Writing: How To Focus With Your Dream

#Writer's life

Many aspiring writers I read of made me to understand that they weren't sure they could succeed at the writer's life till they met someone who was successfully doing it. That makes a lot of sense, given the value in finding someone who's traveled the path ahead of you and can give you tips.

Good enough, you can also get to know writing experts and those who are succeeding at paid freelance writing by reading some of our many publications. Barefoot Writer magazine profiles the best in the writing business each month, and it's an excellent way to learn from people doing what you'd like to do. Here to give you a glimpse into that world is Executive Editor of Barefoot Writer magazine, Mindy McHorse.

In her years as editor, Mindy has interviewed dozens of experts in the field of writing. She's picked five of the greatest writers she's profiled to date and shares with other writers their top tips for getting launched in the field of writing, along with insight on how to choose the best writing opportunity for you.

According to her, she interviewed dozens of experts in the field of writing. From copywriters to novelists, published authors to heavyweight icons in the world of direct mail, they've shared radically inspiring stories on how to succeed at the writer's life.

Granting audience to her was Dianna Huff. She's a cool and calm forward thinker who's been in the trenches as a marketer for more than 25 years. She's also a leading expert in helping B2B companies transform ho-hum websites into tools that engage visitors and turn them into qualified leads.

She was slated for life as a "marcom" expert (marketing and communications) early on. All the personality tests she took from her career counselor in college actually told her so. When she read the job description, "It was like the sun came out," she says. Because every job she'd had prior found her asking to take on any writing project that was needed.

These days, Dianna focuses on how to develop websites that generate leads. Her business is thriving, and she's high on the totem pole in terms of having what it takes to make a B2B website tick.

Dianna Huff, a Writer has graciously shared starting tips and encouraged new writers to jump in to the welcoming waters. One subset of experts—the B2B authorities—has especially been accommodating to aspiring writers. Among one of her tips she shared was that for anyone looking to get their writing career off the ground. Quite simply, it was to give yourself a promotion.

In other words, if you're ready to go from thinking about life as a paid writer to actually being one, make it official and promote yourself upward. Because a lot of success in the writing world depends on how you see yourself.

Says Dianna, "I promoted myself from Staff Copywriter to Marketing Director, and now I finally feel like I'm CEO of my company, DH Communications."

So, if you've been on the fence about making a living as a writer, promote yourself from "Fence Sitter" to "Copywriter-in-training." Or, from "Program-Studier" to "Writer-for-Hire."

And, if you want to get into writing online content for B2B websites, here's how Dianna recommends you start:

1. Learn the terms. Get familiar with industry lingo like SEO (search engine optimization), lead generation, analytics, mobile-optimized, and site analysis, just to name a few. Read blogs like Dianna's and you'll notice the recurring terms.

2. Find examples of what you want to write. Find the website and sales copy of a company you'd like to write for and study it. Note the voice and writing style used.

3.  Write a new headline and new copy for one of the pages on that website you found. You can use this as a practice exercise to strengthen your writing skills. Edit and revise it. Then consider approaching the company and pitching the idea. You'll get good practice writing, and you may even land a project.

It's worth the effort. As Dianna puts it, "When you're able to turn someone's site around, and they call you to say they're getting leads, it's phenomenal. It's fun. You get to be the hero."

And, if you want to learn more about writing web copy, read this article on how to find ongoing work with little competition . (Is this something you're interested in? I'd love to know – please comment in the box below.)

And if you'd like to read more about the incomparable Dianna Huff, read her full interview here .