Six eye-popping mistakes I’ve seen freelance writers make, and what to do instead
If the subject is mind-numbing, fake some curiosity.
I have two careers. One is as a writer. The other is a marketing manager, so I’ve seen both sides. Here are some of the eye-popping blunders (in my humble opinion) I have seen writers make and what they could have done instead.
1. Not being interested
Here is a little-known secret. The more you know about something, the more interesting it becomes.
This one is gob-smacking but saying how boring, stultifying, or dry a subject is isn’t uncommon. I’m sure no one thinks it is a fascinating subject, but don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Saying how boring a subject is that you’re paid to write about is mistake number one.
Always be curious, even if the topic sounds boring.
W hen you don’t really understand a topic, that’s when it is dull and tedious.
When I think about all the ‘boring’ things I have written copy about, I realise I have an enormous amount of general knowledge.
Banking systems. Voice over Internet Protocol. Human Immunodeficiency Virus. High-speed rail. Bandaids. (Actually, that should be…
