When you write for a content marketing service, you become a whiz at 300 to 500 word blog posts. But, it’s easy to get too comfortable with that form and get intimidated by higher word counts. This can lead you to pass by challenging and lucrative projects such as ebooks and white papers and leave you in a rut. But, these longer projects can be a satisfying challenge, and, if you approach them right, as doable as the shorter articles and blog posts.
Think Modular
Instead of looking at a 2000 word article as an unclimbable mountain, look at it as a series of smaller jaunts. You’ll need an introduction and a conclusion; in between, you’ll have several subdivisions that are a few hundred words each. Taken this way, it’s not all that different from writing a series of related articles.
Make an Outline
Having a sort of road map helps you work on the flow of the piece and decide how much space to devote to each topic. The outline doesn’t have to be as detailed as one you’d hand in to your teacher back in middle school. Just starting with the title of each section and a few notes is often enough.
Take Time to Let It Stew
If the deadline allows, step away from the screen for a bit after you get to the outline part. The first day, spend time researching and planning what you will write. If your deadline is shorter, at least take a break while you work. Take a walk, fiddle around in the kitchen or even social network a bit. The time you spend not consciously putting words on the page are actually times you are still working. You’ll find yourself chewing things over, considering ways to make it work. Once you are ready to head back to the keyboard, you will most likely discover that the task seems much easier now that you’ve had time to digest the material.
Write Out of Order
Don’t feel that you have to start at the beginning and write through the end. Often, the introduction is the hardest part to write, and should be written after you’ve spent some time with the meat of the material. Inside the piece itself, some portions will flow more easily. You can get the ball rolling by starting with those and then moving on to other, more challenging parts.
Once you gain a bit of perspective, those longer pieces become far more manageable. Don’t be afraid to take on a new challenge. Commit yourself to these longer pieces from your favorite content marketing service and watch your knowledge of the topic and your skill as a writer grow.
Lara S is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
