Do you remember your first hero?
- Maybe it was your dad or your mom
- Perhaps you looked up to a sibling
- Or a favorite teacher
You loved making them proud. And few feelings were worse than when you knew you let them down.
If you want to be a better writer, write like your hero is watching.
The following shares three scenarios where heroes saved the day for me. Learn how you can use your own heroes to rescue your business writing.
The Write Hero
Heroes appear from all walks of life. Allow the traits you admire most about your heroes to inspire your writing. Imagine your hero watching every word, every time, and smiling in what they read.
Technically Speaking
Let’s say you have a technical topic that you need to present to less tech-savvy readers. Think about one of those heroes who fits the bill of the techie challenged.
My mom got her first computer at the age of 85 (she’s now 98). As a mother of seven, she’s one of my heroes. Seven kids? I cannot even imagine managing that chaos.
So, when I developed a basic guide to teach Mom about computers, I tried thinking like my mom.
- Tap into the patience a mom has teaching their child something new.
- Use basic explanations, illustrations, and repetition.
- And I let Mom do it (repressing the urge to grab the mouse to show her how).
If you’re curious about what the guide looked like, attached is an excerpt of a similar guide I created for Mom when Windows 10 came out.
For a more advanced reader, pick your preferred site for learning new technology.
- Is there a favorite writer there who you find helpful?
- What makes that writer’s articles so good?
- How can you apply the same positives to your writing?
One of my writing heroes is Sharon Hurley Hall. I love Sharon’s well-researched and simple-to-follow posts on technology, like those featured at Optin Monster.
In my quest to “keep it simple,” I sometimes omit key points. I think about Sharon watching and try to balance the simple with the right amount of information.
Bonus Hero Status
Sharon was already a superhero to me in her writing ability, knowledge, and professionalism. But then her hero status grew even more.
After the George Floyd murder, Sharon began a personal mission to fight racism. She created an anti-racism newsletter (that I highly recommend), and collaborated on a series of anti-racism workshops.
Being an activist takes an incredible amount of courage, particularly for someone who relies on finding clients in the same social media world. First, Sharon made me want to be a better writer. Now, she also inspires me to be a better person. Major hero status.
Marketing Heroics
When I started my business in 2008, I was confident in my writing ability. The business side of freelancing? Not so much.
One of the biggest challenges for me was the marketing side. Throughout my long corporate career, I promoted the products and services of huge insurance and consulting firms.
- Marketing is a different ballgame when the entire business is you.
- That kind of pressure can be overwhelming.
- So, find yourself a marketing hero you relate to.
Enter Lori Widmer, another writing hero of mine, who gave me a fresh look at marketing.
Lori’s freelance writing blog, Words on the Page, emphasizes the importance of marketing but in a simple, easy-to-manage approach (as evidenced by her ebook, Marketing 365: Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Small Business).
Much of her blog is devoted to bolstering freelance writers to believe in their own worth. Are you seeing a pattern here?
My heroes possess superpowers in their skillset and abilities, but even more in their qualities as caring human beings. Something we all could use more of.
Keeping it Simple
Recently, I transitioned this site to be a resource for anyone looking to produce better business communication. After a long career in the corporate world, keeping it simple became my personal mission – both in my writing and my life.
Henneke Duistermaat, owner of the Enchanting Marketing site, is my next hero. I’ve told Henneke she is what I want to be when I grow up.
Enchanting Marketing blasts away at what Henneke describes as gobbledygook as she provides tips and resources for making “boring business blogs sparkle.” Her writing is everything I hope this site becomes.
- Keep it simple
- Make it real
- And have some fun
Become Your Own Hero
Maintaining a business blog is hard.
- Sometimes you struggle with motivation
- It’s hard to come up with ideas
- And at times, it feels like a chore
If that happens, think about your hero.
- Choose someone whose opinion matters to you.
- Consider what you admire about them.
- Then, write like your hero is watching.
We’re not always going to be at the top of our game. Sometimes, we’re tired or feeling stressed. It happens to all of us.
