Business Writing, Website Writing, and Other Writing Services by a Professional Writer

Interview

I get asked to do interviews every once in a while. This one was recently conducted by professional writing student Chris Bell of Purdue University. I'm putting it here because it gives a little insight as to how I got started writing professionally, and how a writer / entrepreneur works. This is used by permission. I also made an edit or two and cleaned up some of my sloppy misspellings.

What is your educational background?

I graduated high school in 1984, and went right to work (the siren song of $3.35 per hour was WAY too much to pass up :)

I did "finally" attend college after getting fired from a job about six years ago. I planned on becoming a teacher. Got my associates degree in 2002 with a 3.9gpa. Then I decided to not be a teacher, as I felt teaching would be too bureaucratic (and my online business was doing very well). End of college.

Have you ever taken writing classes that actually prepared you for the work you are doing now or have done in the past? Explain.

No. No classwork beyond what everyone takes for an AA degree (English 101 / 102). And it really had very little bearing on what I do now.

What was your most difficult writing project, and what did you do to work through it?

Hmmm... tough one. I haven't had any really "difficult" projects. Just lots of research on some.

I guess the "toughest" was writing a 6-page proposal for a financial corporation - they wanted it very wordy and jargon filled. That's not my style.

What has been your favorite project, and what made it your favorite project?

I love writing letters that need to make a strong point. It's a rush to really make an indisputable point and logically break it down so you'd have to be a moron to disagree. I'm quite good at this.

I'm also getting into writing press releases. They're fun, because it's a challenge to turn something ordinary into "news".

What was the best advice you have ever received about business/writing?

To be honest, Chris, I never really sought business or writing advice. I have made it a rule in my life to not take advice from anyone not doing something better than me. Like I'll take advice from a long-time copywriter making 500k.

But, in regards to writing, anyone not getting paid to write has very little to offer me. In regards to business, anyone not successfully self-employed has little to offer. To further illustrate this, I don't take relationship advice from people not in happy relationships, and I don't take financial or stock advice from people who are barely getting by.

But the best thing I learned in business is not to undercut yourself price-wise. Charge what you're worth - there's plenty of work out there if you're good. I tell all budding entrepreneurs this.

To expand on this, when I first started years ago, I charged a ridiculously low rate for every job - like $50 per page. It "seemed" like a lot of money at the time. I mean, seriously - FIFTY BUCKS to write one stupid page? Where do I sign up????

Then I got a complicated twenty page job, and it was REALLY a lot of work (lots of research, a tough topic, etc) . Took me almost two weeks. That's $1,000 for two weeks work. That's 26k a year. I made that fifteen years ago. Hmmm... suddenly, it's not all that much money.

Looking back at your career, are there any college classes that you wish you had taken?

Not really. I really liked college when I went, and as an adult, I found it astonishingly easy. I had the advantage of having my social life in order and not having to concern myself with some party on Friday or the girl in the next row (which my wife would frown on).

But college really didn't help me much in writing.

I'd keep going to school if I had millions of dollars and load up on history classes.

What project were you most proud of after completion?

To be honest, my *own* website. Reason: I can see the results.

How stable do you see the professional writing field in the next 5 years?

Extremely - if you are good. Because while the internet has opened a lot of doors, it also opened the door for *everyone*.

What effect do you think technology will play in the role of a professional writer in the future?

I don't see it growing much beyond what we have. Writing has changed very slowly over the years in regards to technology. Ink was *it* for the longest time. Then the typewriter, then the computer. The biggest changes have been in editing and storage capability.

Technologies like voice recognition - where you "speak" to write - is more sizzle than steak. I've tried it, and it's almost impossible to "write" anything good with it. It's extremely hard, if not impossible, to "dictate" a good letter.

Have there been any writers that have inspired you during your career?

Andy Rooney / Dave Barry.

Can you please give a brief description of your work history (I know, this one may be long. Maybe some from your more business background, but mainly your writing background)?

Writing has been involved in every job I ever had (mostly indirectly) - I've always been able to write well enough for people to really notice. After high school, I went into retail, and spent maybe 8 years (three different jobs). I used my writing ability to make ads, signs, point of sale stuff, etc.

After that, in the early to mid 90's, I got involved with computers - first in my own business (desktop publishing / making ads) then working for others (tech support /EDI programming).

I really got into writing professionally by accident. About six or seven years ago, I got fired from my last "real" job (EDI programmer). I decided to "freelance" my programming skill - I made myself a website, and off I went.

To my surprise, my website pulled business (because EDI programming is really a niche). I noticed that many visitors read my entire site... the writing was really good. Biz was good, but the software I specialized in was getting old - biz started to slow down. I decided to do something else - make a product and sell it online. Specifically, golf clubs. Again I made a website, and again, it worked out nicely.

However, building a product in your garage and selling it is a lousy way to make a living. Especially if you have a small garage.

So golf clubs were out (although I could have made a buck at it). But the constant between the freelance EDI programming and golf clubs BOTH being a success wasn't the products or anything else - it was ME - specifically, my writing. My website's writing sold the two products.

