapers to stay on top of the news of the day. As we desperately try to fit it all in, much of our writing is dashed off in a hurry. And we certainly don’t enjoy the process.
Many PR folks are generally outgoing and creative and most have some kind of writing background. But much of the writing I read - whether the first draft of a release, a pitch or even an email - seems to lack a certain ‘umph’ and my guess is that the author just wasn’t that into it. Yes some documents simply won’t ever be that exciting, but there is always a way to make it better - shorter sentences, descriptive language, punchy illustrations…
If you began working in PR because you love to write and communicate, you need to reclaim that joy. Writing can be a lifelong pursuit and a real source of enjoyment. Finding the perfect words to express your thoughts and convictions is like mastering a painting or a dance - it takes time and effort but the payoff can be incredible.
If possible, we all need to slow down a bit. Take a moment to think about the words. How they flow. What they really mean. Write with the excitement you would have if you were reading something really catchy, appealing and thought-provoking. Think of the effect it will have on the reader when they see your words.
Writing doesn’t have to be a chore - go back to the writing board and rethink the way you view it. And having a little fun with it won’t hurt either.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
How much of the loss you speak of is due to the short attention spans that we all seem to have now? Can services such as Twitter, Plurk or Pownce take some of the blame? Other technologies? Blackberries?! I think of the emails that I get where the spelling, grammar and punctuation are atrocious. I know these people can write, but is technology making us lazy?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:07 am
It’s definitely making us lazy. With the advent of tweets and plurks and instant messaging, grammar and spelling have gotten lost along the way. Writers have to be even more aware now of how they use their words when they are getting fewer and fewer.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
To pile on, I think we need to reclaim examples of excellent writing. I’m a big fan of a good speech delivered really well.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Technology can spur interest in publishing - one need look no further than this very blog to see how a person can reach the masses with a computer and an internet connection. The advent of personal publishing will drive increased interest in writing. Whether the quality of writing increases can be debated.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:00 am
[...] for the written word and dedicate little time to it. But it doesn’t have to be this way, as The Spin Stops Here offers, “Writing can be a lifelong pursuit and a real source of enjoyment. Finding the [...]