Who’s Writing Your Copy?
By Melissa Donovan
Every professional combines talent, skill, and experience to develop an expertise in the field. Writing is no exception. Effective communication requires an understanding of one’s audience, knowledge of the subject, and a mastery of language and word craft.A writer’s talent lies in the practice of writing. It takes a special character to sit down day after day, putting words on the page. Many individuals with no understanding of grammar or syntax are talented at developing this habit. Many others who are deft and articulate do not have the will or ambition to make writing a daily practice. The first rule of being a writer is to write regularly and frequently.
Professional writers must do more than merely string words together. They must have a firm grip on the technicalities of writing, which include spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Every experienced writer knows the value of these basic tools. At the same time, it is crucial to recognize additional components, which must be utilized to make one’s work stand out. Rhythm, vocabulary, and voice are paramount to a writer’s success. Like any professional, a writer knows that developing a well-stocked toolbox is just one of the many building blocks of success.
Many professional writers start out as children composing poetry and short stories. They go on to write top notch papers during high school, and then major in writing or another communications-related field in college. During these years, a writer gains experience, the most precious commodity of all. Instruction and feedback from teachers, professors, and peers is priceless in forming a mature and professional quality writer. Through education and training, both inside and outside of educational institutes, a writer learns the subtle tricks of the craft and develops a polished voice.
Knowing one’s audience is one of the major cornerstones of professional writing. “Who is going to read this?” is a critical question that has to be addressed before the first word ever hits the page. A piece focusing on the political state of the nation could be written for an MTV blog, or for a daily paper read mostly by baby boomers. These two demographics, hip young people in their teens and twenties, and wise middle-aged folks approaching their sixties require very different approaches, language, and imagery in order for the piece to be effective and hit its target.
The same is true with subject matter. The tone of a political piece will have a serious edge that wouldn’t resonate in a piece about reality television. Different subjects and demographics require distinctive strategies.
To write well about any subject requires knowledge of the subject. Thus, a writer must be adept at quickly absorbing information. While some writers may choose to become specialists in a given field, as is the case with technical writers, most writers tackle a wide range of topics throughout their careers. The ability to learn a subject in a very brief amount of time, and relate that information to a reading audience is one of the special skills that writers develop.
Many people can form a coherent sentence, but a professional writer will craft a compelling, dynamic sentence with a clear objective in mind. Writers write every day. Good writers master the art of communication. Professional writers do it daily, are experts at word craft, plus embrace a broad range of skills and practices that contribute to their writer’s toolbox. The only question that remains is this: Do you have a professional writing your copy?
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