That's when the light bulb went off - everyone always told me what a great writer I was, and here I am, proving it with my product websites. So I thought - Instead of selling a product, SELL THE WRITING.

And here I am :)

Is it hard to find projects as a freelance writer?

Not really. They find me, in fact. It would be hard if I were writing fiction or if I were going the "typical" freelance route of trying to sell a magazine article.

What are the perks to being a freelance writer as opposed to working for a corporation?

No bosses with silly emotional needs / power games. No co-workers. No schedule. No rules. No dress code. Paid what you are worth. Get to do it my way (very important to me). If I want to write at 3am and sleep till noon, I can (and do sometimes). If I want to mow my lawn or go shopping on Wednesday afternoon, I don't have to ask anyone - I just do it.

That last one has sort of a hidden "extra" perk, too - anyone who works mon-fri typically does their shopping on Saturday. Do you have any idea how crowded Home Depot is on Saturday? I don't anymore, because I get to go on Tuesday :) Another example is golf. I really like to play golf in the nice weather. But most people are *forced* to golf on Sunday - ugh, the course is SO crowded, it's hard to enjoy yourself. But I can play on Wednesdays. Or Thursdays. Or whenever I wish, really.

What is the hardest thing about being self-employed?

A few pop to mind. One big thing is the self-discipline. I am pretty good at this, but it's worth mentioning. Many many people try to become self employed, and then fail. One reason is they do *everything* but the actual work. I've known a lot of self employed people - many of them "worked" for hours on time-wasting crap like laying out their business card, planning things, making lists, doing busywork; they would do ANYTHING but the actual work they needed to do to get paid.

Another issues is the work is ALWAYS THERE. It never, ever goes away. I had to *learn* to relax and take time off. This took me a long time to do.

Isolation is another one. I know I mention no bosses and coworkers as a perk, and it is. But it can get lonely. Co-workers (and even bosses) can be fun.

Lastly, YOU have to do everything. At a normal job, you are hired, and as if by magic, work appears for you to do. Like George Costanza on Seinfeld - he got hired, and they handed him the Penske file.

Even if you do a semi-entrepreneurial job like sell cars - the people just appear on the lot through no effort of your own.

Not so for me (or any self employed person) - it ALL comes from my efforts.

Are there any other types of writing that you are interested in (i.e. technical, journalism.. etc.)?

I would not mind doing a humor column type thing. I also have a (non-fiction) book or three in me.

How do you maintain your objectivity when writing for someone else? Do you have a special method?

No - I do not need to stay objective with the type of writing I do. I am writing directly for and about the entity paying me. A magazine features writer covering something has to remain objective. A reporter has to stay objective. I don't. If you tell me your product is the best in the world, I will communicate that to the audience. It's my job to.

I also do not need to do a whole lot of fact checking. If you tell me your product won the Silver Swine award, who am I to question that? After all, it's *your* website / brochure / letter / whatever.

You say on your website that "There's much more to successful business writing than just being good with words. Can you expand on this more?

William Shakespeare was a wonderful writer. So was Edgar Allan Poe. They were really good with words. Neither could write to sell a product, though.

To successfully do what I do, you need to have a bit of a marketing / sales background, even if it's informal (like mine). You also need to be able to write "strong" and get people to actually read what you have written. Because the type of writing I do doesn't get read for pleasure - my writing has to satisfy a need.

In your mind, what does a business writer do?

To me, a business writer communicates what a company *wants* their clients to know, without all the corporate gobblygook. I create desire for a product / service / etc. I also craft just the right message that a company or business wishes to portray.

But I'm really not like an ad writer. I feel I'm "more", as I write almost anything, from websites to press releases to a letter asking someone to do something.

For example, I did two real estate websites recently that are in the same area - one wanted to appeal to families with children, the other saw herself as a professional realtor for professional people. Same overall message (buying a house? I can help"), but the two pages had drastically different "slants" on that message.

I also write like a "regular guy", and am very "logical" in tone. "here's my product, here's why you need it, here's how to get it"

You said that in your writing, you do not need to stay objective. Have you ever had a project where you did not necessarily agree with the subject matter? Or do you not take projects like that/never been faced with the dilemma?

I've never had this dilemma (yet). I do state on my website that I will draw the line at writing anything that promotes racism or hatred (I'm not going to write for the KKK, in other words.)

But that's about it. I have no political agenda or strong religious/personal beliefs that I'm trying to further, so stuff like that doesn't get in my way.

So if someone wants me to write about porn / pretend violence / guns / abortion (or anti-abortion), "evil" stuff like horror and such - no problem. Also, I have to be able to legally write for you - if you're on the anti-terrorist list, I'd rather not write your group's handbook.

Can you expand more on why Andy Rooney/Dave Barry have inspired you?

Both guys basically write in a very folksy manner. Dave Barry was really funny for awhile (he's not so much anymore, which I think he realized, as he's taking some time off)

Rooney is someone I idolize because he basically did what he wanted to do with his life, is happy and comfortable with the choices he's made, and looks at work as something that simply needs to be done. If you read his essay books, you get a good idea of what he's like - I dunno, I just like the guy.

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