What I’ve Learned About Writing In The Digital World

Writing is more than just writing — Here’s Why

I’ve been writing online for 5 years. I’ve been writing with pen on paper for much, much longer. As with most writers who share their words on the internet these days, my passion for writing started pretty much fresh out of the womb.

I liked the feeling of scribbling words. It didn’t matter what kind of words, but as long as I got them down on paper, I was happy.

Then came growing older and learning that words could also convey emotion. Stories began to make sense to me, observing them all around me as they started to trigger my imagination.

Back then, writing was writing. Today, as a person who calls herself a professional freelance writer, I can attest to the fact that writing is more than just writing.

It’s writing, but add to that editing, marketing, researching, recycling, networking, and much more.

Unlike what its name suggests, a freelance writer isn’t someone who simply writes. In my daily dealings with clients, I’ve found that they require services from me that exceed the boundaries of writing.

Editing

When you have delivered your work to your client, you may assume that you’ve done your job. But a part of many clients’ requirements is that you make numerous changes to the draft. Sometimes the changes may be so much that your original draft has transformed completely.

Editing has become a vital part of writing professionally. It may have been the case some time ago that editors would oversee your work and do the work themselves. But nowadays, a writer also serves as part editor.

Marketing

While the majority of my task consists of writing, it also consists of knowing about the latest marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tactics. It requires me to come up with words that aren’t necessarily my own, but essential to be mentioned in the piece I am writing as they are believed to attract the most views.

So my role as a writer expands into that as a marketer. It is one of the most crucial aspects of being an online writer these days.

I would assume that the tendency to market our writing isn’t something new. After all, people have sought to make their name and voices heard as widely as possible since civilization began. Marketing fits in well with the writer’s quest to connect with as many readers who will resonate with them.

Even if you’re not a freelance writer by trade, and simply write online out of passion, you’re still expected to undertake some form of marketing. Today, a writer without a social media account may be compared to a dancer who doesn’t dance to music.

The audience provides us with the music — the rhythm to continue doing what we do. Even as a writer who has been scribbling online for a few years, I am still learning how to make the most out of my writing. I am learning to undo mistakes I did when publishing my own books so I can connect with more readers.

The best way to do so is by taking a digital, or social media marketing course, which are vastly available online for free, such as this one.

Researching & Recycling

There is a saying that’s been going around lately, about how most content is recycled content. Most blogs and articles you come across online are in one way or another, inspired by each other. When I need to write a particular topic, I find that I may spend more time researching it than actually writing it.

Even if it is a subject that I know a lot about, there is always something to add to my existing knowledge. A piece of information that could make me and my audience learn something new. What this means is that there are countless sources of writing inspiration to pick from.

If day-to-day experiences in life were not enough, the internet provides us with even more reason to feel driven to share our words: Our perspectives.

Networking

The longer I’ve been in the online writing world, the more I’ve understood the importance of connecting with like-minded people.

When I say like-minded, I don’t necessarily mean other writers, but people with a creative, encouraging mindset. Individuals whose spark for a specific interest or passion inspire you to pursue your own.

With numerous way to connect to people all over the world these days, it is a practice that doesn’t hurt adopting and doing regularly. On top of inspiring you to progress in your own journey, interacting with others who think along similar lines as you can provide you with potential teammates, clients, or friends.

Connections with others allow you to earn referrals for jobs. In fact, some data suggests that about 70% of successful freelance writers get their work by word of mouth or actively networking with others.

In any case, each person you meet can teach you something new, and the bonds formed can be more valuable than hundreds of courses or books combined.

If being a freelance writer has taught me anything, it’s that writing can mean more than just writing, at least in the business of writing.

For writers such as myself and many others who can remember associating writing with their wildest fantasies and dreams (fiction writing), this may be a hard pill to swallow.

Knowing that there is a tad bit more involved in turning your passion into a decent living is both intimidating and encouraging. It lets you know that there is a requirement for more than just your words, and offers various skills that you previously may not have even considered gaining.

Most importantly, writing online allows you to form connections with people who are on a similar wavelength, from whom you can learn and grow your writing business into its best potential.

Thank you for reading.