What are you trying to achieve when you write?

Feb 06, 2008

A quick post today as I am busy developing a small time management program for my personal use, using PHP and MySQL.

Chris on his blog has asked his readers what they want their users to do when they read them? There can be many answers according to different perspectives but let us see from the points of views (is it the right phrase: “points of views”?) of bloggers and professional copywriters/content writers. I haven’t exactly answered his question; these are just a few thoughts that I would like to share with you at this instance.

Both bloggers and copywriters aim to engage the readers. They both try to elicit some or the other reaction.

If you are a blogger you want your readers to bookmark your blog, subscribe to your RSS feeds, leave comments on your blog, help you create awareness regarding your product, service or philosophy, and link to your blog. Even if you’re not doing this consciously all these things or at least some of them happen as you continuously generate highly useful and engaging blog content. When you write, directly or indirectly you have all these objectives in your mind, but they are all a byproduct of your blogging efforts. All you are doing is engaging in a continuous and fruitful conversation.

A content writer or copywriter wants his or her client’s website to do well in its objective, whatever that objective is. The online copywriter acts in the same manner as a blogger does but he or she does it for the client’s business so the tone of writing slightly changes. But here too the writer wants to engage the audience and lead them to a desired action, something like buying a product or subscribing to service. As Chris rightly says, good communication starts with a clear conception of the goal. If you don’t understand the goal properly you cannot communicate your thoughts lucidly.

What do I try to achieve when I write? It may sound cliched but I try to convey a message. When I’m writing for my clients I’m trying to convince their readers what beneficial products or services they are offering. Write as clearly as possible and as compellingly as possible, using simple language wherever needed and using jargons whenever required.

On my blog I share my thoughts. Since I’m constantly learning I’m not in a position to tell my readers what to do in order to succeed or improve their lives; I simply share with them what I am learning and experiencing on a day-to-day basis (whenever I write, that is). but yes I do want to, and I do write, to communicate with my readers, with you I mean.

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2 Responses to “What are you trying to achieve when you write?”

Sh @ Enhance Life
February 6th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Good question. I sometimes start a blog with one intent and in the middle of it, I sometimes tend to forget it.!

It is the first time I came here. You have a nice blog and useful content. I subscribed to your RSS feed.
Amrit
February 8th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Thanks for subscribing and for encouraging words.