But, before hitting that Send or Publish button, ask yourself –
Am I proud of what I wrote?
If the answer is yes, your writing hero will be proud, too. And that’s a great feeling. Become your own hero.
- Who inspires you to be a better writer or better person?
- In what way?
- Share your thoughts in Comments.
Note: This September 8, 2021 post updates the original that published on April 25, 2011.
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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours
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Cathy,
What an awesome article! In my own writing, I try to make sure that I follow the same concepts that you write about here. There is no better judge of our writing than ourselves, but there is no better gauge of our effort than our mentors.
Hi Bruce: I agree. You have to be true to yourself.
I absolutely love your statement There is no better judge of our writing than ourselves, but there is no better gauge of our effort than our mentors.
I might have to steal that 🙂 It nails it. Thanks for stopping by, Bruce, and sharing your insight.
Great lesson, Cathy, and thanks for the mention. I’ve gone through some of those motivational issues, and often find that a kind word from someone I admire re-energizes me. 🙂
As you did here, Sharon. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and for your support. Have a great week!
I always enjoy your posts. This one made me think of so many writers that I admire. It also made me think of what it is in those writers that attracts me to them. Sometimes it is hard define. Mostly, I enjoy a story that sets a mood. So, I guess that is why I write the way I do and why love Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Bronte. Ambience is important in my writing as well.
Thank you, Bertie, for the very nice compliment. Those are two of my favorite writers as well. There are so many talented writers in so many different genres.
I love Mark Twain. It’s that combination of humor and depth that attracts me.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your favorite writers. Hope to see you back here soon. Have a great week, Bertie!
Always happy to stop here, Cathy – and your list includes some of my freelancing heroes too.
Thanks, Sharon. They are a great bunch, aren’t they? Present company included. 🙂
Cathy, this is great. My super heroes are the people who are really working their blogs and businesses despite the challenges; who are pressing through challenging economic times; and are living their dreams.
Oh, I like that a lot, Marcie. That’s what I call becoming your own hero. We can use that to inspire our writing that even when we struggle, focus on the dream. Thank you for sharing your heroes, Marcie.
Great article Cathy. I love your Mom Guide. My kids have made similar things for me for anything new I have to learn tech-wise. The first slide showing your Mom how to turn the computer on reminded me of when I got my first PC. That was in the late 70s when Kaypro first came out with their home computer that was in a case much like a suitcase. My son still has that one, BTW. But I digress. 🙂
The first time I used the machine and was ready to stop for the day, I was not sure if it was okay to just push the power button off or if there were other steps to take before doing that. My hubby worked in IT (before it was called IT 🙂 ) and had told me horror stories of computers being shut down before it was safe to do so and data was lost. So, I called the local store where I’d bought the machine and asked the owner, who knew me well, how to shut down the computer, explaining my concerns. I can still hear him today these many years later, “Okay, Maryann. Reach behind the machine and push the power button. The machine will turn off all by itself after that.” He laughed, and then I had to laugh. The story became a running joke in the family for a long time. They always loved it when Mom did something to bring amusement into their lives, and well, actually they still do.
This is probably more of a response than you needed on your blog, but, well, I’m a storyteller. 🙂
One final note. You have become one of my heroes, and I’ve been trying to implement some of your advice into my meager attempts at marketing. And I love that you introduced me to Sharon Hurley. I visited her posts after you’d shared a link on Twitter and have been following her newsletter ever since. I love the way we all get connected via the Internet.
Maryann, you can tell stories here any time. 🙂 I agree, the absolute best thing about the internet is the connections we now make to some truly amazing individuals (like Sharon AND you!) whom we may have never met. I love your story. It highlights one of my pet peeves about user guides.
Most assume “simple” steps like turning a machine on and off is obvious to all readers. It’s not if you’re an 85-year-old with her first computer. 🙂 That’s why I like visuals. If a person doesn’t need to be told that step, they can move on to the next.
Thanks for all your support, Maryann. I am so glad the internet connected us! 🙂