I got a piece of feedback from a local CBD business owner I was interviewed for an article. This was the second article I had approached her for an interview. At the end of our Zoom, she mentioned how thankful she was for me writing the articles and helping create a place for her voice to be heard. Normally, she said, she’s a private person, but I made her feel comfortable enough to talk about her business and life, though we are different people.
Three days ago, I received feedback from a client I had done some website copywriting. They said after working with another writer they didn’t click with, they were so thrilled that I “got it.” I told their story well, and it made them proud of their work and all they had gone through to get to where they are today.
Before I heard these pieces of feedback, I sometimes criticized myself for taking up too much time on the phone with clients or working too long on an article.
“It’s all going against my hourly rate,” my inner critic threatened.
However, there is little that is more satisfying to me than hanging up a call and thinking, “Wow, that went really well. What a cool person. Wish we could’ve talked longer; I’d love to know more about them.”
Having a great conversation with someone = providing a service that we are both proud of.
Today, I acknowledged that my ability to connect with people is an asset. Even if it makes what could be a 30-minute conversation an hour-long one, to me it’s worth it.
Even if combing through the transcription and pulling quotes takes twenty minutes longer, even if it takes an extra hour to write the article, that’s OK. For me, it makes for a better service, it excites my creative muse, and it builds relationships.
I’ll never be a fast writer. I’ve tried. I don’t like it and I’m just not that great at turning work over in a matter of hours. Longer interviews, thoughtful writing, and several hours between drafts are how I operate. So, I decided to embrace it. My clients and sources inspire me and it seems to work for them, too.
I went into Cultural Anthropology ten years ago to help tell stories of people today and people who have long gone; to be a part of conversations I would never otherwise be privy to and discover people who are changing their communities in their own way.
Today as a ghostwriter and content marketer, I’m proud to say that through long conversations and sometimes lowering my hourly rate I’m doing just that. I couldn’t be happier.
What is something that you embrace about your own work style? Did something that seemed like a negative become a positive for you? I’d love to hear it.