What You Should Know About Copywriting – Part 1
Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing with you some things you should know about copywriting. Let's start with one of the biggest hindrances when it comes to sitting down to write.
Worrying about spelling & grammar…
Proper spelling and grammar are not as important as you might think.
Okay, before I go on, don't misunderstand me. They ARE important. But, and this is a huge 'but', don't put so much stock into them that you let them keep you from writing.
There is a big misconception that writers are, by default, spelling and grammar experts. While it is true for some writers, not all writers are good spellers or grammarians.
Why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this because I've seen people avoid writing simply because they thought they were horrible spellers or that their grammar was bad. The thing is, it's not as big of a deal as you think.
Yes, it's expected that household names, like Microsoft or HarperCollins, use proper spelling and grammar in their written documents and publications, but you shouldn't let that keep you from writing. You can always hire an editor or proofreader to make sure your writing looks and sounds good.
One of the biggest reasons why you shouldn't let poor spelling or grammar skills stop you is that writing regularly and consistently will help you be creative. When we're not worried about whether or not our grammar is correct, we make the inner critic take a ride in the trunk, if you will (no backseat inner critic passengers, please!), preventing it from staunching our creativity. Instead of us sitting there suffering from writer's block, the words can flow more freely. We're also not concerned about whether or not our inner critics think we sound stupid. It doesn't matter what they think.
There is so much resistance when it comes to writing. Thinking we're not good enough, that we sound stupid or our writing is stupid, letting procrastination or distractions get in the way…
Is procrastination not keeping you from writing? Don't worry. A distraction will fill in for it. Did you already write out your grocery list? Vacuum the floor? Put the laundry away? Not to worry. The phone will ring any minute to pull you away from the computer or paper. 😛
All joking aside, we need to remember that proper spelling and grammar are not as important as we think. It is far more important for us to write freely so we can share our message with other people who can benefit from what we have to say.
Do you have a product that can simplify your clients' lives? Do you have a service that can help them get back on their feet? If you do, stop playing small, get the writing done, and if you need to, hire a proofreader to review your writing work to make sure it doesn't have any glaring mistakes.
And if you let a mistake slip through to your published piece, don't beat yourself up. Just fix it if you can and keep moving forward.
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