I'm pretty sure that of all the words you use to describe yourself, "writer" is not one of them.
How do I know this? People tell me all the time. I mean all...the...time. Clients tell me. Friends who own businesses tell me. I hear it a lot.
They are not writers.
And yet, they have blogs on their content-filled websites. They send e-newsletters. They post Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter updates. They produce podcasts, create videos, offer webinars. They respond to email. They do guest blogs and featured articles. They've introduced themselves at a million networking events.
What's the common denominator of all this work?
Words.
I hate to break it to you, but when you string words together into messaging that supports and propels your business, you are writing. When you string words together into content that teaches or enlightens or sells, you are writing. And that makes you a writer.
This is where people usually vehemently disagree with me because it feels false or grandiose or even risky to consider themselves a writer. And it's true that you're not giving J.K. Rowling or Aaron Sorkin or John Green a run for their money. But crafting blockbuster novels or screenplays isn't really your goal, is it? (If it is, remind me to tell you about the 10 years I spent writing one still-unpublished novel.)
But it's also true that businesses require a lot of words. Business owners spend a good chunk of time crafting their words and polishing their messages. As it should be. No one knows the voice of your business better than you. No one knows the story of what you do, why you do it and how it changes things for your clients better than you. Own your voice. Tell your story.
4.23 Communication exists to help you get better at it. Here's one step you can take right now, no keyboard or proofreading required.
Stop saying "I'm not a writer."
Let go of that baggage and the negativity. Creating content well takes time and care; don't make it harder than it has to be by coming to it with an attitude of defeat before you even start.
And don't even think about replacing "I am not a writer" with "I am a terrible writer." Because you're not.
If you are curious about what it could feel like to be the writer your business needs you to be, drop me a note so we can set up a time to explore the possibilities.