I’ve talked to a lot of people about writing, and one thing I’ve learned from these conversations is that everyone approaches writing differently. Everyone has a story, a philosophy, and a way of working.
This is both a cliché and a useful resource for our work.
Table of Contents
We can write in a variety of “ways”
Some provide financial benefits but not spiritual well-being. Some bring spiritual well-being but no financial gain. Some bring both, while others bring neither.
Okay, but when we talk about writing, what kind of writing do we mean?
The list in this post is simply my classification. Not scientific or professional evidence. Rather, it is a conclusion I have reached based on my own experience. It’s also worth noting that none of them is better than the other because they don’t compete in the same category.
Writing for therapy
When we have a lot on our minds at once, when our emotions are overflowing, we frequently reach for a notebook. This can be done both online and offline. It can be used as a planner, diary, or simple notebook.
We project a life event that has happened to us onto a potential, imagined story in therapeutic writing. The protagonist manages their daily life using our point of view and our emotions. They draw our conclusions and frequently live our idealized future.
This method can provide both an external approach and closure
When we are preoccupied with something, we experience it in a distorted mood rather than in words, sentences, and complex metaphors. In a bubble where everything is hazy and incoherent.
We can make our emotions concrete by writing them down. That is why writing is so powerful. And, no, it makes no difference whether we do it digitally or on paper.
In most cases, these works must be kept in a drawer indefinitely
Writing a novel (short story) is simple; rewriting it is much more difficult. You must remove scenes, kill off characters, unravel the love story, and change the killer.
Of course, these are just a few examples, but when we rewrite something, we always face these challenges. However, when editing a therapeutic work…
It is not possible to change the killer in therapeutically motivated works
The truth is that you don’t have to. You wrote the book as a therapy for yourself. I see no reason why it should be any different. Such stories should not be published, but should be read again and again. We can learn from the past, appreciate the present, and plan for the future by rereading it.
Of course, there have been therapeutic writings published. However, it is important to recognize that they are the result of years of process, both spiritual and editorial.
Nonfiction books
Writing a nonfiction book is both enjoyable and rewarding in my opinion. It should be designed and written so that it is both technically correct and entertaining. Most of us enjoy having fun while learning something new, so this aspect should not be overlooked.
Naturally, in the case of nonfiction, the manner and extent of entertainment should be tailored to the readership.
The author must carefully consider the question of “who is the book for?”
For those who are interested in the topic? For first-year college students? For the cream of the profession? Or perhaps for pre-schoolers? The importance in these cases cannot be overstated, which is why some authors and publishers conduct market research. They evaluate how appropriate it is to write for a specific readership, what professional terms they know, and even what source materials to use.
Nonfiction books should undoubtedly be rewritten
True science is constantly evolving. (With the exception of dogma, of course.) More data is received, processed, a new discovery is made, and a few key studies are completed. Because the field has changed so much, textbooks and nonfiction books are frequently supplemented and revised in new editions, but it is also common for the author to simply have to write another work.
Nonfiction as a tool for marketing
Several business owners have written books about their experiences. They then incorporate this work into their marketing processes and use it to boost the success of their company or brand. This is, of course, a more complex, interdependent system. The book has to be marketed, but the book is also a marketing tool.
Writing as a hobby
I believe it is the most common. Many people blog, while others write fanfiction or short stories and novels for themselves. These are sometimes shared online, but it is also possible that the writer eventually has their work published and in some form.
I refer to it as “hobby writing”, but not in a negative way. Writing as a hobby can be just as valuable as working with a publisher to publish a book. (In fact, we are all aware that some works should never have been published…) By using the term “hobby,” I mean that the primary goal of writing is not to be publishable. Instead, it is more about having fun. It can be used to express oneself and improve oneself.
I believe that writing as a hobby has a lot of potential
People who can express their thoughts and opinions without fear of financial repercussions have a great deal of freedom. When we write for money, we are always a little more restrained, careful not to give the text an “edge” (at least under normal circumstances, not taking extremes into account.) For hobby writers, this is not only a non-existent problem, but can even be an advantage!
