How Hard Can it Be? What Baking and Writing Have in Common
Photo by Alexandra Tincu on Unsplash
Sometimes I see pictures of beautifully decorated cakes on Instagram and think, “I could do that.” Not over-the-top, sculptural creations requiring fondant and an airbrush, mind you. Just a two-layer cake with some simple frosting flowers, let’s say. And then my attempt turns out a misshapen, crumbly mess with runny blobs of buttercream. What happened?
I’m not a baker, that’s what happened. Sure, I can follow a recipe. I can produce something edible. But I don’t have the experience nor have I put in the hours and years necessary to master the “simple” skills required to make an Insta-worthy cake.
Many people experience this same disconnect when it comes to writing. Good writing looks and sounds deceptively simple. You just string together a few nouns, verbs, and adjectives, right? (Or adverbs... Wait, what are those again?) How hard can it be?
If you’ve ever spent hours upon frustrating hours drafting an email that sounded so good in your head but just isn’t coming out right, you may know how hard it can be. Or maybe you think your company or product is fascinating, but you can’t seem to find the words to convey that excitement to other people on your website or in your marketing materials.
Maybe you offer a service, product, or solution that lots of people need and gets amazing results for your clients, but it’s fairly technical and difficult to explain in simple terms. When you’re asked to contribute an article to an industry journal or create a presentation for a trade show, you and your team can’t seem to find the right words to get your points across in a clear, concise, and compelling way.
These are all reasons why my clients hire me, a professional content writer. I bring more to the table than synonyms and grammar rules. I ask the right questions so I can understand what you offer and what audience you’re trying to reach. I research your industry or area of expertise to give context to your content. I bring an outside perspective, an expert eye and ear, and years of experience crafting all sorts of copy for all sorts of clients.
I know what to leave out of your marketing emails, product descriptions, or informational articles, which is often even more important than what to put in. (Pro tip: in our current climate, no one wants to hear “unprecedented times” or “new normal” ever again.)
Among the most frequent and fulfilling feedback I get from my clients is, “Wow! You made me sound so good.” They come across like they really know their stuff in that Q&A on the university website. My article highlighted exactly the parts of their work they find the most significant and want to share with others. The blog post I researched and ghost wrote about that timely topic is exactly what their audience is looking for now.
How did that happen? They hired a professional writer. I may not know how to achieve the correct consistency for buttercream, but I have perfected the recipe for crafting the right words to convey your message to your target audience. Message me and let’s discuss your writing needs. Creating great content doesn’t have to be so hard.
For a sample of my recent work, check out this Q&A with a healthcare provider on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.
Abigail Green is an experienced content marketing writer and journalist who offers businesses creative solutions for every content need.