There was a time, when I was very young, that I decided to be a writer. The creative gene was activated within me, and it became my sole purpose in life. Never once did I waver, even when I was stuck as a drone in a retail store. I still worked on the side, making a name for myself and my work.
Today, I’m still on the path to that ultimate goal, but I’ve made significant progress. How? Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss. Join me as we look at five ways you can stand out as a writer in a digital world that claims to be full of them.
5 Ways to Stand Out As a Writer in a Crowded World
These five things won’t work for everyone, but everyone should try them. Let’s take a look:
Start a Blog
When I first started out, I had no idea what search engine optimization (SEO) was. You may not know too much about it either, but it’s crucial to standing out as a writer. It’s the practice and process of making your name and your work appear in Google search results when people look for you.
One of the best ways to get started with this, is to start a blog for yourself. Experts in your local area, like SEO Chicago, can help you better understand how this all works, but your blog will act as a place to write engaging posts and represent your skills to the world.
The more you write and post, the bigger and more prominent your blog will be when people search for you and your work. It’s the first step every writer should take.
So, how do musicians apply this information to their work? Well, music is just another form of writing, especially if you’re a songwriter or lyricist. Your blog can house clips of your work, and the posts you publish can discuss the creative process behind your inspiration.
Offer a sound clip of your latest work, then discuss in written text the background and inspiration behind it. In this way, you’re letting your listeners into the fold and offering them a deeper look at you as an artist, while also naturally creating keywords in your writing.
Stay Professional
Whether you’re a freelance writer speaking with a client, or an author talking to their fans, you have to keep up the professionalism. Losing your cool, or otherwise being unprofessional will hurt you reputation in huge ways that writers cannot afford.
Keep a cool head, be respectful, and remember that there are people on the other sides of those conversations, even if you can’t see them because it’s happening online. As musicians and songwriters, we have to remember that everyone has different taste in music.
While one person may describe a piece as your magnum opus, another may not like it at all. It’s hard to grow a thick skin, but it’s important to remember that all criticism is useful and rarely personal in nature.
Write Now, Edit Later
People get so swept up in the small details, that it often slows down the process as a whole. Should your writing be polished and correct? Absolutely, but not at the cost of quality. When you’re working, just focus on what’s in front of you. Don’t stop to do edits constantly.
Put your thoughts down on the page, and then worry about the rest. Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway will help you after the fact, and let you focus on the writing.
For musicians, it’s a little different. The concepts of grammar and spelling carry over to music, but in different ways. We trade spelling for chords, and grammar for tempos and stylistic notes. The concept still applies: write your music or lyrics first and let them flow. Go back and make changes later, but in the moment, harness your creativity.
Write What You Know (And Expand Your Knowledge)
When you’re first starting out, it’s important that you focus on what you’re good at. No writer is above research, but if you know nothing about Game of Thrones, it’s not the best idea to try and write a character analysis of Jon Snow.
For songwriters, lyricists, and musicians, start with the genres and instruments you know, but never stop learning. As you master one, learn something new.
Your passion and confidence come through when you’re writing about something you know. Start here with your focus and let your expertise do the talking. As you slowly gain more knowledge, expand your horizons and see what else you can tackle.
Build a Reputation
Finally, you need to get people talking about you if you want to make an impact. This is where freelance platforms like Upwork can be a huge boon to your early success. With a review and rating system, clients can leave public feedback on your profile.
For musicians, it’s all about finding a platform that welcomes your work. Plenty of artists are on social media like Twitter, but they are also present on platforms like SoundCloud and similar places.
If you’re like me, and you always do awesome work, you’ll find that these 5-star reviews help you score more and more jobs as time goes on. Soon, they could connect you with a client that takes you into the future. Don’t discount the power of a strong reputation.
Final Thoughts
Writers can stand out online by doing what they do best: telling stories. Focus on writing what you know, establish your blog, and let your reputation build while maintaining high quality throughout everything. Songwriters, musicians, and lyricists? This applies to you as well!
How have you managed to stand out from the rest? Let us know in the comments!
About the author:
Rafael Reyes is a passionate writer and blogger who loves the power of music to fuel both creativity and productivity.