You have complete freedom to experiment here. We write fantasy today and adventure fiction tomorrow. Today, we prefer magic realism as our style; tomorrow, we prefer lyric poetry to express ourselves. We can use existing works and universes, modify them, or combine several of them. There is no compulsion or desire to conform to the expectations of others. It’s fine to immerse ourselves in research and let it lead us astray.
Writing as a hobby does not preclude you from improving. Progress is also possible here
If you pay attention while writing and analyze your dramaturgy, characters, and language, you can learn a lot. True, the lack of constant feedback from editors, publishers, and readers makes this learning process slower, but it does occur! However, you can always do writing exercises, attend a writing workshop, take creative writing classes, or request a beta reader for your work.
The Author!
In the public’s mind, an AUTHOR is someone who makes their living solely from the sales of their books. They only work on their next book. They’re the ones we picture behind a commanding desk in a regal library. They are a bit of a goofball, an eccentric, and possibly a loner.
These days, there are very few of these creators. Not in terms of personality, but rather in terms of earning a living. The majority of active writers have a second job, run a business, proofread, and so on. The preceding idea is derived from a time when writing was considered a privilege of the nobility.
They were free to be bored because they had enough money
The lower classes worked in the fields, factories, and ran households. Many people couldn’t even write. It was simple to have a Victorian library room and relax until noon, then philosophize after a hearty lunch and a walk if you were a count. Of course, this is not to say that writers could not have come from the lower classes. I’m referring to their much more difficult circumstances.
But how does The Writer work nowadays?
Assume we have a working writer who publishes one novel per year. The procedure is as follows:
- Planning (dramaturgy, characters, plot, lessons, consequences).
- Conducting research.
- Writing.
- Rewriting – This can be accomplished with the assistance of a proofreader.
- Publishing work – Graphic design and printing.
- The masterpiece is done!
In timewise this list may look something like this: (IMPORTANT: these are only approximate figures, they are different for everyone).
- A writer of this calibre can complete the planning in a week at most.
- Research is more time-consuming. Sometimes it can take weeks, especially if it uses elements unknown to the writer (unknown location, existing person, historical event, profession).
- After the first two points have been thoroughly worked out, the novel is simply a matter of typing, which can take two to three months (depending on length).
- Rewriting consumes the majority of your energy. This will take another two to three months in terms of time.
- Publishing is notoriously slow. The cover must be sketched and planned by the graphic designer. Fonts, font sizes, and margins must all be chosen. Should it be a softcover or a hardcover? What kind of printing paper will be used? Once these are in place, the publication designer can begin their work. When all of this is completed and everyone has given their approval, it’s off to the printer. I’m not sure how long this will take. It is determined by the company. Some companies complete it in a week, while others take two months.
As you can see, a year has flown by, and there isn’t much room for writing in that list.
The copywriter
A copywriter writes anything. Social media post, blogpost, video script, ads, landing pages. They can also write slogans, copy for publications, or even celebrity books.
Copywriters work for businesses or individuals
The focus of businesses is always indirectly on sales. As a result, the copies are directly aimed at raising awareness, informing, establishing trust, and persuading.
Individuals may be associated with self-branding. Or a situation in which someone who is not yet an entrepreneur but wishes to be one requires a kick-start. But bloggers who run magazines also employ copywriters, as do video content producers.
A true copywriter has years of experience
Now I’m going to be blunt, because I feel I have to be.
I’ve met far too many people who decide they want to be copywriters because they got an A in composition in high school. The majority of these decisions are made by inexperienced virtual assistants. From uploading content, they easily get to the point that they will then write.
I don’t blame them; writing is an adventure, and they just want to be a part of it. Writing, on the other hand, is suffering; even after years of practice, I still find myself staring at the cursor on a drk page.
A copywriter’s job requires more than just drafting abilities, language accuracy, vocabulary, and creativity
It also necessitates an understanding of marketing psychology, a technical background, knowledge of various algorithms, and systems thinking. Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg, but it is the foundation of copywriting.
We must also keep in mind that a copywriter is a business owner, so client acquisition, administration, and contact management are all part of the job.
So that’s it, but there’s a lot more to say on the subject. (I will!) In a future post, I’ll be talking about “what is a text, and what is a good text.”
